Bulletin for August 11, 2024

The Bible: God’s Own Playbook

Last week, we considered the chief end of man, to glorify and enjoy God, but how do we get there? Consider Shorter Catechism 2:

Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.

In other words, God hasn’t simply given us a goal with no instructions. He’s told us how to achieve that goal. There are a couple of different claims here.

First, the catechism is suggesting that Scripture is sufficient for this purpose. “For this purpose” is an important qualification because we’re not saying that Scripture is sufficient for training electricians. In fact, you should be wary of any preacher that has a “biblical” opinion on such things. Instead, God gave us Scripture with the aim of teaching us how to glorify and enjoy him. This is the purpose that Scripture gives for itself.

…that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. – 1 John 1:3-4

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Second, the catechism says that Scripture is the only rule to direct us how to glorify and enjoy God. This is really just a consequence of Scripture’s sufficiency. Of course, that doesn’t mean we can’t explain and apply Scripture. Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers for this very purpose (Eph 4:10). In fact, the catechism itself is an example of the church explaining and applying Scripture! But all of our teaching and application must flow from and be grounded on Scripture. In the context in which the catechism was written, they were particularly concerned with some of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Rome teaches something called supererogation. It’s the idea that there are super-works beyond what is required in Scripture that people can do for extra benefits. For example, Rome says that if you die wearing the brown scapular (a necklace with an itchy, uncomfortable patch attached) then you’re guaranteed salvation. This is blatantly unbiblical and exactly the kind of thing that the catechism is trying to guard against. Less obvious examples you might hear include extra giving, certain devotional practices, and engagement in social issues. But the catechism is saying that only God can tell us what glorifies him. (By the way, this is related to the Second Commandment we talked about a couple weeks ago.)

Finally, the catechism tells us exactly what the Word of God is, namely, the Old and New Testaments. There are two errors to avoid here. On one hand, some would like to expand Scripture beyond these bounds by adding books. Others do the opposite by undermining the authority of certain books. There are several ways we could talk about this, but the catechism cites Ephesians 2:20 which says the church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.” In other words, we can know what books are Scripture because of the witness of God’s ordained Scripture writers. The Old Testament books are those which are written or approved by the prophets. In particular, we know that Ezra, an inspired prophet of God, was the man who finally compiled the Old Testament as we know it. If you read the Gospels with an eye toward this question, you’ll notice that this is the collection of books that Jesus himself uses. There are many examples, but one in particular is illuminating. In Matthew 23:35, Jesus talks about the history of God’s people from Abel to Zechariah. Besides the providential fact that the English alphabet runs from A to Z, Jesus is referencing two events at the beginning and end of the Hebrew Bible.¹ The New Testament books are those written or approved by the apostles. So, for example, while the book of 1 Clement is very good, it was written after the death of the apostles, so we don’t consider it Scripture.

In summary, the catechism is really giving a statement of sola Scripture, the idea that Scripture is the only, infallible rule of faith and life. If you want to read more, you can look at the first chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith for a fuller picture. Another succinct statement of the same principle is found in the EPC Essentials of our Faith:

All Scripture is self-attesting and being Truth, requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is a complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts culminating in the incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks.

Updates

1. Sunday night at 5 PM, we’ll be having another Parents’ Fellowship at the Newman’s house.

2. Women will meet for a few minutes after worship to discuss lunch for the 17th, then the regular meeting is Thursday, August 22, at 6:30 PM.

3. Remember Ron Horgan will be joining us next week for a Saturday seminar and lunch, then he will help us in worship by preaching and administering the Lord’s Supper.

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

Bulletin for August 4, 2024

What is a catechism?

If you’ve been around our church for a short time, you’ll have heard about our catechisms. A catechism is a document that is used for teaching, and it’s written in question and answer form. Catechisms have a long history in the Church, and they have usually been used as a way to prepare young people and converts for the Lord’s Supper. For example, when John Calvin was pastoring in Geneva, one of the requirements for children to be admitted to the Table was to recite the Genevan Catechism. Ordinarily, a catechism is structured around three things: the Apostles’ Creed, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord’s Prayer. Another way to look at it is that catechism are normally divided into doctrine (the Creed) and duty (the Commandments and Lord’s Prayer). These serve as a helpful way to teach the faith and pass it on to those who come after us.

In our church, we use three different catechisms. When the Westminster Assembly met in the 1640s to write a new confession of faith, they were also tasked with writing a catechism. They ultimately produced two: the Shorter Catechism and the Larger Catechism. The Shorter Catechism is, of course, shorter, and it was intended for teaching children and laypeople. The Larger Catechism is an expanded version intended for elders and more mature Christians. We also have the Children’s Catechism which our kids learn on Wednesday night. It is a condensed version of the Shorter Catechism so that even very young children could get started learning the faith. It was produced in the 1800s by an American minister. You’ve probably heard me quote all three of these in sermons.

