What I Would Do Differently
PART 3: Parental Doctrinal Understanding
Q: According to the above passages, what is the role of the church in a child’s discipleship?
4) Creation
a) Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”
i) In the beginning, there was already God. God is _____________________.
(1) Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
ii) God created all things out of ________________ by the ____________ of his power.
(1) Ex nihilo
(2) Hebrews 11:3 “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”
(3) Romans 4:17 “As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations – in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”
b) Implications of Creation
i) God is entirely _______________________, dependent on no one or nothing outside himself (Acts 17:25)
ii) All of creation _____________________ to the Lord (Psalm 50:10-12) iii) All of creation is ___________________________ to God (Psalm 33:8-9) 5) God’s eternal attributes
a) How does the NCC catechism help us to better understand the God who is there?
i) God’s _____________________
(1) Psalm 93:2 “Your throne has been established from the beginning; you are from eternity.”
ii) God’s ______________________
(1) Psalm 139:7-8 “Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.”
iii) God’s _____________________
(1) Psalm 102:27 “But you are the same, and your years will never end.”
iv) God’s _____________________
(1) Jeremiah 32:27 “Look, I am the LORD, the God over every creature. Is anything too difficult for me?”
v) God’s _____________________
(1) 1 Samuel 2:2 “There is no one holy like the LORD. There is no one besides you! And there is no rock like our God.”
vi) God’s _____________________
(1) Psalm 145:9 “The LORD is good to everyone; his compassion rests on all he has made.”
vii) God’s _____________________
(1) Ephesians 1:5-6 “He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.”
viii) God’s ____________________
(1) Romans 11:33 “Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways!”
ix) God’s ____________________
(1) Revelation 20:14 “Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.”
x) God’s ____________________
(1) John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
6) The sovereignty of God
a) How does the NCC help us to understand the sovereignty of God?
i) _________________ happens except through him and by his will.
(1) God works all things according to the _________________ of his will (Eph 1:11)
(2) God _____________________ all of creation by his providential will (Ps 33:6-9)
(3) God controls _______________ of the affairs of people and nations (Ps 33:10-11)
(4) God works all things for the _________________ of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28)
b) Implications of God’s Sovereignty
i) God is the giver of __________ good gift in our lives (James 1:17, Eph 1:3) ii) God is in control of ________ pain, tear, and suffering we experience also
(Job 2:10)
iii) 1 Peter 4:19 “So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.”
Question: Which portion of the catechism’s Q/A has stood out to you the most?
7) Boots on the Ground
a) Memorize: The question and answer for NCC Question 2 on p.18-19
i) Pro Tip: Use the free NCC app on your smart phone to play the memory song.
(1) Have children recite the answer before going to bed or when waking up (or both!)
b) Discuss: What does it mean that God is the creator and sustainer of everyone and everything?
c) Apply: Go for a family walk through the neighborhood. Read Psalm 8 and ask family members how considering both God’s work of creation and his love for his children impact their understanding of God. Also, ask each family member what is one thing they learned about God that will help them trust him more this week?
d) Pray: Pray that God would grant you and your family the resolve to praise him in the good and tough circumstances of life. Pray that God would increase your faith and trust in him by recognizing that nothing happens except through him and by his will.
8) Question and Answer Period
For Further Study:
D.A. Carson, The God Who is There A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy
Article
“Does Doctrine Really Matter?” by John MacArthur
https://www.gty.org/library/articles/A142/does-doctrine-really-matter
Session 3: What is Man?
1) Recap
a) God is our creator.
b) The word of God reveals his eternal attributes.
c) God sovereignly controls all things.
2) Testimonial
a) What have been some successes and struggles over the last week with your family devotional time? (discussion time)
3) Introduction a) First things first
i) Goal: To equip our class with a proper biblical understanding of what man is, how sin has devastated all men, and the position of man before our holy and righteous God.
(1) Who are we? Why do we exist? Is there any purpose for my life? Why is there so much evil both in the world and within my own heart?
(a) These questions can be adequately addressed by a study of the biblical doctrine of man.
Question: What are the most common views of what man is in our culture and society?
(2) Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
(a) The biblical account of creation identifies the creation of man as the pinnacle creative work of the triune God.
4) How and why did God create us? (NCC Question 4)
a) Answer: “God created us male and female in his own image to know him, love him, live with him, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory.”
i) In Q4 of the NCC, we come to understand man in terms of:
(1) his nature (2) his purpose b) The nature of man
i) God created us male and female
(1) The creative genius of God as reflected in the binary distinctions between
(a) Both equal before God (b) Both serving distinct roles
(2) Gender distinctions throughout Scripture are centered in creation (1 Tim 2:13)
c) Purpose of man
i) Intentional creation (1) God created us
(a) Not a product of mindless evolution (b) Direct creative work of the Triune God ii) Uniqueness of man
(1) Created in his own image
(a) Includes communicable attributes of God, but not just that (b) Being created in God’s image is directly tied to our purpose iii) Created to glorify God
(1) To know him, love him, live with him, and glorify him (2) Purpose rooted in Genesis 1:28
(a) To serve as God’s vice-regents, to multiply image-bearers, subdue the earth for the glory of God
(b) Man’s function is to live his life in total dependence upon God
Question: How does this catechism question help us to teach our children about gender? Why is it important for us to begin these conversations?
5) Did God create us unable to keep his law? (NCC Question 14)
a) Answer: “No, but because of the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, all of creation is fallen; we are all born in sin and guilt, corrupt in our nature and unable to keep God’s law.”
b) Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”
i) In Q14 of the NCC, we come to understand how sin has devastated all of mankind:
(1) The fall of Adam and Eve
(2) Subsequent condemnation and active rebellion of all descendants c) Adam and Eve
i) Created good (in nature and in ethics)(see. Genesis 1:31 “everything was good”)
ii) Disobeyed the revealed word of God (1) Doubted God’s word (Gen 3:1)
(2) Trusted in their own formulation of what is true and beneficial (Gen 3:6) d) Death spread to all men
i) Active rebellion against God (Rom 3:10-12) ii) Impossible to please God in the flesh (Rom 8:8) iii) Unable to keep God’s law (Rom 8:7)
Question: According to Q14, what is a common experience shared by all of mankind?
6) Will God allow our disobedience and idolatry to go unpunished? (NCC Question 18)
a) Answer: “No, every sin is against the sovereignty, holiness, and goodness of God, and against his righteous law, and God is righteously angry with our sins and will punish them in his just judgment both in this life, and in the life to come.”
b) Ephesians 5:5-6 “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
i) In Q18 of the NCC, we come to understand our position before our holy and righteous God:
(1) The anger of God against sin
(2) The sure promise of righteous judgment against sin c) God’s anger against sin
i) Psalm 11:5 “The LORD examines the righteous, but he hates the wicked.”
ii) Psalm 5:5-6 “The boastful cannot stand in your sight; you hate all evildoers.
You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors violent and treacherous people.”
iii) John 3:36 “The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who reject the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
(1) All of us are born in sin and by nature rebel against God. Consequently, God’s wrath remains upon us.
d) God’s promise to judge sin
i) Romans 1:32 “Although they know God’s just sentence – that those who practice such things deserve to die – they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.”
ii) Galatians 6:7 “Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap.”
iii) Revelation 20:15 “And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
(1) God’s righteous anger against sin will be justly poured out in proportionate measure.