I was encouraged so much by our church's conference this past weekend "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants" with Dr. Michael Haykin. He began our time pointing to five reasons why we ought to study our past;
1- God takes history seriously
2- We can learn wisdom from the past
3- the past delivers us from the stupidity of the present
4- such study helps us understand who we are
5- Our past provides models for imitation
These five points will help to provide meaning and purpose in our exposure to the Heidelberg Catechism.
Before we read Lord's Day 4, a brief word regarding the aforementioned reason #3. As with any generation, we are very much in need of wisdom in light of the vast amounts of erroneous thoughts that permeate our culture. Even within Christian circles, we are in need of great discernment because of all of the unbiblical opinions that fill our bookstores, radio stations, websites, etc. We need deliverance from all of the present stupidity! A trip back to the 16th century can help! Let me provide a short example;
This past month I have been part of a process of evaluating various Easter musicals. One, which was quite good in many ways included the following phrase in one of the closing songs; "He's not mad at you, and He's not disappointed. His grace is greater still than all of your wrong choices." I understood the context of this song to be an invitation to unbelievers to trust in Christ. His "grace is greater" but how confusing it must be for an unbeliever to reconcile how they are in need of responding to this message when God is neither mad or disappointed with them in their current state. Today's section in the Heidelberg will provide a corrective to such erroneous thought.
God is merciful and gracious, and in this we rejoice. However, He is also just and holy and can have nothing to do with sin. Apart from Christ, you are without hope and awaiting God's wrath. Read through the following questions and exalt in Our God who is both merciful and just!
9. Q:BUT DOESN'T GOD DO US AN INJUSTICE BY REQUIRING IN HIS LAW WHAT WE ARE UNABLE TO DO?
A:No. God created humans with the ability to keep the law. They, however, tempted by the devil, in reckless disobedience, robbed themselves and all their descendants of these gifts.
10. Q:WILL GOD PERMIT SUCH DISOBEDIENCE AND REBELLION TO GO UNPUNISHED?
A:Certainly not. He is terribly angry about the sin we are born with as well as the sins we personally commit. As a just judge He punishes them now and in eternity. HE has declared: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."
11. Q.BUT ISN'T GOD ALSO MERCIFUL?
A.God is certainly merciful, but He is also just. His justice demands that sin, committed against His supreme majesty, be punished with the supreme penalty-eternal punishment of body and soul.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Fridays with the Heidelberg
So, this was a big week for the Heidelberg. I originally misspelled it in the title last week, so that was embarrassing for me, and then the HC had its 448th birthday on January 19th.
Before we read Lord's Day 3, let me provide a quote for you that will hopefully serve two purposes; First, that it might point to the benefit of thoughtfully engaging with this Catechism and secondly, that it might encourage you to attend the conference sessions on The Early Church at Grace this weekend. Here it is;
The chief theological task now facing the Western church is not to reinvent or to be relevant but to remember. - Kevin DeYoung, The Good News We Almost Forgot.
Lord's Day 3
6. Q: Did God create people so wicked and perverse?
A: No. God created them good and in His own image, that is, in true righteousness and holiness, so that they might truly know God their creator, love Him with all their heart, and live with Him in eternal happiness for His praise and glory.
7. Q: Then Where does this corrupt human nature come from?
A: From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise. This fall has so poisoned our nature that we are born sinners-corrupt from conception on.
8. Q: But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined toward all evil?
A: Yes, unless we are born again, by the Spirit of God.
There is a general consensus amongst our society that we need to promote a high self-esteem amongst our children. You cannot sit down to watch T.V. for very long without viewing a commercial that seeks to remind kids that "Anything is possible if you put your mind to it, or believe, or ...fill in the blank."
However, seeing through the lens of Scripture we are reminded that our sin has corrupted us to our core. Sin has affected every area or our lives. We are Totally Depraved! Not in the sense that we are as bad as we could be, but that every area of our lives has been corrupted by sin.
These Q&A's remind us of this truth. In addition, it was not always this way. We are created in the image of God, and question 6 reminds us what things were like for Adam and Eve before the fall.
