AUTHORS » Phil Anady

Dec 12
19

This Weeks Youth Focus – 12/20

This Thursday, we are going to be spending more time than usual discussing the Gospel Community Group question posted for 12/16/2012.  Our discussion will primarily be centered on the biblical relationship between God and evil.

  1. How can we comfort one another, including ourselves, in the midst of the tragic elementary school shooting in Connecticut? Any Scripture passages come to mind?
  2. How can we be a light to a dark nation during this dark time. Give realistic and practical examples.
  3.  Assume you are out in the public and are able to start up a conversation with a non believer. Assuming you are concerned for their salvation, how would you respond if the individual says to you “I have always been open to the idea of a God, but I just can’t allow myself to follow a God that would allow such a horrible tragedy”?
  4.  What is the biblical relationship between God and evil?
  5. Do you trust that God will completely “work all things for good” (Rom 8:28) or does your heart struggle with this truth? Share.

As always, I looked forward to these great meetings with the young people of Emmaus!

-Phil

Tags: , ,
Posted in Youth, Evil, God's Sovereignty, Gospel Community Groups, Phil Anady, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Dec 12
17

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #42

Doctrinal Standard #42

  • Q. What is the essence of the Ten Commandments?
  • A. The essence of the Ten Commandments is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind, and to love everyone else as we love ourselves.

Memory Verses

  • “And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: I Samuel 18:1-4; 20:17-42
  • Support Passages:  I Corinthians 2:9 (Isaiah 64:4), Joshua 22:5, Psalm 97:10, 116:1-2, 119:97; Proverbs 10:12; Amos 5:15; John 8:42, 13:35, 15:13; Romans 12:9, 13:8-10
  • Bible Story: Luke 10:29-37

Thoughts

  • When Jesus was asked which is the greatest of all the commandments he responded love God and love your neighbor. The catechism tells us that this is the essence of the Ten Commandments. Jesus teaches us that “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:40). The pinnacle of all of God’s law is first to love God and second to love those around you. All of God’s command teach, direct, and guide an individual on how they can practically love God and love their neighbor. For example, the Ten Commandments:  you shall have no other gods before me, you shall not make for yourself a carved image, you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, observe the Sabbath day, honor your father and your mother, you shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, and you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife all provide specific commands on how we are to love God and love our neighbor. Scripture is filled with commands beyond the Ten Commandments on how we are to practically love God and our neighbor. But if we are to be obedient to the first and second greatest commandment it requires that we know and understand the scriptures.

Discussion Questions

  • What are the two greatest commandments?
  • How is the command to love God and your neighbor the essences of the Ten Commandments?
  • Provide evidence from the Ten Commandments or other scripture that teach us how to love God.
  • Provide evidence from the Ten Commandments or other scripture that teach us how to love our neighbor.
  • What does our obedience to God’s law prove about our faith? Explain
Tags: , ,
Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Greatest Commandment, Ten Commandments, Westminster Shorter Catechism, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, I Samuel 18, Luke 10, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Dec 12
12

This Weeks Youth Focus – 12/13

For the next couple of weeks, we will be studying and discussing the doctrine of the Trinity. This Thursday, we will be look at scriptures from both the Old and New Testament examining how the doctrine of the Trinity is progressively revealed in the Old Testament and greater clarity in the New Testament. We will also be discussing the three summarizing statements of the Trinity and their significance found in scripture.  The summarizing statements are: God is three persons, each person is fully God, and there is one God.

I’m looking forward to another great meeting.

-Phil

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Youth, Doctrine, Systematic Theology, Trinity, Wayne Grudem, Phil Anady, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Dec 12
10

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #40 & 41

Doctrinal Standard #40 & 41 (4 of 4 weeks)

  • Q. What rules did God first reveal for man to obey?
  • A. The rules He first revealed were the moral law.
  • Q. Where is the moral law summarized?
  • A. The moral law is summarized in the Ten Commandments.

