Feb 12
13

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #19

Doctrinal Standards 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.

Memory Verses

  • “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10 ESV).

Study Passage: Matthew 25:31-46

Support Passages: Deuteronomy 28; Lamentations

Bible Story: Luke 16:19-31

Thoughts

  • We always need to be reminded that sin has resulted in a separation from or broken relationship with God. Because of our sins, we all deserve the full wrath of God. God would be just and righteous in condemning every single human being to hell for the punishment of their transgression. This truth is extremely important to understand. God does not have to save a single individual from the punishment they rightly deserve. But He does choose to save some. The fact that He saves some when He is not obligated to do so clearly expresses the true meaning of God’s grace and mercy.
  • After Adam and Eve sinned against God, they were told that as a consequence they would experience misery and pain for the remainder of life (Genesis3:14-19). This misery, like sin, is passed down from generation to generation. Suffering, heartache, frustration, and a longing for things to be perfect is a result of sin entering into the world.

Discussion Questions

  • What is sin?
  • What is the punishment for sin? Explain.
  • Is it both a physical and spiritual death? Explain.
  • Besides death, what other effects does sin have on life?
  • Would God be just to punish and send every single human being to Hell? Why?
  • If God can justly send every human being to Hell for their sins, why doesn’t He?
  • After answering the previous two questions, explain God’s grace and mercy.
Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Deuteronomy 28, Luke 16:19-31, Matthew 25:31-46, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Feb 12
12

OIA for sermon on 02/12/12

This week the sermon covered Genesis chapter 3:1-6. The beginning of Genesis 3 gives the first glimpse of a world that has been tainted by sin. Satan is already active in his deception with mankind and the sin initiated struggle of man’s heart is revealed. The following is a list of OIA questions for discussion in your Gospel Community Groups. The Bible text follows the questions .

Observation
1. Who is the intended audience in this passage?
2. Are there any cultural or background issues that are important in understanding this passage?
3. When was this scripture written?
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 this passage with at least 3 other Bible versions (NIV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, Ect.) What similarities/differences do you observe? Share with your group.
2. Were there any verbs, commands, prepositions, or conjunctions, that seemed to stand out? What? Why? Share.
3. Read through at least 2-3 commentaries on this passage and share what your learned with your group.

Application
1. The first recored words spoken from the mouth of Satan were a direct lie and contradiction to God’s command. Since the world is now the domain and realm of satan (Eph 6:12), what are some examples of worldly systems that try to “lie” to people in direct opposition of God’s word?
2. Have you ever “bought” into the lies of the devil, only to find out later that you had been deceived by the enemy? What was your experience? How did you feel? What did you do? Share.
3. Where has satan currently been “attacking” or “deceiving” you? Share with your group and pray for one another. Remember, our battle is not against flesh and blood…….

Genesis 3:1-6 Bible Text Only
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord
God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat
of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of
the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing
good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that
it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one
wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who
was with her, and he ate.

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

Feb 12
7

OIA for sermon on 02/05/12

This week the sermon gave a summary of Genesis chapters 1 and 2. In the summary Joe mentioned five main truths that are learned from these two chapters. The truths are:

1. Everything is ultimately about the almighty God who created the heavens, the earth, and everything within.
2. God is powerful, good, gracious, and relational.
3. Humans bear the image of God (though now deformed).
4. Though we are made in the image of God, even in our perfect state we were but dust- fully dependent on God for life and sustenance.
5. The thing that made paradise, paradise is that all worship was directed toward the one Person to whom worship is due.

The following is a list of 5 application questions corresponding to each truth.

1. How has your past week reflected this truth? Are you viewing your daily life as being a part of Gods ultimate plan? Are you viewing your life as God’s process of spiritual formation as we are being shaped into the person that God will use for eternity? How so? Why or why not? Share with your group.
2. How has your view of God changed as you have grown closer to him? What do you struggle with in your perception of God? (i.e. He will not be faithful, He will take something/someone from me, He is angry with me, etc.)
3. What does it mean to “bear the image of God”? Discuss with your group.
4. At our core, we are designed to be dependent on God for all things. Where do you struggle in this area (money, love, job, security, purpose)?
5. What does it mean to “worship” God. Discuss. Be sure to reference scripture.

