Upcoming Sermon Series

Beginning this past Sunday (08.02.20), we will be starting a prolonged sermon series that will explore what we believe as it outlined in the Heidelberg Catechism. The Heidelberg is one of the 12 Confessional Standards of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and is arguably the most pastoral of the teaching materials in it.
The brief background of the Catechism is as follows:
“The Heidelberg Catechism was composed in Heidelberg at the request of Elector Frederick III, who ruled the Palatinate, an influential German province, from 1559 to 1576. An old tradition credits Zacharius Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus with being coauthors of the new catechism. Both were certainly involved in its composition, although one of them may have had primary responsibility. All we know for sure is reported by the Elector in his preface of January 19, 1563. It was, he writes, “with the advice and cooperation of our entire theological faculty in this place, and of all superintendents and distinguished servants of the church” that he secured the preparation of the Heidelberg Catechism. The catechism was approved by a synod in Heidelberg in January 1563. A second and third German edition, each with small additions, as well as a Latin translation were published the same year in Heidelberg. Soon the catechism was divided into fifty-two sections so that one Lord’s Day could be explained in preaching each Sunday of the year.
The Synod of Dort in 1618-1619 approved the Heidelberg Catechism, and it soon became the most ecumenical of the Reformed catechisms and confessions. The catechism has been translated into many European, Asian, and African languages and is the most widely used and most warmly praised catechism of the Reformation period.
The 1968 Synod of the Christian Reformed Church appointed a committee to prepare “a modern and accurate translation … which will serve as the official text of the Heidelberg Catechism and as a guide for catechism preaching.” A translation was adopted by the Synod of 1975, and some editorial revisions were approved by the Synod of 1988.
The English translation follows the first German edition of the catechism except in two instances explained in footnotes to questions 57 and 80. The result of those inclusions is that the translation therefore actually follows the German text of the third edition as it was included in the Palatinate Church Order of November 15, 1563. This is the “received text” used throughout the world.”— Taken from the Introductory note to the Catechism as printed in the Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible (c) 2003 Zondervan. Pg 2143

This week we will be looking at Q&A 1&2:
Q1] What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A1] That I am not my own, but belong body and soul, in life and in death to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.
Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Q2] What must you know to live and die in the joy of this comfort?
A2] Three things: first, how great my sin and misery are; second, how I am set free from all my sins and misery; third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance.

Our Scripture lessons in looking at this topic will be:
Psalm 8:1 – 9
Matthew 10:26 – 33
Romans 8:18 – 39

This Sunday, (08.09.20), we will tackle the next set of questions, 3 – 5, and will begin to look at how we get to the point of knowing that amazing comfort of God’s love and grace.

This week’s Scripture lessons and catechism questions will be:
Scripture Lessons: Deuteronomy 6:1-9
Jeremiah 17:1-13;
John 3:16 – 21 &
Romans 3:1 – 20
Sermon Title: “How Do We Know Our Misery? ”

Lord’s Day 2 Q & A:
Q3] How do you come to know your misery?
A3] The law of God tells me.

Q4] What does God’s law require of us?
A4] Christ teaches us this in summary in Matthew: “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.

Q5] Can you live up to all this perfectly?
A5] No. I have a natural tendency to hate God and my neighbor.