Memory Verses

  •  “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:4–5, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: Deuteronomy 6  
  • Support Passages:  Romans 7:14, Colossians 3:5, Proverbs 1:19, Matthew 15:4-6, Job 36:21, Hebrews 11:25, I Thessalonians 5:22, Genesis 18:19
  • Bible Story: Luke 10:38-42

Thoughts

  • When Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment  he responded with, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37). Providing his response from Deuteronomy informs us that man’s primary purpose is to love God. Or as question one of the catechism tells us the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Scripture provides a clear explanation on how we are to love God. We are to obey him.  Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Jesus is quoted in John 14:21, “whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” We love God when we keep his commandments and obey him.
  • It is important to remember the source and heart of this obedience towards God. We must always remember that our obedience will not and cannot be good enough to be accepted before God. It is only by the blood of Christ and His perfect life that we are accepted before him. But we must realize that Christ’S death and resurrection has not only made us acceptable before God but also freed us from the bondage of sin. With the help of the Holy Spirit we are able to live a life in obedience to Him. Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit helps to convict us of sin leading to repentance and guides our lives in obedience to God’s word. Because of the work of Christ we can show our love and gratitude towards God by following his commands. No longer are his laws a burden unto condemnation but rather a joy that is pleasing not only to God but also to the believer.

Discussion Questions

  • What is the greatest commandment?
  • What is man’s problem in obeying this commandment?
  • What needs to take place before an individual can obey this command?
  • How can you love God with all you are?
  •  What gives us the ability to obey the commands of God?
  • What does obeying God’s commands prove?
  • Are God’s commands a burden or liberating? Explain
  • What does your answer reveal about your heart?
Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Catechism, Greatest Commandment, Moral Law, Ten Commandments, Westminster Shorter Catechism, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Deuteronomy 6, John 14, Luke 10, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Dec 12
5

This Weeks Youth Focus – 12/6

This week, we will continue to examine the communicable attributes of God. We will be following chapter 12 of Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology book that focuses on God’s spirituality, invisibility, knowledge, wisdom, truthfulness, goodness, love, mercy, grace and patience, holiness, peace, and righteousness. In addition to study these attribute of God, we will discuss what it means to be created in the image of God in light of these attributes.

I’m looking forward to another great meeting.

-Phil

Tags: , ,
Posted in Youth, Communicable Attributes, Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem, Phil Anady, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Dec 12
3

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #40 & 41

Doctrinal Standard #40 & 41 (3 of 4 weeks)

  • Q. What rules did God first reveal for man to obey?
  • A. The rules He first revealed were the moral law.
  • Q. Where is the moral law summarized?
  • A. The moral law is summarized in the Ten Commandments.

Memory Verses

  • “Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:104, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: Psalm 119
  • Support Passages: Psalms 1, 19, 111, 112; Matthew 10:28
  • Bible Story: Acts 5:12-42

Thoughts

  • There are three common uses of God’s law. One of those is the normative use; this means that God’s law is used in the life of believers who have been saved by faith apart from the law. God’s law is good and righteous. It defines and points out sin that is not pleasing to God. It is one of the means by which the Holy Spirit convicts and guides believers into becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. Psalms 119 provides a beautiful description of God’s commands and how they play an important part in the life of those who love God. It is important that we remember that while we are saved by our faith in Jesus Christ alone God expects us to be holy as he is holy. Scripture calls this process sanctification.
  • “The word sanctification (Gk. Hagiasmos) means ‘to set apart’. The same root word is found in the English words saint, holy, and holiness. Sanctification and its related terms are used in a variety of ways in both the Old Testament and New Testament. With respect to the New Testament believer, however, there are primarily three aspects of sanctification.
  • (1)   Positional sanctification. This is the believer’s position or standing before God, based on the death of Christ. In positional sanctification the believer is accounted holy before God; he is declared a saint. Paul frequently began his letters by addressing the believers as saints (Rom. 1:7). It is noteworthy that so carnal a group as the church at Corinth is addressed as ‘those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus’ (1 Cor. 1:2). This positional sanctification is achieved through the once-for-all death of Christ (Heb. 10:10, 14, 29).
  • (2)   Experiential Sanctification. Although the believer’s positional sanctification is secure, his experiential sanctification may fluctuate because it relates to his daily life and experience. Paul’s prayer is that believers should be sanctified entirely in their experience (1 Thess. 5:23); Peter commands believers to be sanctified or holy (1 Peter 1:16). This experiential sanctification grows as the believer dedicates his life to God (Rom. 6:13; 12:1-2) and is nourished by the word of God (Ps. 119:9-16). Clearly, additional factors enter into experiential sanctification.
  • (3)   Ultimate Sanctification. This aspect of sanctification is future and anticipates the final transformation of the believer into the likeness of Christ. At that time all believers will be presented to the Lord without any blemish (Eph. 5:26-27)” (Pg. 329-330). [1]

Discussion Questions

  • Read Psalm 119. How is God’s law described?
  • Do you feel the same way about God’s law? Explain
  • Why are we to obey God’s law?
  • What are the things the Psalmist says he does with God’s law?
  • Listed are some of the verbs the Psalmist wrote about God’s law: Learn, keep, seek, stored, delight, meditate. What do these mean and how do you apply them?

