This Thursday we will be examining and discussing the Westminster Shorter Catechism questions 7-10. These questions and answers contain important biblical doctrine that all believers must know in order to stand strong in their faith and be ambassadors for Christ within their own community. I’m looking forward to a great night of games, musical worship, and discussing the word of God. Hope to see you there!

WSC #7
Q. What are the decrees of God?
A. The decrees of God are His eternal plan based on the purpose of His will, by which, for His own glory, He has foreordained everything that happens.

WSC #8
Q. How does God carry out His decrees?
A. God carries out His decrees in creation and providence.

 WSC #9
Q. What is creation?
A. Creation is God’s making everything out of nothing by His powerful word in six days – and all very good.

WSC #10
Q. How did God create man?
A. God created man, male and female, in His own image and in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, to rule over the other creatures.

This Thursday, we are going to be discussing what the Bible teaches about the heart. If we don’t have a correct biblical worldview about the heart we will never fully understand our depravity, actions, thoughts, and utter dependence upon Jesus Christ for heart transformation. Jesus, recorded in Matthew 15:19, provides tremendous insight into the heart and our actions, saying, “for out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” I have read and heard these passages of scripture for many years but only recently have I realized its magnitude. I have come to realize that sin in my life is not primarily something external that I react to or partake in but rather it is mainly internal and appears when certain situations bring it out. In other words every thought, action, and word provides an opportunity for myself and others to get a glimpse of who I am, my own heart. This is extremely sobering and leaves me with only one option to run to our Savior for the heart change that I so desperately need. That, my friends, is where the amazing grace and gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ comes in!

I’m looking forward to discussing these biblical truths in greater detail with you Thursday night.

-Phil

There will be no youth this Thursday due to Thanksgiving.  I encourage you to take a little extra time on Thursday and think upon the greatness of God and thank Him in prayer for all that He has done for you and I!

Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 ESV).

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! ² Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! ³ For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. ⁴ In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. ⁵ The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. ⁶ Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! (Psalm 95:1–6 ESV)

Happy Thanksgiving

-Phil

This Thursday, we are going to finish examining and discussing the first six catechism questions of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Two weeks ago we discussed questions 1-3 and this week we will finish with questions 4-6.  Hope to see you there!

WSC #1
Q. What is man’s primary purpose?
A. Man’s primary purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
(1 Co 10:31; Ro 11:36; Ps 73:25-28)

WSC #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.
(2 Ti 3:16; Eph 2:20; 1 Jn 1:3,4)

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.
(2 Ti 1:13; 2 Ti 3:16)

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.
(Jn 4:24; Job 11:7-9; Ps 90:2; Jas 1:17; Ex 3:14; Ps 147:5; Rev 4:8; Rev 15:4; Ex 34:6,7)

WSC #5
Q.Is there more than one God?
A. There is only one, the living and true God.
(Dt 6:4; Jer 10:10)

WSC #6
Q. How many persons are there in the one God?
A. Three persons are in the one God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, the same in substance and equal in power and glory.
(1 Jn 5:7; Mt 28:19; Jn 10:30)

With the Veteran’s Day Holiday on Friday and Thursday being Melissa’s and my marriage anniversary we are canceling youth this week.   Have a great week!

This Thursday, we are going to take a break from our apologetic study of scripture and focus on the first five catechism questions from the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Each week, we have briefly discussed the weekly catechism question and answer keeping pace with the children and the rest of the church. This week, we will take time to examine, discuss, and strive to understand these important doctrinal standards. Listed below are the catechism question and answers we will be looking at. Hope to see you there!

WSC #1
Q. What is man’s primary purpose?
A. Man’s primary purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
(1 Co 10:31; Ro 11:36; Ps 73:25-28)

WSC #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.
(2 Ti 3:16; Eph 2:20; 1 Jn 1:3,4)

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.
(2 Ti 1:13; 2 Ti 3:16)

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.
(Jn 4:24; Job 11:7-9; Ps 90:2; Jas 1:17; Ex 3:14; Ps 147:5; Rev 4:8; Rev 15:4; Ex 34:6,7)

WSC #5
Q.Is there more than one God?
A. There is only one, the living and true God.
(Dt 6:4; Jer 10:10)

This week we will conclude our three week study on the evidence for the existence of God. The last two weeks we examined the cosmological argument also known as the first cause argument and the moral argument. This Thursday we will be examining teleological or intelligent design argument. With the increase of technology and the ongoing study of molecular biology scientist are beginning to see that living things are composed of microscopic complex organisms that point to an intelligent designer known as God.  To aid us in the study of the teleological argument, we will be watching and discussing a DVD titled “Unlocking the Mystery of Life” by Michael Behe.

As we conclude our series on the evidence for the existence of God. I want to remind you that we have only briefly addressed these topics. The goal of doing so is to expose our students to the fact that there are logical and evidential reasons for believing in God. I pray that our students will further their study in these areas as they grow in their faith and are challenged by their peers and teachers.

Hope to see you there!

-Phil

This Thursday will be the second week to a three week series discussing evidential arguments for the existence of God. This week we will examine the moral argument. William Lane Craig describes the moral argument in an article titled “Five Arguments for God” as followed:

1. If God does not exist, objective moral values and duties do not exist.

2. Objective moral values and duties do exist.

3. Therefore, God exists

The moral argument proposes that since there is morality or a universal belief of right and wrong then there must be a universal moral giver. Furthermore, morality is presented in the form of commands, do this or don’t do that. Therefore, commands depend on a commander and Christians refer to that commander as God.

I’m looking forward to another great Thursday night discussing deep and relevant Christian issues.

Hope to see you there!

-Phil