Posted in Study Guides, Gospel Community Groups, Russell Schmidt, Genesis 1, Genesis 2, Posted by Russell. No Comments

Feb 12
7

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #17 & 18

Doctrinal Standards WSC #17 & 18

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

Memory Verses

  • ”For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, ESV).
  • “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1, ESV).

Study Passage: Romans 3:1-20

Support Passages: Psalm 5:9, 10:7, 14:1-3, 36:1-4; 53:1-4; Isaiah 59

Bible Story: Numbers 13-14 (14:1-10)

Thoughts

  • Adam and Eve were the only two human beings to live without sin. They did not have a sin nature until they disobeyed God by eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Since Adam and Eve, the Bible teaches that every single human is born with a sin nature. That is to say they we are “conceived in sin”. From the very beginning of an individual’s life their heart is sinful – they are an enemy of God. It is the death of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit that enables us to have eternal life.
  • As a result of Adam and Eve’s sin, we display our own disobedience to the true and living God.  Our sinful heart is revealed by the words that come out of our mouth and our sinful actions.

Discussion Questions

  • What is sin?
  • What was the sin of Adam and Eve?
  • What were the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin?
  • Are individuals born sinful or do they learn how to sin? Explain.
  • If we are born sinful, we are enemies of God. How do we become friends of God?
  • What part does God play in this process?
  • What part does man play in this process?
  • What do our actions and words reveal about our heart?
Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Romans 3:1-20, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Jan 12
30

OIA for sermon on 01/29/12

OIA questions based on sermon given 01-29-12
The sermon this week focused on the nature of God through His creation, the fall, and redemption. The scripture references come from Genesis 2:1-25. The following is a series of observation, interpretation, and application questions based on Genesis 2:1-25.

Observation
Who is the intended audience in this passage?
Are there any cultural or background issues that are important in understanding this passage?
When was this scripture written?
What key word(s)/phrase(s) really stand(s) out to you in this passage of scripture? Why are/is they/it important?
If you had to sum up all five of theses passages of scripture in one sentence, what would it be?

Application

What does Genesis chapter 2 teach about man’s (and woman’s) purpose in life? How does this    apply to Christians living today? Give examples.
What does Genesis chapter 2 teach about mankind’s relationships? (i.e. with God, with others, etc.) Explain and share with your group.
What does Genesis chapter 2 reveal about the nature of God? Try to find specific aspects and terms and share with your group. (Hint: Joe’s 3 point message is a good place to start.
How does Genesis Chapter 2 change your current perception about people (mankind) in general? About God? About creation?
How can Genesis 2 be helpful in the context of evangelism? Explain.

Posted in Study Guides, Gospel Community Groups, Russell Schmidt, Genesis 2:1-25, Posted by Russell. No Comments

Jan 12
29

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #16

Doctrinal Standards 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.

Memory Verses

  • “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5, ESV).

Study Passage: Romans 5:12-21

Support Passages: Genesis 8:20-21; Job 14:1-6; Psalm 51:5; John 3:3-6; Ephesians 2:3

Bible Story: Genesis 6-8

Thoughts

  • Scripture teaches, and many times assumes, the position that that Adam and Eve were the only two human beings created without sin. Once their “fall” took place sin entered into the nature of man and is passed down to each generation.
  •  Below are a few scriptures that teach that mankind has inherited a sin nature from their parents:
    • 1 Corinthians 15:21–22, (ESV) “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
    • Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
    • Ephesians 2:1–3 (ESV) “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.“
    • Genesis 8:21 (ESV) “And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.”
    • Psalm 14:2–3 “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”
    • “If we are born innocent and good, why aren’t there at least some people who have continued in this state and remained sinless? The fact that everybody sins needs some explanation. The best explanation is that we are sinners by nature. Someone might argue that the reason all people sin is because society is sinful, and thus society renders it impossible for anybody to keep themselves entirely pure. But that only pushes the question back one step. How did society get sinful in the first place? If people are born morally good, then how did it come about that they congregated into societies that influence all people to sin?” (Matt Perman – Desiringgod.org).

