AUTHORS » Phil Anady

May 12
1

Children’s Ministry Change

Hello Church,

I’m writing you to inform you about a change that will be taking place with our Children’s Ministry schedule. One Sunday out of the month there will be no Sunday school classes for the kindergarten through 5th grade children. There are a couple of reasons why believe this is a healthy decision.

First, we believe that one of the responsibilities of parenthood is to teach our children how to worship the Lord. We believe that having our children experience a whole worship service will begin to teach them what it means to worship God through music, listening, and reading God’s Word.

Second, many churches today exclude children and teenagers from the main worship service and then they wonder why the transition into worshiping with the adults once they graduate high school is so difficult. The fact that many college age adults are absent from the church service is something that needs to be addressed and corrected.  I strongly believe that if we effectively teach our children how to worship with adults at a young age we are preparing them to be active participants in the family of God for a lifetime.

This is something new for many if not all of us. I encourage all of you to be patient and understanding with our families and children as they are faced with the challenge of learning how to “parent from the pew.”

Church, please be praying for our families, asking God to give wisdom to our parents, as this can be a difficult task. Parents, I encourage you to begin teaching your children and explaining to them what you expect of them during the service before you arrive at church. I think it is important for me to say that it is perfectly ok if there is some noise and talking. Use this time to help instruct and engage your child in how to worship the Lord.

Some things to think about:

  1. K-5th grade students will remain in the whole worship service on the first Sunday of the month (Starting May 6th). This is our communion Sunday therefore, I would encourage each family to determine whether or not the children will take communion before they arrive at church. Our view is that it is a good thing for our children to take communion even if they are too young to have professed Christ. We should raise our children as if they are believers until it becomes evident that they are not.
  2. There will still be childcare for children ages 0-4 each Sunday.
  3. I would strongly encourage that children sit with their parents instead of with their friends during this service. This will help keep distractions to a minimum, as parents will be able to help teach their children worship and keep them engaged.

I’m looking forward to beginning this process and seeing the fruit the Lord produces.  It is my goal to continue to provide various resources and ideas on how to help our parents teach and develop a love in our children to worship the Lord in the whole community of faith.

God Bless,

Phil

Posted in News, Phil Anady, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Apr 12
30

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #24

Doctrinal Standard #24

  • Q. How is Christ a prophet?
  • A. As a prophet, Christ reveals the will of God to us for our salvation by His word and Spirit.

Memory Verses

  • “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Hebrews 1:1–2, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: John 1:1-5, 9-18
  • Support Passages: Deuteronomy 18:18-19; Daniel 9:24; John 14:18-24; Acts 3:11-26
  • Bible Story: Luke 24:13-35

Thoughts

  • The statement that Christ is a prophet has the potential of being easily misunderstood. Wayne Grudem in chapter 29 of his Systematic Theology book provides a great explanation on what it does and does not mean.
  •  “Why did the New Testament epistles avoid calling Jesus a prophet? Apparently because, although Jesus is the prophet whom Moses predicted (Deuteronomy 18:18-19), yet he is also far greater than any of the Old Testament prophets, in two ways:”
  1. “He is the one about whom the prophesies in the Old Testament were made. When Jesus spoke with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, he took them through the entire Old Testament, showing how the prophecies pointed to him: ‘And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27)… The Old Testament prophets looked forward to Christ in what they wrote, and the New Testament apostles looked back to Christ and interpreted his life for the benefit of the church.”
  2. “Jesus was not merely a messenger of revelation from God (like all the other prophets), but was himself the source of revelation from God. Rather than saying as all the Old Testament prophets did,  ‘Thus says the Lord,’ Jesus could begin divinely authoritative teaching with the amazing statement, ‘But I say unto you’ (Matt 5:22). The word of the Lord cam to the Old Testament prophets, but Jesus spoke on his own authority as the eternal Word of God (John 1:1) who perfectly revealed the Father to us (John 14:9; Heb 1:1-2).”
  3. “In the broader sense of prophet, simply meaning one who reveals God to us and speaks to us the words of God, Christ is of course truly and fully a prophet. In fact, he is the one whom all the Old Testaments prophets prefigured in their speech and in their actions” [1]

Discussion Questions

  • What is a prophet?
  • What did prophets do in the Old Testament?
  • How is Jesus Christ a prophet like the prophets in the Old Testament?
  • How is Jesus not like the prophets of the Old Testament?
  • Explain how the Road to Emmaus account (Luke 24 does:13-35) teach us that Jesus is much more than a prophet?
  • What word does John 1:1-5, 9-18 use to refer to Jesus? Why?

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


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Posted in Study Guides, Wayne Grudem, Westminster Shorter Catechism, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Hebrews 1, John 1, Luke 24, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Apr 12
24

No Youth This Week – 4/26

Both Mike and Nessa are unable to be at youth this Thursday to lead worship and I have a meeting for work (school) that evening therefore we are cancelling youth for this week.

See you either Sunday or next Thursday.

