Mar 12
26

This Weeks Youth Focus – 3/29

This Thursday, we are going to examine how Jesus Christ, through His death, is our Passover Lamb. The Passover is one of “seven holidays” discussed throughout the Bible, in both the Old and New Testament. However, only in one place, the twenty-third chapter of Leviticus, are all seven holidays listed in chronological sequence. These seven holidays are called ‘the feast of the Lord.’ That expression indicates that these holidays are God’s holidays – They belong to Him – in contrast to man’s holidays. They are quite literally, ‘the feasts of the Lord’ (Lev 23:4). And only on His terms and at His invitation can men participate in them and enter into their benefits.” God has given His people (initially the Jews but now it includes those of faith) these feasts and celebrations so that we can learn and be reminded of the great things God has done and is doing. The feasts of the Lord require active participants and worship through the use of our sight, taste, touch, smell, and hearing. Our Lord understands that we learn and remember more when we use all of our senses in worshiping Him.

The seven feasts of the Lord consist of the Passover, the Feast of Unleaven Bread, Feast of Firstfruits, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Scripture reveals that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of each of these feasts. Thus, we have the benefit of clearly seeing the complete story God is teaching through each feast.

This Thursday, we will examine how Jesus Christ fulfilled the Passover feast. We will see how the Last Supper was actually a Jewish Passover Seder and that the bread and cup Jesus gave His disciples (as recorded in Matthew 26) is in Jewish Seder tradition the third of four cups of wine called the Cup of Redemption. This is the “cup” that Jesus fulfilled on the cross. Praise God!

Understanding all the feasts of the Lord in greater detail and knowing how Jesus is the fulfillment of them brings so much more excitement, life, and clarity to the scriptures. Lord willing we will spend more time exploring is deep truths.

I’m really excited about sharing this with you all. I hope to see you there!

Just a reminder that next week there will be no youth due to spring break.
God Bless,
-Phil

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Posted in Youth, fulfillment, Passover, seder, Phil Anady, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Mar 12
26

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standards WSC #21 (2 of 2 weeks)

 

Doctrinal Standard 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

• “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him” (Colossians 1:21–22, ESV).

Study Passage: Colossians 1:9-23

Support Passages: Luke 1:26-35, Colossians 2:8-12, Hebrews 2, Hebrews 7:23-28

Bible Story: John 9

 

Thoughts

• Jesus did not give up His human nature after His death and resurrection, for He appeared to His disciples as a man after the resurrection, even with the scars of the nail prints in His hands. He had ‘flesh and bones’ (Luke 24:39) and ate food (Luke 24:41-42). Later, when He was talking with His disciples, He was taken up into heaven, still in His resurrected human body, and two angels promised that He would return in the same way.” Scripture indicates that “Jesus did not temporarily become man, but that His divine nature was permanently united to His human nature, and He lives forever not just as the eternal Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, but also as Jesus, the man who was born of Mary, and as Christ, the Messiah and Savior of His people. Jesus will remain fully God and fully man, yet one person, forever (Pg. 542-543).
• Colossians provides interesting insight into some of the roles of Jesus Christ as the second person of the Trinity. He had an active part in creation. He is actively holding all of creation together. He is the head of the church. He is the first one to have a resurrected body. He is the one who has reconciled man with God.
• Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection has made it possible to be reconciled or reunited with God the Father. As a result of Christ’s death and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit man is able to reunite with God in a relationship that once was lost because of sin. Because of the imputed righteousness and the perfect mediation of Jesus Christ we have access to our God the Father.

Discussion Questions

• Explains the various roles are activities Jesus has or is actively participating in?
• Explain the two distinct natures of Jesus.
• What does reconciled mean?
• What are some examples of reconciliation?
• How has Jesus reconciled man with God?
• What part does man have in the reconciliation process?

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

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Posted in Study Guides, Catechism, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Colossians 1, John 9, Luke, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Mar 12
19

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standards WSC #21 (1 of 2 weeks)

Doctrinal Standard WSC #21 (1 of 2 weeks)

  • 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.

