Ok, so in our church I thought it would be a good idea over the summer to do a few sermons based on the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
This is a summary in 107 questions, originally written in England in the 1640’s, of what the Bible teaches on some key subjects. Every Presbyterian Minister and Elder subscribes to it when we’re ordained. My late mother had a certificate for answering all 107 questions correctly in Church House Belfast in March 1947!
There have been some interesting responses to the sermons. Some have said it feels like ‘coming home’, almost as if they’ve found familiar truth from long ago refreshing and comforting in the current climate of worrying uncertainty.
To know there is one almighty and holy Creator to Whom everyone must answer is actually reassuring. Right and wrong do exist and they matter! But they’re not subjective, depending on just our changing opinions.
Quite a few questions in the Catechism deal with the standards given by God in the 10 Commandments. These teach reverence for God and what He has placed in order, things like the Sabbath, marriage and family. No killing, stealing, fraud or sexual deviance.
What would the prophets of Biblical times make of 21st century Western society? Would they not be urgently calling us to ‘repent’ of our proud disobedience and humbly seek God’s mercy and forgiveness?
The Catechism q87 says, ‘Repentance unto life is a saving grace by which a sinner, being truly aware of his sinfulness, understands the mercy of God in Christ, grieves for and hates his sins and turns from them to God, fully intending and striving for a new obedience.’
Thankfully the Bible reveals God to be not only a righteous Judge but a gracious Saviour – ‘For God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.’ (John 3 v 16)
The Catechism q86 states, ‘Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, by which we receive and rest on Him alone for salvation as He is offered to us in the Gospel.’
I remember a gentleman in one parish who never missed church yet seemed unsure of whether or not he was going to heaven. One Sunday evening after the service he looked different. Beaming from ear to ear he said, ‘I was resting everything on me, what I was doing but now I’ve rested everything on Him and what He did for me and that has made all the difference!’
Christian truth is initially challenging, we may need to change some things, but ultimately it brings the greatest possible comfort, the promise of redemption and love, now and always.
It welcomes us home, forever.
This is a summary in 107 questions, originally written in England in the 1640’s, of what the Bible teaches on some key subjects. Every Presbyterian Minister and Elder subscribes to it when we’re ordained. My late mother had a certificate for answering all 107 questions correctly in Church House Belfast in March 1947!
There have been some interesting responses to the sermons. Some have said it feels like ‘coming home’, almost as if they’ve found familiar truth from long ago refreshing and comforting in the current climate of worrying uncertainty.
To know there is one almighty and holy Creator to Whom everyone must answer is actually reassuring. Right and wrong do exist and they matter! But they’re not subjective, depending on just our changing opinions.
Quite a few questions in the Catechism deal with the standards given by God in the 10 Commandments. These teach reverence for God and what He has placed in order, things like the Sabbath, marriage and family. No killing, stealing, fraud or sexual deviance.
What would the prophets of Biblical times make of 21st century Western society? Would they not be urgently calling us to ‘repent’ of our proud disobedience and humbly seek God’s mercy and forgiveness?
The Catechism q87 says, ‘Repentance unto life is a saving grace by which a sinner, being truly aware of his sinfulness, understands the mercy of God in Christ, grieves for and hates his sins and turns from them to God, fully intending and striving for a new obedience.’
Thankfully the Bible reveals God to be not only a righteous Judge but a gracious Saviour – ‘For God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.’ (John 3 v 16)
The Catechism q86 states, ‘Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, by which we receive and rest on Him alone for salvation as He is offered to us in the Gospel.’
I remember a gentleman in one parish who never missed church yet seemed unsure of whether or not he was going to heaven. One Sunday evening after the service he looked different. Beaming from ear to ear he said, ‘I was resting everything on me, what I was doing but now I’ve rested everything on Him and what He did for me and that has made all the difference!’
Christian truth is initially challenging, we may need to change some things, but ultimately it brings the greatest possible comfort, the promise of redemption and love, now and always.
It welcomes us home, forever.
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