Discussion Questions

  • What was the covenant God made with Adam and Eve?
  • What does it mean that the covenant was “not only for Adam but also for his natural descendants?”
  • Are we able to keep the covenant that God made with Adam and all mankind? Why?
  • Are you and I born a sinner or is it something we have to learn? Explain.
  • Think about your own feelings or thoughts when you have the choice to do what’s right or wrong. Which choice does your heart prefer to choose? How does this prove sin nature?
  • If we are born a sinner and are unable to keep the covenant that God made with Adam and all of mankind what hope do we have?
  • A couple weeks ago we talked about covenants of work and covenants of grace. Explain the two types of covenants.
  • Because of our sin nature what covenant must we be a part of in order to please God? Explain.
Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, 1 Corinthians 15:21–22, Ephesians 2:1–3, Genesis 8:21, Psalm 14:2–3, Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:12-21, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Jan 12
24

OIA for sermon on 01/22/12

OIA questions based on sermon given 01-22-12
The sermon this week focused on the concept of what it means to be made in the image of God. The scripture references come from Genesis 1:26-31. The following is a series of observation, interpretation, and application questions based on Genesis 1:26-31.

Observation
1. Who is the intended audience in this passage?
2. Are there any cultural or background issues that are important in understanding this passage?
3. When was this scripture written?
4. What key word(s)/phrase(s) really stand(s) out to you in this passage of scripture? Why are/is they/it important?
If you had to sum up all five of theses passages of scripture in one sentence, what would it be?

Interpretation
1. What do the terms image and likeness mean in verse 26? (NASB) (Note that there are multiple views on this question, so do some research)
2. What do the terms subdue and rule over mean in verse 28? (NASB)

Application
1. Look around the room at your small group members. What you are looking at is the only thing out of all creation that was made in the image of God. Really think about this and discuss it with your group. What should this information cause one to change in their daily walk? In their relationships with other? Relationship with Christ?
2. In verse 28 God commands man to “subdue” and “rule over” the earth. It is mans responsibility to properly rule over and care for the earth. Are we observing this commandment in our own lives? What practical things can Christians do to be better stewards of the earth?
3. After reflecting on the fact that all of mankind is made in the image of God, spend time in prayer that we as individuals and as a church will show the love of God to His special creation. Also, pray that Emmaus would be a church of Love that continually shows the love of Christ to the community, nations, and world.

Posted in Study Guides, Gospel Community Groups, Russell Schmidt, Genesis 1:26-31, Posted by Russell. No Comments

Jan 12
23

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #14 & 15

Doctrinal Standards WSC #14 & 15

  • Q. What is sin?
  • A. Sin is disobeying or not conforming to God’s law in any way.
  • Q. By what sin did our first parents fall from their original condition?
  • A. Our first parents’ sin was eating the forbidden fruit.

Memory Verses

  • ”Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4, ESV).

Study Passage: I John 3

Support Passages: Leviticus 4; Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Romans 3:9-24; James 2:1-13

Bible Story: Genesis 4:1-15

Thoughts

  • “Sin never consists merely in a voluntary act of transgression. Every volition proceeds from something that is more deep-seated than the volition itself. A sinful act is the expression of a sinful heart (cf. Mk. 7:20–23; Pr. 4:23; 23:7). Our understanding of sin must always take into consideration  the perversity of heart, mind, disposition and will.”[1]
  • 1 John 3 is very adamant that the people of God are to not be caught up in sin. In verse 10 He writes that “whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God.” There are a couple important words to examine to fully understand what John is telling us in this passage. The word righteousness is used in scripture in a couple different ways. Righteousness can mean our acceptance before God. We are righteous before God because of what Christ did on the cross which we had no part in. Righteousness can also refer to living right before God. We are to be “Holy as (God) is holy,” we are to obey the commands of God. In 1 John chapter 3 the word righteous has the meaning of the latter.  John is calling Christians to live a life in obedience to the commands of God.
  • As Christians we are to practice living a life in obedience to the commands of God. We are to struggle to live a righteous life before God and when we do sin we can be obedient by immediately confess it to the Lord (1 John 1:9).

Discussion Questions

  • What is sin?
  • Who determines what sin is? Can it change?
  • How does our culture view sin?
  • If sin is not conforming to God’s law, what first must we know?
  • Can we know what sin is without knowing God’s word? Explain
  • Is ignorance a valid excuse to sinning? Explain
  • Are acting upon a desire and temptation the same thing (Genesis 4:6-7)? Explain

 

[1] Wood, D. R. W., & Marshall, I. H. (1996). New Bible dictionary (3rd ed.) (1107). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.

Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, 1 John 1:9, I John 3, 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."
(Colossians 1:28, ESV)

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