Scripture Memory Verses

  • “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, ESV).

Study Passage: I Timothy 2:1-7

Support Passages: Matthew 7:13-14; John 1:9, 6:35-40, 10:9, 14:6, 17:1-3; Acts 4:12, 2:23; Hebrews 9:11-15; I John 5:12, II John 9

Bible Story: II Kings 5:1-15

Insight and Application

  • We often think of Jesus as a physical being who was born in Bethlehem. It is important that we remember that Jesus has always existed as God. There is no beginning and no end to Jesus Christ. He is the second person of the Trinity.
  • “Because we are alienated from God by sin, we needed someone to come between God and ourselves and bring us back to him. We needed a mediator who could represent us to God and who could represent God to us. There is only one person who has ever fulfilled that requirement: ‘There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus’ (1 Tim 2:5). In order to fulfill this role of mediator, Jesus had to be fully man as well as fully God” (Pg. 541)[1] 
  • In order for Jesus to be an effective mediator He first had to be our ransom and redeemer. 1 Timothy 2:6 says, “that Jesus gave himself ransom for all.” The term ransom means that there is a payment for liberation. Jesus’ death is a ransom or liberation from sin. Scripture explains that sin does two things; it enslaves and it kills. As a result of Christ death the Spirit of God is able to free an individual from the bondage of sin and give life to a dead soul.
  • Jesus Christ is also referred to as a redeemer.  “Jesus had taught them that ‘everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin’ (Jn. 8:34). In line with this, Paul can think of himself as ‘carnal, sold under sin’ (Rom. 7:14), sold as under a cruel slave-master. He reminds the Romans that in earlier days they had been ‘slaves of sin’ (Rom. 6:17). From another point of view men were under the sentence of death on account of their sin. ‘For the wages of sin is death’ (Rom. 6:23). Sinners are slaves. Sinners are doomed to death. Either way the ancient world would have regarded the situation as being in need of redemption. Failing redemption, the slavery would continue, the sentence of death would be carried out. The cross of Christ is seen against this background. It is the price paid to release the slaves, to let the condemned go free.[2] 
  • 1 Timothy 2:2-7 is the study passage for this week because it address the important doctrine that Jesus Christ is our mediator and the only way to God. With that being said 1 Timothy 2:3–4 could potentially bring up questions in light of the previous catechism question regarding election.  1 Timothy 2:3–4 says, “this is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  The area of focus is with the words “desires all.” In the preceding two verses Paul tells Timothy that, first of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way (1 Timothy 2:1–2). Then in verse three and four he explains that God desires all to be saved. It appears to me that when Paul tells Timothy that prayer should be made for all people he is referring to all types of people. This would include rulers and people in authority as Paul mentioned, it would also include both the poor and the rich, and every ethnicity. Therefore when Paul says that God desires all people to be saved, He is means all types of people. The Jew and all the Gentiles, people of every economic  status, and people in every level of authority. It is God’s desire that the Gospel go forth throughout the nations and people repent and turn to Him. This is God’s desire and it is something that will and is being accomplished.

Discussion Questions

  • Who is Jesus?
  • What does mediate mean?
  • What are some every day examples?
  • Who does Jesus mediate for and does He do it?
  • How is Jesus our redeemer and ransom?
  • Why is Jesus the only way to have fellowship with God the Father and get to Heaven?

 

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

[2] 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, Catechism, New Bible Dictionary, Wayne Grudem, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, 1 Timothy 2, 2 Kings 5, John 14, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Mar 12
18

OIA for sermon on 03/18/12

This week the sermon discussed God’s unfolding story of redemption. The sermon text is primarily based on Genesis 4-11. The following is a list of OIA questions based on Genesis 4-11.(See sermon page emmauscf.org/sermons/ for a complete list of scriptures used)

Observation
1. Are there any cultural or background issues that are important in understanding the listed passages?
2. What key word(s)/phrase(s) really stand(s) out to you in these passage of scripture? Why are/is they/it important?
3. Which scripture passage did you find most intriguing or interesting? Why?
4. What key word(s)/phrase(s) really stand(s) out to you in this passage of scripture? Why are/is they/it important?
5. If you had to sum up all 8 chapters of scripture in one sentence, what would it be?