My intention in the coming weeks is to write some short reflections the Shorter Catechism so that you can have some devotional reflections going into Sunday worship. This week, let’s look at the first question of the Shorter Catechism.

The Chief End of Man

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

If you look back at our second sermon on Exodus 3, you’ll remember that the two most important questions we need to answer are “Who am I?” and “Who is God?” We’ll get to that second question later, but the catechism begins with the first question. Who am I? What am I here for? The answer comes in two parts.

First, our chief end or purpose is to glorify God. This stems from the fact that the chief end of everything is God’s glory. Paul says in Romans 11:36,

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

In Colossians 1:16, Paul also says that all things were created through and for Christ. This, of course, applies to all things, but especially humans.

The catechism then adds another purpose: “to enjoy him forever.” All things glorify God, but not all things enjoy God. Rocks and trees and birds do not have the capacity for joy like people do. Because we are made in the image of God, we have the unique privilege of experiencing joy. Humans have the special opportunity to have true fellowship with God. We are adopted into his household and share in the inheritance of his Son. No other creation, not even the angels in heaven, have this privilege.

What does this mean for us? Well, the central question is whether you enjoy God. We ought to seek to glorify God, but God is ultimately glorified whatever we do. Even if we reject him, he will be glorified in his justice toward the unrighteous. But he calls us to more than that. He calls us to glorify him by delighting in him.

Do you delight in God? When he calls you into his worship, do you respond with joyful faith? Or do you come slowly and hesitantly? We are supposed to be a joy-filled people who are pleased in our Creator and Redeemer. We ought to share a heart with the psalmist who says,

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. (Ps. 73:25-28)

Now, the natural question that follows is this: what if I don’t enjoy God? What if I struggle with this? How can I glorify and enjoy God? Next week, we’ll consider the answer to those questions from Shorter Catechism 2-3.

Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.

Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A. The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

Updates

1. This week, right after worship, we’ll have a brief parents’ meeting about the youth membership class. I’m going to give a quick overview of what we’ll be doing, and we need to work out a schedule.

2. Parents’ Fellowship will meet next week, August 11th, at 5 PM at the Newmans’ home.

3. Rev. Ron Horgan will be with on August 17-18.

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

Bulletin for July 28, 2024

Bulletin for July 21, 2024

The Ten Commandments

This week, we’re going to get a start on the Ten Commandments and the Book of the Covenant in Exodus 20-24. The way I have it mapped out right now, this should take (not surprisingly) ten weeks. If you’ve spent some time with our catechisms (Children’s, Shorter, or Larger), you’ll know that the Ten Commandments feature prominently. The reason for this is that Christians have always understood the Ten Commandments to be a summary of God’s perfect law. If you want to know how God wants you to live, the Ten Commandments are the best place to find the answer. To that end, the 99th question of the Larger Catechism gives us 8 rules for interpreting the Commandments. I encourage you to be thinking about these as we study over the next few weeks. Here they are:

1. The law is perfect and binds the whole person to observe it completely and, according to its standard, to be completely righteous, and perfectly obey every one of its obligations forever. On the negative side, the law forbids even the slightest or partial commission of any sin.
2. Since it is spiritual, the law involves our understanding, our will, our emotions and all the other faculties of the soul, as well as our words, actions, and self-expressions.
3. Different aspects of one and the same thing may be required or forbidden in several different commandments.
4. When something is required, the opposite is forbidden, and where a specific sin is forbidden, its opposite is required. In the same way, when a requirement of the law adds a promise of some blessing for obeying it, that promise also includes a threat for disobeying it, and when a threat is added, an opposite promise is included.
5. What God forbids must never be done at any time or under any circumstances. What he commands always remains an obligation, although every particular obligation of the law does not apply in all circumstances or at all times.
6. The prohibitions against specific sins and the commandments to observe specific obligations are typical and so cover not just those particular sins or obligations but all others of the same kind. They similarly include all the contributory causes, means, opportunities, and appearances related to these sins and obligations.
7. Since the provisions of the law apply not only to us but to everyone else, we must try to help others keep those provisions, in the context of our own position in life and theirs.
8. Similarly, we must support others in keeping what the law commands them to do or not to do and particularly by not joining them in doing what is forbidden to them.

If you want to see the Scripture references, you can find them on page 80 of this copy of the Catechism.

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

Bulletin for July 14, 2024

What is Reformed Theology?