-Phil

Posted in Youth, Phil Anady, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Apr 12
23

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #23

Doctrinal Standard #23

  • Q. How is Christ our redeemer?
  • A. As our redeemer, Christ is a prophet, priest, and king in both His humiliation and His exaltation.

Memory Verses

  • “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,  that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you” (Acts 3:19–20, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: Psalm 110
  • Support Passages: Acts 3:11-26 – Christ the Prophet; Hebrews 5:1-10 – Christ the Priest; Isaiah 9:6-7 – Christ the King; Psalm 2, 45:1-9; Luke 4:18-19; Acts 2:29-36
  • Bible Story: Genesis 14

Thoughts

  • “Redemption means deliverance from some evil by payment of a price. It is more than simple deliverance. Thus prisoners of war might be released on payment of a price which was called a ‘ransom’ (Gk. lytron). The word-group based on lytron was formed specifically to convey this idea of release on payment of ransom. In this circle of ideas Christ’s death may be regarded as ‘a ransom for many’ (Mk. 10:45).[1]
  • As both Psalm 110 and Genesis 14 explains redemption requires action from the redeemer. The action that was required of Jesus Christ was to live a perfect life and suffer a painful and shameful death on the cross as a ransom for all those who have and will believe in Him.
  • The love of God is magnified in the fact that Christ is our redeemer. The love of God is shown in that Christ would humble himself by becoming a man and take upon the sin of His followers when He himself had never known sin.

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean to redeem something?
  • What is required in redeeming something?
  • How has Christ redeemed people from sin?
  • What does this teach us about God?

[1] Wood, D. R. W., & Marshall, I. H. (1996). New Bible dictionary (3rd ed.) (1003). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.

 

 

 

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Posted in Study Guides, New Bible Dictionary, Redeemer, Westminster Shorter Catechism, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Genesis 14, Psalm 110, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Apr 12
17

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #22

Doctrinal Standard #22 (2 of 2 weeks)

  • Q. How did Christ, the Son of God, become man?
  • A. Christ, the Son of God, became man by assuming a real body and a reasoning soul. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Him; yet He was sinless.

Memory Verses

  • “For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: 1 Peter 2:11-25
    • Support Passages: Isaiah 53:9-12; Matthew 26:59-68; John 18:33-40; Romans 8:3; II Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 4:4-5; Hebrews 7:26-28; I John 3:5
    • Bible Story: John 5:1-18

Thoughts

  • It is difficult to fathom living a whole life without sin let alone a day, hour, or minute! But our Lord Jesus lived a sinless life and it was for our benefit.
  • Wayne Grudem explains this truth rather well in his chapter on the Atonement. “If Christ had only earned forgiveness of sins for us, then we would not merit heaven. Our guilt would have been removed, but we would simply be in the position of Adam and Eve before they had done anything good or bad and before they had passed a time of probation successfully. To be established in righteousness forever and to have their fellowship with God made sure forever, Adam and Eve had to obey God perfectly over a period of time. Then God would have looked on their faithful obedience with pleasure and delight, and they would have lived with him in fellowship forever.”
  • “For this reason, Christ had to live a life of perfect obedience to God in order to earn righteousness for us. He had to obey the law for his whole life on our behalf so that the positive merits of his perfect obedience would be counted for us.” Martin Luther refers to this as the “Great Exchange.” [1] Christ’s righteousness is placed upon the believer as the believers sins are placed upon Christ on the cross. Praise God for the perfect life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ!

Discussion Questions

  • Did Jesus every sin? Explain the various struggles and temptations He must have faced.
  • What is the significance or importance’s of Jesus living a sinless life?
  • What did Jesus’ sinless life do for those who believe in Him?
  • What did Martin Luther mean when he said Jesus’ life and death is the “Great Exchange?”

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

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Posted in Study Guides, Wayne Grudem, Westminster Shorter Catechism, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, 1 Peter 2, John 5, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Apr 12
10

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standards WSC #22

Doctrinal Standards WSC #22 (1 of 2 weeks)

  • Q. How did Christ, the Son of God, become man?
  • A. Christ, the Son of God, became man by assuming a real body and a reasoning soul. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Him; yet He was sinless.

Memory Verses

  • “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: Luke 1:26-38
  • Support Passages: John 1:1-18; Philippians 2:5-11; I Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:15; I John 1:1-4, 4:1-3
  • Bible Story: Luke 2:1-20

Thoughts

  • We can learn much about God’s love, grace and mercy when we understand what it meant for Jesus Christ to come to us in the form of a man. Philippians 2:4–8 provides us with a glimpse into the humility, sacrifice, and love of our God, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
  •  “When the Catechism speaks of a ‘true body,’ it means that Jesus took unto himself the same kind of body that we ourselves possess (expect for sin). This point is stressed because of a heresy known as ‘Docestim.’ In early Christian history there were some who held that Christ only seemed (or appeared) to have a physical body. They said that God could not really have a human body, that He could not really suffer and die.” [1]
  • “When the Catechism says that Jesus had a ‘reasonable soul,’ it means that just as we have a body and a soul, so Christ also had a human soul as well as a human body. In the early history of the Church there were those who admitted that Jesus had a ‘true body,’ but did not admit that He also had a ‘reasonable soul.’ They thought that the divine nature (Christ as God) took the place of a soul within His body. But this too is a denial of that which Scripture clearly teaches, and of that which is necessary to our salvation. Just as the Bible speaks of Christ’s hunger, thirst, pain, etc. (which prove that he had a human body), so it also speaks of his feeling sorrow, and grief, and of his increasing in wisdom etc. (which prove that He also had a reasonable soul). As the Bible says, ‘Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (Hebrews 2:17–18, ESV).” [2]