Interpretation
1. Compare at least 3 of the used passages with at least 3 other Bible versions (NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, Ect.) What similarities/differences do you observe? Share with your group.
2. Are there any verbs, commands, prepositions, or conjunctions, that seemed to stand out? What? Why? Share.
3. Read through at least 2-3 commentaries on the listed passage and share what your learned with your group. Here are some free online resources. (http://net.bible.org) (http://www.blueletterbible.org/) (http://biblia.com)

Application
1. If a non believer were to ask the question “Why did God create mankind and what is my purpose in life?’ how would you respond based on the information found in scripture?
2. If a believer were to ask the question “Why would God create man if he knew he was going to sin”? how would you respond based on the information found in scripture?
3. What does Genesis 1-11 tell us about God’s character and person? Spend time sharing and discussing God’s tangible attributes found in this portion of scripture.

Posted in Study Guides, Gospel Community Groups, Russell Schmidt, Posted by Russell. No Comments

Mar 12
18

The Unfolding of the History of Redemption

Teaching Outline – Genesis 4 – 11
The Unfolding of the History of Redemption
3/18/2012

Intro

What can we know about the unfolding of the history of redemption from Genesis 4 through 11?

  1. The hostility between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent is real and it is clearly visible in human history.
    1. Exegesis
      1. Gen. 3:14-15 “…I will put enmity between your offspring and her offspring…”
        1. God declares war on the serpent and promises victory over sin and evil through the son of the woman.
      2. Read Gen. 4:1-13
        1. Both boys are the offspring of Eve but there is hostility between them. Why? One has saving faith and the other did not.
        2. Able acted out of faith
          1. “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” (Hebrews 11:4, ESV)
        3. CaIn was of the evil one
          1. “By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.” (1 John 3:10–12, ESV)
        4. Jesus told the unbelieving Jews in his day that they were of the Devil.
          1. “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires… (John 8:44, ESV)
  1. A wicked line and, by the grace of God, a righteous line have been established from the beginning of time.
    1. Exegesis
      1. Able and Seth were righteous whereas Cain was not.
        1. “And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed [Seth sounds like the Hebrew word for he appointed] for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.” (Genesis 4:25–26, ESV)
      2. The genealogy of Genesis 5 flows from Adam, to Seth and Enosh, all the way to Noah.
        1. It matches the genealogy in Luke 3 (38 – 36 read it backwards to follow along w Genesis 5:1-32) which runs from Jesus to Adam.
        2. Gen. 11:10-26 matches Luke 3 (36-34) except Luke includes “Cainan”.
          1. These are adequate genealogies, not complete chronologies.
          2. The point is that a line has been established
  1. When wickedness threatens to prevail God maintains His purposes by intervening and displaying His justice and mercy. 
    1. Exegesis
      1. Read Gen. 6:1-8
        1. Who are the sons of God and the daughters of men?
        2. “God was sorry” simply means that his heart was grieved by the wickedness.
          1. “Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”  (Ezekiel 33:11, ESV)
          2. Explain how it is possible to ordain something that does not please Him.
        3. “But Noah found favor [grace]”
          1. LXX – Gen 6:8 – Νωε δὲ εὗρεν χάριν ἐναντίον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ.
          2. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  (Ephesians 2:8–9, ESV)
          3. “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household.  By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” (Hebrews 11:7, ESV)
      2. Read Gen 6:9-17
        1. Justice
        2. Mercy
        3. The ark as a picture of Christ
          1. “because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.  Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.” (1 Peter 3:20–22, ESV)
  1. The strength and the stability of the history of redemption is found, not in man, but in God who mercifully enters into covenant relationship with us.  
    1. Exegesis
      1. Read Gen. 6:18-21 – Pre- Diluvian Noahic Covenant
        1. God did not make a covenant with Noah to save him from his sins – he was already saved by grace through faith.
        2. All of humanity was under the curse of God except one man and his offspring.  Why?  Because of the grace of God which is displayed through the covenant of grace.
      2. Tell the story of the flood
        1. It was a re-creation
          1. “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2, ESV)
          2. “And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.”  And it was so.” (Genesis 1:9, ESV)
        2. Noah was like a second Adam
          1. Compare Gen. 9:1-7 with Gen. 1:27-31
Gen. 1:27-31 Gen. 9:1-7
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.  And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.”  (Genesis 1:27–30, ESV) “And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea.  Into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you.  And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.  And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.  And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it.””  (Genesis 9:1–7, ESV)
        1. There was a second fall – Read Gen. 9:20-28
      1. Read Gen. 9:8-17 – Post- Diluvian Noahic Covenant
        1. This was established, not with Noah alone, but with all of humanity (9:8-10)
        2. The promise is that God will never again destroy the whole earth with the waters of the flood.  (9:11-12)
        3. The token of the covenant is the “bow in the clouds”
          1. Every time the Hebrew word “bow” is used, except for in this passage and in Ezek. 1:28 where the appearance of the Lord is compared to “the bow in the clouds”, it refers to a weapon.
          2. The token carries great symbolism – God put His weapon down.
        4. Common grace
  1. God will accomplish His purposes despite our rebellion. 
    1. Exegesis
      1. Read Gen. 11:1-9
        1. Explain the apparent contradiction between Gen. 10 and 11
        2. What is the story of Babel all about – is God a bully?
          1. “And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it…’” (Genesis 1:28, ESV)
          2. “And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth”,  (Genesis 9:1, ESV)
          3. “And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it.” (Genesis 9:7, ESV)
        3. God’s purposes involve saving a people to Himself from every, tongue, tribe people and nation.
          1. “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.  And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  (Genesis 12:1–3, ESV)
          2. “Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him.” (Genesis 18:18, ESV)
          3. “I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands.  And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,” (Genesis 26:4, ESV)
          4. “Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”  (Genesis 28:14, ESV)
          5. “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20, ESV)
          6. “And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”  (Revelation 5:9–10, ESV)

