Heidelberg Catechism, Week 1

On Sundays, I am going to post the Heidelberg Catechism as a means to help myself (and maybe my readers) prepare for the LORD's Day and Sunday Worship.  Here's a Link to the entire Confession.  Please note that the letters at the end indicate Scripture references for each point of the Confession. 

1. Lord's Day

Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?
Answer.
That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a)
am not my own, (b)
but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; (c)
who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, (d)
and delivered me from all the power of the devil; (e)
and so preserves me (f)
that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g)
yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h)
and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i)
and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. (j)

(a) Rom.14:7,8.
(b) 1 Cor.6:19.
(c) 1 Cor.3:23; Tit.2:14.
(d) 1 Peter 1:18,19; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:2,12.
(e) Heb.2:14; 1 John 3:8; John 8:34,35,36.
(f) John 6:39; John 10:28; 2 Thess.3:3;1 Pet 1:5.
(g)Matt.10:29-31; Luke 21:18.
(h) Rom.8:28.
(i) 2 Cor.1:20-22; 2 Cor.5:5;Eph.1:13,14; Rom.8:16.
(j) Rom.8:14; 1 John 3:3. 

Q. 2.
How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happily?
A.
Three; (a)
the first, how great my sins and miseries are; (b)
the second, how I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries; (c)
the third, how I shall express my gratitude to God for such
deliverance. (d)

(a) Matt.11:28-30; Luke 24:46-48; 1 Cor.6:11; Tit.3:3-7.
(b) John 9:40, 41; John 15:22.
(c) John 17:3; Acts 4:12; Acts 10:43.
(d) Ephesians 5:8, 9, 10, 11; 1 Peter 2:9,10; Rom.6:1,2,12,13.

College Football: Week 4

The Week 4 RankingWeek 4 Rankings are out.  Nothing really surprising, though. 

I've always found it interesting how the AP and USA Polls both claim to be the top 25 in the nation, yet are always different.  I know that most of the polls are based on coach's recommendations, "difficulty of season," etc., but whatever happened to good ol' win/loss/tie records? (BTW: If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm not a fan of coaches' polls or the BCS system.  I'm all for playoffs in College football, especially for the chance to see SC State, a semi-powerhouse in the MEAC, will do against an SEC powerhouse like Georgia or Alabama.  I'm kinda tired of seeing the same old schools in the BCS bowls at the end of the season).  

A Special Saturday

Today was a special Saturday, for three reasons:

1).  Jenn and I drove to Charlotte to spend some time with her parents.  It was great to see Mom and Dad again and to talk theology, politics, and movies with them.  They moved to Ohio several months again, and we miss them much. (by the way, Dad, that movie featuring Sho Nuff, the Shogun of Harlem, is called The Last Dragon).


2).  Tim and Bonnie, dear friends of ours and people that we consider extended family, just brought home their baby girl, Libby Marie.  This is their first little one, and she's been a long time coming.  I have no doubt that little Libby will grow up in a loving home, and that T&B will be GREAT parents.   


3).  Last--but not least--today is the 12th anniversary of the death of Rich Mullins, a Christian singer who has truly impacted the lives of believers everywhere, myself included.  A number of his worship songs, such as Awesome God and Sometimes by Step are still sung in churches today.  In honor of him, and to help us prepare for the Lord's Day, below is one of his more lesser known songs.  It serves as a reminder to all Christians that despite our differences, there are some bottom line truths to which we all must agree.

Rich Mullins: Creed

How Do I Use a Study Bible?

Al Mohler has a great article on How to use Study Bibles.  He also recommends some of his favorites. 

Rome wasn't built in a Day, so...

I've been putting off my study in the book of Romans for nearly a month. I read the book back in 2004/2005 while the LORD was working in my heart and healing me from a number of emotional issues and bad theology. I've had a desire to get back into it for some time now, but life has gotten in the way. However, thanks to our pastor's sermon series on Romans 12:1-2, I'm encouraged to make the time to really get started.

Along with life getting in the way, I think I had too many rules for my study (how many outside resources I was allowed to use, putting myself on a detailed, weekly schedule for each chapter, etc.), and I think that overwhelmed and discouraged me from getting started when I finally sat down to do it.

I've come to a realization: if John Piper and Bethlehem Baptist took nine (yes, NINE!) years to get through the book of Romans, I should really take my time and absorb the book and try to see and hear what it's saying to me now, and take steps to apply it to my life.

So, all the strict rules and guidelines I had before are G-O-N-E, gone. Here's my plan:

1). I'm going to read through the book at least once. I'm using my ESV Reformation Study Bible as my main reading Bible, and I'm looking at footnotes and the reference articles as needed, and only if the articles fit in with what Paul writing about at the moment (for example, how Romans 8:31-40 tie in with the articles on Perseverance of the Saints and Election).

I also have a pen with me so I can underline or circle specific verses in each chapter that I want to take a special look at when I go through it more in depth.

2). After I read through the entire book once, I'll then start studying Chapter by Chapter. I have 4 good commentaries I plan to use (Stott, Murray, Henry, and McGee), and also several Bible dictionaries and translations handy (thanks to theWord Bible software and good ol' Bible Gateway). I plan to use all of these on an as-needed basis.

3). I am going to do an outline of the book based on what I learn.

I originally had a long, specific timeline of when I wanted to be done with all of this, but then I realized that if I focus on time frames with this study, then I'll lose out on what's really important about the book of Romans.

I may even write a blog or two about it. :-)