Discussion Questions

  • What kind of suffering did Christ subject himself to by becoming a man?
  • What kind of temptations do you think Jesus experienced?
  • What do you think it was like to be a part of Jesus physical family?
  • Can Jesus sympathize or understand the temptations and hard times we face? Explain.
  • How is the love of God revealed by the fact that Jesus the Son of God came to this earth as a man?

[1] Williams, G.I (2003). The Westminster Shorter Catechism (2nd ed.). Phillipsburg, New Jersey: P&R Publishing Company


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Posted in Study Guides, Westminster Shorter Catechism, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, John 1, Luke 1, Luke 2, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Apr 12
2

No Youth This Week – 4/5

There will be no youth this week since everyone is off from school. I encourage you to take some time this week and reflect on what Christ experienced and accomplished on the cross for all who have and will believe in Him. I also encourage you to join us for our Resurection Sunday worship service at the Vanderschuit’s home to worship and honor our Lord in rememberance of that glorious day! See our website for more details.

Have a great week off.

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Apr 12
2

Catechism Insight – Review Doctrinal Standards #11-21

Review Doctrinal Standards #11-21

WSC #11

Q. What is God’s providence?
A. God’s providence is His completely holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing every creature and every action.

WSC #12

Q. What did God’s providence specifically do for man whom He created?
A. After the creation God made a covenant with man to give him life, if he perfectly obeyed; God told him not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil or he would die.

WSC #13

Q. Did our first parents remain as they were created?
A. Left to the freedom of their own wills, our first parents sinned against God and fell from their original condition.

WSC #14

Q. What is sin?
A. Sin is disobeying or not conforming to God’s law in any way.

WSC #15

Q. By what sin did our first parents fall from their original condition?
A. Our first parents’ sin was eating the forbidden fruit.

WSC #16

Q. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first disobedience?
A. Since the covenant was made not only for Adam but also for his natural descendants, all mankind sinned in him and fell with him in his first disobedience.

WSC #17

Q. What happened to man in the fall?
A. Man fell into a condition of sin and misery.

WSC #18

Q. What is sinful about man’s fallen condition?
A. The sinfulness of that fallen condition is twofold. First, in what is commonly called original sin, there is the guilt of Adam’s first sin with its lack of original righteousness and the corruption of his whole nature. Second are all the specific acts of disobedience that come from original sin.

WSC #19

Q. What is the misery of man’s fallen condition?
A. By their fall all mankind lost fellowship with God and brought His anger and curse on themselves. They are therefore subject to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever.

WSC #20

Q. Did God leave all mankind to die in sin and misery?
A. From all eternity and merely because it pleased Him God chose some to have everlasting life. These He freed from sin and misery by a covenant of grace and brought them to salvation by a redeemer.

WSC #21

Q. Who is the redeemer of God’s chosen ones?
A. The only redeemer of God’s chosen is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, who became man. He was and continues to be God and man in two distinct natures and one person forever.

Memory Verses

“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men” (Romans 5:18, ESV).

Study Passage: Romans 5:12-21

Thoughts

This should be a time of reflection, assessment, and re-teaching.

There are a couple of different ways to approach this review lesson. First, the review questions and answers could be made into a game that forces the students to remember what they have learned while assessing their understanding. Another idea is to quiz each student on each of the 11 questions making sure to encourage and celebrate their accomplishments. Last, it would be beneficial to review each of the question and answers, drawing out their central truths and discussing how they are connected.

A common theme in the catechism questions (#11-21) is the doctrine of sin and the doctrine of salvation. Questions 12-19 explain original sin and the devastating affects sin had on Adam and Eve and has had on every individual since the Fall. Questions 20 and 21 explain how salvation which God provides through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is a display of God’s many attributes. Through our salvation God’s glory is shown and is given all the praise.

Discussion Questions

  • Explain how sin first entered the world?
  • Who is affected by the sin of Adam and Eve?
  • What affects (spiritually and physically) does sin have on a person?
  • Does man have the ability to follow Jesus on their own? Explain
  • Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Explain
  • Scripture says salvation is only by God’s grace, it’s a gift from God, and we receive it through faith. What is grace and faith?
  • Jesus is referred to as a redeemer, ransom, and mediator. What do these words tell us about Jesus and what He did on the cross?
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Posted in Study Guides, Westminster Shorter Catechism, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Romans 5, Posted by Phil. No Comments

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warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone mature in Christ."
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