GCG Questions for Sermon on 12/16/12

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.


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


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?

GCG Questions for Sermon on 12/09/12

1. What points does Matthew emphasize to confirm the Messiahship of Christ in Matt chapters 1 and 2? Discuss.

2. What was the background and cultural context in which Christ was born? Do a little background study of this time period. Why is it important to understand the cultural context in which Christ was born?

3. Who were the Wise Men? What did they do? What role did they play in the birth of Christ and why were they important?

4. Who was Herod and what was his response to Christ’s birth? Why would he respond this way?

5. The Lord came to earth in complete humility. Are you being humble in your walk or are you struggling with pride? Share.


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


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.


GCG Questions for Sermon on 12/02/12

1. Why was it so important that Jesus came from the “line of David”?
2. What does the name “Jesus” mean? What is the significance of this name?
3. What are some Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled by Christ’s birth? List and share.
4. Are you approaching this Advent Season with awe, reverence, and joy, or are you buying into the stress and anxiety of our culture? Share.
5. What does the title “Emmanuel” mean. Why is it important?


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.



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

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