[1] Enns, Paul (1994). The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago, Illinois, USA; Moody Press.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Moral Law, Normative Use of the Law, Sanctification, Ten Commandments, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Acts 5, Psalm 119, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Nov 12
28

This Weeks Youth Focus – 11/29

A couple weeks ago, we looked at the incommunicable attributes of God.  Those are the “attributes that God does not share or ‘communicate’ to others” (pg. 156) such as his omniscience, omnipresent, eternality, etc. The next two weeks we will be examining God’s communicable attributes. We will be specifically discussing “God’s attributes of purpose, that is, attributes that have to do with making and carrying our decisions (will, freedom, and omnipotence) and his summary attributes (perfection, blessedness, beauty, and glory) (pg. 211). [1]

I’m looking forward to another great meeting with the youth of Emmaus.

God Bless,

-Phil


[1] Grudem, Wayne (1994). Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA; Zondervan Publishing House.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Youth, Communicable Attributes of God, Incommunicable Attributes of God, Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem, Phil Anady, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Nov 12
26

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #40 & 41

Doctrinal Standard #40 & 41 (2 of 4 weeks)

  • Q. What rules did God first reveal for man to obey?
  • A. The rules He first revealed were the moral law.
  • Q. Where is the moral law summarized?
  • A. The moral law is summarized in the Ten Commandments.

Memory Verses

  • “So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: Romans 7:7-13
  • Support Passages: Romans 2:14-15, Acts 24:24-25, Matthew 14:1-10, I Timothy 1:9-10, Galatians 3:24, Romans 1:20, Galatians 3:10
  • Bible Story: Acts 24

Thoughts

  • There is a common misunderstanding in regards to the law of God and it often shows itself through the teaching of antinomianism theology. While this term could be rather broad it often refers to those who reject the notation that Christians are commanded to keep the moral law. This is not to say that they support unethical living but rather they believe that scripture teaches that the law has served its purpose and is finished and now you live solely by the Spirit. I believe that this heretical teaching is a result of not fully understanding Paul’s teaching on the law. There are many times when Paul seems to speak harshly about the law not because the law is bad or unholy but because of what it does to man. For example, Romans 7:8 says “but sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness.” Romans 7:11, “for sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.” But Paul also speaks very highly of the law in Romans 7:12-13, “so the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.” Paul makes it rather clear that the laws of God are good, holy, and righteous. God’s law does not cause the sin in man but rather point out the sin that is already within their hearts.
  • If God’s commands are holy, righteous, and good and man is inherently sinful and evil then what needs to change, man or God’s law? The obvious answer is man. Instead of expecting a holy, righteous, and unchangeable God to change is character and in doing so changing is moral laws he sent his son to do earth to do what no man could ever do, live a perfect obedient life to the law and die a perfect sacrifice for the sins of those who believe. God’s law and expectations have not changed but rather through his mercy and love provided a way for man to be accepted before him.
  • As the memory verse teaches us it is through our faith in Jesus’ perfect life and death that makes a sinner are justified. Salvation is apart from keeping any commands. But we must be careful not error in thinking that the commands play no part in the life of a believer. God’s commands teach us what is good and acceptable and how we should live. His law is what the Holy Spirit uses in the life of a believer sanctifying them, making them more and more like Jesus.

Discussion Questions

  • Describe God’s character?
  • How closely tied is God’s character to his laws?
  • Read through Romans 7:7-13. What does God’s law reveal in an individual?
  • Does God’s law cause people to sin? Explain
  • God’s law points people to whom? Explain
  • How does Paul describe God’s law in the passage of scripture?
  • If God’s law is good and people are sinful what needs to change?
  • How does God make people acceptable before himself and his law?
  • If Jesus lived a perfect life for us what use does the law have for Christians?
Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Catechism, Law and Gospel, Moral Law, Ten Commandments, Westminster Shorter Catechism, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Acts 24, Galatians 3, Romans 7, Posted by Phil. No Comments

« Previous Page

Next Page »


"Him we proclaim,
warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone mature in Christ."
(Colossians 1:28, ESV)

© 2011-2022 Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church