Oct 11
24

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard #4 (1 of 3)

Doctrinal Standard WSC #4

Q. What is God?
A. God is a spirit, whose being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.

Scripture Memory

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24, ESV)

Study Passage: John 4:1-26, 38-42
Support Passages: I Timothy 1:15-17, 6:13-16; Isaiah 40:12-31, 45:5-25
Bible Story: I Kings 18:21-40;

Thoughts

God is a spirit. He is not a material being nor is not confined to one location. We are called to worship God in spirit. The worship of God the Father must be done with the understanding that His Spirit dwells within the individual believer and that we are accepted by the Father because of the death of Christ for the punishment of our sins. Furthermore, God is Spirit He is not confined to a single place therefore we are able to worship God at any location that we may be. Last, God is a spirit that is unseen therefore our worship is out of faith of the unseen.

We are to worship God in truth. Worshiping God in truth starts with the understanding Jesus is the only way to the Father. If we are to worship God in truth it must be done through the redeeming power of Christ blood. We must also worship God in accordance to His everlasting attributes and in the manner by which he prescribed in His commands.

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean that God is a Spirit?
  • If God is a Spirit why is He described as having physical features of humans (eyes, hand, etc)?
  • Is God the only spirit?
  • If God is a spirit then why did Jesus come as a man?
  • Why should we be careful to only think of Jesus as a physical being?
  • What does it mean to worship God in truth?
  • What can we learn about God from His attributes?
  • Can God’s attribute’s conflict with one another?

 

 

 

Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, John 4:1-26, John 4:38-42, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Oct 11
17

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard #3

Doctrinal Standard WSC #3
Q. What does the bible primarily teach?
A. The Bible primarily teaches what man must believe about God and what God requires of man.
Scripture Memory “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV)

Insight

It is through the scriptures that God has spoken and revealed His will to mankind. It is our responsibility, through the help of the Holy Spirit, to study and understand the scriptures. The Bible was given by God to reveal truths about Him that could not be concluded from studying creation. Furthermore, scripture was given to make us wise for salvation, instruct us on how to live a life pleasing to God, correct our misunderstandings about mankind and God, and to rebuke us of our sinful actions.

What does God require of man? God requires man to realize that his greatest efforts of righteousness are like dirty rags before God. Man must trust in Jesus Christ’s death as a substitute for the punishment He deserves for his sins. Once the righteousness of Christ is placed on man, man must walk in obedience to the commands of the Lord with the help of the Holy Spirit.

G.I. Williamson in his book “The Westminster Shorter Catechesim” mentions that catechism questions 4-38 teaches what we must believe about God while questions 39-107 teach what God requires of man.

Discussion Questions

  • Why must we study scripture?
  • What would be the result of misunderstanding the truths about God or mankind?
  • Are there any other sources of truth about God or mankind?
  • Does God accept ignorance as a reasonable excuse for not knowing scripture?
  • How does the Bible apply to everyday life?
  • What does God require of man?
Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, 2 Timothy 3:16, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Oct 11
10

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard #2

Q. What authority from God directs us how to glorify and enjoy Him?

A. The only authority for glorifying and enjoying Him is the bible, which is the word of God and is made up of the Old and New Testaments.

The Bible is the only source of the saving knowledge of God, therefore we must study it and follow its commands. Jesus said that if we love the Father we will keep His commands. We study and obey not to gain merit with God but to show our love and respect for God. Our Father’s commands are not intended to be burdensome but to give us an abundant life that is freed from sin.

Discussion Questions

  • Why is obeying God’s commands considered a way of glorifying Him?
  • Why is obeying God’s commands considered an enjoyable thing?
  • Why did God give us commands on what to do and what not to do?
  • Compare how obeying God’s commands is like obeying your parent’s commands.
  • What does obeying God reveal about our relationship with Him?
  • Jesus says his commands are not burdensome. Do you find this true? Explain.
  • What does creation teach us about God? What can’t creation teach us about God?
Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Oct 11
3

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard #1

Each week I’m planning on posting information and or discussion questions about the weekly doctrinal standard to help support and encourage our parents in teaching their children the foundational truths of Christianity.

Q. What is man’s primary purpose?

A. Man’s primary purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

Discussion Questions

  • How did Nebuchadnezzar eventually glorify God? (refer to scripture in passage’s journal )
  • How can you glorify God in your daily life?
  • Who glorifies God more: a pastor or a mechanic? Explain
  • What does it mean to be Christ-centered?
  • Nebuchadnezzar was not Christ (God) centered. What was at the center of his life? (refer to scripture in passage’s journal)
  • What are some things that might take the place of Christ as the center of someone’s life?
  • The Bible teaches that believers are the temple of God in which Christ dwells. How does this help our ability to be Christ centered?
Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Jul 11
19

Gospel Community Groups 1st Meeting

Hello Gospel Community Group Leaders and welcome. What an exciting time for Emmaus Christian Fellowship. Below is a basic guide for the structure of our first meeting. Each week I will update the blog with a new guide and information for that particular week. Feel free to use this guide as much as you feel comfortable. However, please do not disregard it completely, as I would like all of the groups to be on the same page. So please make it a point to check the blog at least once a week.

Sample outline for 1st  meeting

1. Prior to meeting with your group, make sure to review the handouts given at the GCG training. This will help you remember the priorities of the group. Review Cloud and Townsend’s Part 4 if you have not already done so. Reflect on the picture model that I handed out and ask the Lord to guide you and give you wisdom as we begin these groups. A recap of the top 7 group priorities are

-Think Life Change

-Cultivate Relationships

-Promote Group Involvement

-Identify Replacements

-Provide Guidance and Care

-Monitor Environment for Love, Acceptance, and Honesty.

-Don’t Neglect Your Personal Spiritual Life

2. Before you start your group, be sure to spend some time in deep and thoughtful prayer. Pray for your group members, the direction of the group, Gods changing power within the group, etc.

3. Begin the group with an introduction of yourself and all the others in the group.

4. Spend the first portion of the group explaining what we tend to accomplish throughout the duration of these groups. Feel free to refer to any of the handouts from the training.

5. Next, spend some time explaining what is expected of each group member by referring to Cloud and Townsend part 5. Allow this to be a time of open discussion as we want everyone to understand their role in the group. A suggestion would be to use each of Cloud and Townsend’s topics one by one; introduce the topic, explain the topic, and get feedback on how the group feels about each topic. Cloud and Townsend list 13 topics beginning on pg. 193

6. Finally, spend some time in open fellowship. Just hang out for a while and get to know one another. Remember, our focus is not on strict curriculum or firm structure, it is about molding oneanother into the image of Christ by oneanothering and truthing in love. Relationships are central.

7. End in prayer.

*Contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I am praying for you all and am so excited to see how God is going to change lives in our Gospel Community Groups. To God be the Glory. Grace and Peace to you all.

-Russell

Posted in News, Study Guides, Gospel Community Groups, Russell Schmidt, Posted by Russell. 2 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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