Read these questions through and think about them. I hope you will discuss them with your children. Use the following link(click here) to access the entire HC and read through the vast amounts of Scripture references that are included with each Answer.
Before we read Lord's Day 3, let me provide a quote for you that will hopefully serve two purposes; First, that it might point to the benefit of thoughtfully engaging with this Catechism and secondly, that it might encourage you to attend the conference sessions on The Early Church at Grace this weekend. Here it is;
The chief theological task now facing the Western church is not to reinvent or to be relevant but to remember. - Kevin DeYoung, The Good News We Almost Forgot.
Lord's Day 3
6. Q: Did God create people so wicked and perverse?
A: No. God created them good and in His own image, that is, in true righteousness and holiness, so that they might truly know God their creator, love Him with all their heart, and live with Him in eternal happiness for His praise and glory.
7. Q: Then Where does this corrupt human nature come from?
A: From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise. This fall has so poisoned our nature that we are born sinners-corrupt from conception on.
8. Q: But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good and inclined toward all evil?
A: Yes, unless we are born again, by the Spirit of God.
There is a general consensus amongst our society that we need to promote a high self-esteem amongst our children. You cannot sit down to watch T.V. for very long without viewing a commercial that seeks to remind kids that "Anything is possible if you put your mind to it, or believe, or ...fill in the blank."
However, seeing through the lens of Scripture we are reminded that our sin has corrupted us to our core. Sin has affected every area or our lives. We are Totally Depraved! Not in the sense that we are as bad as we could be, but that every area of our lives has been corrupted by sin.
These Q&A's remind us of this truth. In addition, it was not always this way. We are created in the image of God, and question 6 reminds us what things were like for Adam and Eve before the fall.
Read these questions through and think about them. I hope you will discuss them with your children. Use the following link(click here) to access the entire HC and read through the vast amounts of Scripture references that are included with each Answer.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Fridays with the Heidelberg
We jumped in swimming last week with the first reading, where Q:1(the most familiar question from this catechism) pointed us to Christ as our only comfort in life and in death.
Before we look at the second reading, a few initial thoughts concerning our ongoing catechetical( a word I look forward to typing often!) journey;
- The summer after I graduating High School, I visited Heidelberg, Germany. There is no real significance to this fact, but I wanted to mention it.
- Last year, I read The Good News We Almost Forgot by Kevin DeYoung. It focused on rediscovering the rich truth contained in the Heidelberg regarding the gospel. The inspiration for Friday's with the Heidelberg began while reading through this book.
- The general outline for the Heidelberg is broken down into 3 sections;
1. Of the misery of man.
2. Of the redemption of man.
3. Of the gratitude due from man (duties, etc.).
The section on the misery of man begins in today's reading.
Lord's Day reading #2;
3. Q: HOW DO YOU COME TO KNOW YOUR MISERY?
A: The Law of God tells me.
4. Q: WHAT DOES GOD'S LAW REQUIRE OF US?
A: Christ teaches us this in summary in Matthew 22- "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
5. Q: CAN YOU LIVE UP TO ALL THIS PERFECTLY?
A: No. I have a natural tendency to hate God and my neighbor.
A fundamental observation I have concerning this reading we must understand our miserable condition in order to arrive at the comfort of being in Christ. This is foolishness to the world but essential to the Christian life.
The Law points us to God's holy standard and our inability to live out God's standard. We need the bad news before we can recognize the "goodness" of the good news.
One final thought, Q:5 is a call to arms in parenting. What an awesome responsibility we have as parents. We are the ones God has called to "bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." And make no mistake, our children desperately need this discipline and instruction because they are born with a "natural tendency to hate God and his neighbor."
I encourage you to read through these Q & A's and discuss them with your families this weekend. Comments regarding this blog are also welcomed and encouraged!
Before we look at the second reading, a few initial thoughts concerning our ongoing catechetical( a word I look forward to typing often!) journey;
- The summer after I graduating High School, I visited Heidelberg, Germany. There is no real significance to this fact, but I wanted to mention it.