Conclusion

We are so used to studying the Bible for the primary purpose of making “personal application” to our lives that we, as the idiom goes, can’t see the forest for the trees.

We could have looked at Cain, Able and Noah and made application from the events of their lives such as “it is the heart that matters most in worship” or “live righteously even if no one else does.”  These are valid and true points, but they are not the point of Genesis 4-11. Who is missing in this approach?  God is.  And the irony is that story seems to be primarily about Him – His plan, His promises, His sovereign care.

The application is simple – believe the story of the Bible; that God is accomplishing His mission, through His people, in His way, according to His purpose, and He will do so until all has been accomplished.

 

Posted in Sermons, Church History, Redemption, Joe Anady, Genesis 10, Genesis 11, Genesis 4, Genesis 5, Genesis 6, Genesis 7, Genesis 8, Genesis 9, Posted by Mike. No Comments

Mar 12
14

This Weeks Youth Focus – 3/15

This Thursday, I’m planning on approaching our discussions differently then previous weeks. Our students at Hemet High (as well as all our youth in the valley) have had to deal with some very traumatic tragedies over the lasts couple of months. Therefore, we are going to spend some time discussing life with all of its highs and lows and examine how we as Christians should act and respond to others during various trials. My plan is to let the Spirit lead on how long we discuss these issues. If it requires the whole time then we will proceed as He leads. If not, we will finish our discussion on the Atonement that we started last week.

God bless and I hope to see you there!

-Phil

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

Mar 12
11

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standards WSC #20 (4 of 4 weeks)

Doctrinal Standard WSC #20 (4 of 4 weeks)

  • 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.

Memory Verses

  • “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith…29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:26,29, ESV).