This (very good) question came up on Wednesday night, and I gave a short answer. But I wanted to flesh it out some more. First, this is a short video covering basically what I said Wednesday. (I don’t recommend this YouTube channel in general, but this video is clear and accurate.)

Second, last Spring, I did a several week study called “Beyond TULIP” where I worked through several elements of Reformed theology. This first lecture explains some overview history and how we distinguish Reformed theology from other Christian traditions. Here’s the handout if you’d like to follow along.

Hopefully these are helpful!

Update

I just got off the phone with Ron Horgan, and we had a miscommunication about the date! He will be with us on August 17-18.

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

Bulletin July 7, 2024

Updates

1. Wednesday Night Bible Study continues this week. We’ll be picking up in Romans 10.

2. Mark your calendars for the last weekend of August! Rev. Ron Horgan, our presbytery Church Health Coordinator, will be joining us for the weekend. He’ll spend some time with us Saturday talking about church health, and then he’ll preach for us on Sunday.

I hope everyone had a great holiday, and I’m excited to see you Sunday!

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

Bulletin for June 30, 2024

A Song for Sunday

We’re singing a hymn Sunday that you may or may not know: O Word of God, Incarnate. This is a rich hymn that has several themes we find in Exodus generally, and in our preaching passage in particular. In Exodus 17:15, we get one of God’s unique names, Jehovah Nissi, which means “The Lord is My Banner.” The third verse of this hymn reflects on that name:

It floateth like a banner before God’s host unfurled;
it shineth like a beacon above the darkling world.
It is the chart and compass that o’er life’s surging sea,
‘mid mists and rocks and quicksands, still guides, O Christ, to Thee.

Listen to the rendition below to get acquainted before Sunday.

Vacation Bible School

This week, we just finished VBS, and we had a great time! We had a great group of kids, and we spent a great time in Bible study and fellowship. Some of the decorations will still be up on Sunday, so be sure to look around. And if you get a chance, encourage one of the kids by asking them what they learned! I also want to thank all of you who made it happen, and if you weren’t able to join us, be sure to join me in that thanks.

Finally, be sure to be in prayer for those who are recovering from illnesses and surgeries, especially as we prepare to hear God’s Word on prayer this Sunday.

I love you all, and I’m very excited to be back with you this Sunday.

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

Bulletin for June 23, 2024

EPC GA 2024

I’m writing this from Memphis having just finished the EPC’s 44th General Assembly. I know that many of you have been praying this week, so thank you! There were several hard questions being addressed, but I think we came out with some good solutions. Here are a couple of highlights:

1. The Assembly adopted the Pastoral Letter on Racial Lament and Hope. If you would like to read it, I can get you a copy. After the presbyteries met in the spring and concerns were raised about the letter, the committee made major revisions, in my opinion, for the good. It’s also worth noting that a Pastoral Letter is an internal document intended to help churches navigate various issues. This letter is NOT the official position of the EPC, and it is NOT binding in any way. It is also only made available to EPC members, not the general public.

2. The Standing Committee on Ministeral Vocation was able to knit together several overtures regarding human sexuality into one recommendation that was received by the Assembly. The various questions about this issue will be taken up by an Ad-Interim Committee for two years, and they will come back with their recommendations at the 46th GA in 2026. During that time, the GA has asked that no Session or Presbytery take on any actions that touch on this issue. To be clear, the EPC is opposed to homosexuality and all other forms of sexual perversion. We have a position paper on that if you’d like to read it. The question before the committee, then, is how to apply the Bible’s teaching on sexuality to ordination. One way to think about it: we’ve already drawn a line on this, but we’re simply trying to determine whether we want a chain-link or barbed-wire fence on that line.

If you have any questions about these two things or anything else, I’d be happy to answer them to the best of my ability.

Tomorrow, I’ll be preaching at Highland Heights Presbyterian Church, so I appreciate your prayers both for me and the congregation here as well for Jonathan as he preaches for you tomorrow.

Finally, for your enjoyment, here’s a brief clip of clip of the Wednesday psalm-singing event hosted by Pastor Bryan Rhodes from Alexandria, LA. Do you recognize this psalm?

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

Bulletin for June 16, 2024

Updates

Madeleine and I are off to General Assembly! I’ll put some updates here after it’s over. We appreciate your prayers as the Assembly considers several important topics. If you want to see some of what’s going on, see this page.

Also, remember to be praying for our upcoming VBS, and don’t forget your PROMISS bottles this Sunday.

Be sure to thank Jonathan and Mitch for preaching and leading our worship Sunday. We’ll miss you!

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

Bulletin for June 9, 2024

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