- Last year, I read The Good News We Almost Forgot by Kevin DeYoung. It focused on rediscovering the rich truth contained in the Heidelberg regarding the gospel. The inspiration for Friday's with the Heidelberg began while reading through this book.
- The general outline for the Heidelberg is broken down into 3 sections;
1. Of the misery of man.
2. Of the redemption of man.
3. Of the gratitude due from man (duties, etc.).
The section on the misery of man begins in today's reading.
Lord's Day reading #2;
3. Q: HOW DO YOU COME TO KNOW YOUR MISERY?
A: The Law of God tells me.
4. Q: WHAT DOES GOD'S LAW REQUIRE OF US?
A: Christ teaches us this in summary in Matthew 22- "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
5. Q: CAN YOU LIVE UP TO ALL THIS PERFECTLY?
A: No. I have a natural tendency to hate God and my neighbor.
A fundamental observation I have concerning this reading we must understand our miserable condition in order to arrive at the comfort of being in Christ. This is foolishness to the world but essential to the Christian life.
The Law points us to God's holy standard and our inability to live out God's standard. We need the bad news before we can recognize the "goodness" of the good news.
One final thought, Q:5 is a call to arms in parenting. What an awesome responsibility we have as parents. We are the ones God has called to "bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." And make no mistake, our children desperately need this discipline and instruction because they are born with a "natural tendency to hate God and his neighbor."
I encourage you to read through these Q & A's and discuss them with your families this weekend. Comments regarding this blog are also welcomed and encouraged!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Fridays with The Heidelberg
The First Friday of 2011 brings with it the first entry in "Friday's with the Heidelberg". When you read through the entire catechism, you will not agree with everything, in fact there will be at least one question were you will likely disagree completely. I hope this does not discourage you from reading through on your own and considering leading your family through some of these gospel-centered issues as you prepare for corporate worship on Sunday's. Today we will look at the first two questions from the Heidelberg. Observe how one arrives at true comfort. Take note of the focus on God's grace.
Question Lord’s Day 1
1. Q. What is your only comfort in life and death?
A. That I, with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who with his precious blood has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, wherefore by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me heartily willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him
2. Q. How many things are necessary for you to know, that you in this comfort may live and die happily?
A. Three; the first, how great my sins and misery are; the second, how I am delivered from all my sins and misery; the third, how I am to be thankful to God for such deliverance.
Question Lord’s Day 1
1. Q. What is your only comfort in life and death?
A. That I, with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who with his precious blood has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, wherefore by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me heartily willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him
2. Q. How many things are necessary for you to know, that you in this comfort may live and die happily?
A. Three; the first, how great my sins and misery are; the second, how I am delivered from all my sins and misery; the third, how I am to be thankful to God for such deliverance.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Welcome!
Looking back over the last several years, God has been increasing my awareness of the importance of both the local church and the family. An awareness that has cultivated a greater love for both of these God-ordained institutions.
This blog is intended to "co-champion"(a term not original to me) these two institutions. It's intent is to serve as a resource for the family, to be a forum for parental dialogue, to draw attention to biblically faithful articles, links, reviews and other outlets regarding family issues.
During 2011, each Friday will be "Friday's with The Heidelberg." The Heidelberg Catechism is a 16th century Catechism that was divided into 52 Lord's Day readings. Perhaps it will create some "food for thought" during family worship throughout the year.
Interspersed between these weekly catechetical comments will be random entries discussing the church and family.
I hope you enjoy the blog. I pray it encourages and equips.
This blog is intended to "co-champion"(a term not original to me) these two institutions. It's intent is to serve as a resource for the family, to be a forum for parental dialogue, to draw attention to biblically faithful articles, links, reviews and other outlets regarding family issues.
During 2011, each Friday will be "Friday's with The Heidelberg." The Heidelberg Catechism is a 16th century Catechism that was divided into 52 Lord's Day readings. Perhaps it will create some "food for thought" during family worship throughout the year.
Interspersed between these weekly catechetical comments will be random entries discussing the church and family.
I hope you enjoy the blog. I pray it encourages and equips.
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