Study Passage: Hebrews 8

Support Passages: Hebrews 9 – 11

Bible Story: Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:14-16

Thoughts

  • Scripture is very clear and Paul spent most of his missionary journeys reiterating the fact that salvation is attained by nothing but faith alone. One of the main differences between the Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant is not the commands of God but rather the type of covenant. The Mosaic Covenant is primarily a covenant of Law. If you keep the commands you will be blessed. If you disobey the commands you will be cursed. While faith was most certainly a part of the Mosaic Covenant the main point of this covenant is to show that the works of man will never be good enough to meet the requirements of God. Whereas the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) is considered a covenant of Grace. According to Jeremiah, in the New Covenant God actively places His word within the elect giving them faith and the ability to believe. This is what Paul is saying in Ephesians 2:8–9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
  • Paul said, since salvation is a gift, a gracious act of God, we have no right to say that we did anything to deserve salvation. We cannot claim that we were more intelligent than others and, therefore, sought after God, that our sinfulness was less than that of others, that we did enough good to earn God acceptance. We can’t boast in the faith that we have. Hebrew says, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”Therefore, if salvation comes only by faith, and if faith is a gift from God, our boasting should only be in the Lord who is at work in our lives.
  • So what is man’s responsibility in light of God’s work in an individual’s life? The answer is rather simple, we are to respond in faith (trusting) being driven by the desires and convictions God is creating within us. God is the one giving life to our once dead souls, He is the one guiding, and providing the faith to respond to what He has called us to do.
    • John 16:7–8 (ESV) Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
    • Romans 8:14 (ESV) For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
    • Romans 12:3 (ESV)  For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
    • John 6:44 (ESV)  No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

Discussion Questions

  • Explain what faith is?
  • Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”If salvation is by faith but yet it’s not our own doing where does faith come from?
  • If God is the “the founder and perfecter of our faith.” What is man’s responsibility in relating to God and in life in general?
  • Even though Christians have a responsibility to live a holy life before God. How does it make you feel that God is the one actively perusing and growing us spiritually?
  •   In light of what we have been studying the last few weeks can someone lose their salvation?
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Posted in Study Guides, Westminster Shorter Catechism, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Galatians 3, Hebrews 8, John 3:14, Numbers 21, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Mar 12
11

OIA for sermon on 03/11/12

This week the sermon discussed redemption and the doctrine of election. The doctrine of election is essential in fully understanding the doctrine of God, man, and redemption. The following is a list of OIA questions based on Ephesians 1:3-14.

(See sermon page emmauscf.org/sermons/ for a complete list of scriptures used)

Observation

1. Are there any cultural or background issues that are important in understanding the listed passage?
2. What key word(s)/phrase(s) really stand(s) out to you in these passage of scripture? Why are/is they/it important?
3. Which scripture passage did you find most intriguing or interesting? Why?
4. What key word(s)/phrase(s) really stand(s) out to you in this passage of scripture? Why are/is they/it important?
5. If you had to sum up all five of theses passages of scripture in one sentence, what would it be?

Interpretation

1. Compare at least 3 of the used passages with at least 3 other Bible versions (NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, Ect.) What similarities/differences do you observe? Share with your group.
2. Are there any verbs, commands, prepositions, or conjunctions, that seemed to stand out? What? Why? Share.
3. Read through at least 2-3 commentaries on the listed passage and share what your learned with your group. Here are some free online resources. (http://net.bible.org) (http://www.blueletterbible.org/) (http://biblia.com)

Application

1. In the sermon, Joe stated the question “what is the end for which God has created all things?” How would you answer this question? Share.
2. Scripture is abundantly clear that our salvation fully rests on God’s grace and will. How would you respond to a fellow Christian who was open to accepting the doctrine of election, but didn’t understand how other verses such a John 3:16 could harmonize with this doctrine? Share.
3. When you come/came to discover the comforting truth that God chose you and you are forever secure in Him, how does/did this truth change you as a Christian? (i.e. more confident, more secure, less anxious, etc.)
4. As many of us have seen first hand, the doctrine of election can spark high emotions amongst fellow Believers. Share some thoughts with your group on how one can avoid conflict in sharing with other believers (or non-believers) about the doctrine of election, while still remaining true to the scriptures.

Posted in Study Guides, Gospel Community Groups, Posted by Russell. No Comments

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"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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