TheWayofJesus
DiscipleshipSeriesSession#3
TheHeidelbergCatechismQues.on#1:Whatisyouronlycomfortinlifeandindeath?Answer:ThatIamnotmyown,[1]butbelongwithbodyandsoul,bothinlifeandindeath,[2]tomyfaithfulSaviourJesusChrist.[3]HehasfullypaidforallmysinswithHispreciousblood,andhassetmefreefromallthepowerofthedevil.[5]Healsopreservesmeinsuchaway[6]thatwithoutthewillofmyheavenlyFathernotahaircanfallfrommyhead;[7]indeed,allthingsmustworktogetherformysalva.on.[8]Therefore,byHisHolySpiritHealsoassuresmeofeternallife[9]andmakesmehear.lywillingandreadyfromnowontoliveforHim.[10]
[1]ICor.6:19,20[2]Rom.14:7-9.[3]ICor.3:23;Tit.2:14.[4]IPet.1:18,19;IJohn1:7;2:2.[5]John8:34-36;Heb.2:14,15;IJohn3:8.[6]John6:39,40;10:27-30;IIThess.3:3;IPet.1:5.[7]MaN.10:29-31;Luke21:16-18.[8]Rom.8:28.[9]Rom.8:15,16;IICor.1:21,22;5:5;Eph.1:13,14.[10]Rom.8:14
HeidelbergCatechismQues.on#2:Whatdoyouneedtoknowinordertoliveanddieinthejoyofthiscomfort?Answer:First,howgreatmysinsandmiseryare;
Second,howIamdeliveredfromallmysinsandmisery;Third,howIamtobethankfultoGodforsuch
deliverance.[1]Rom.3:9,10;IJohn1:10.[2]John17:3;Acts4:12;10:43.[3]MaN.5:16;Rom.6:13;Eph.5:8-10;IPet.2:9,10.•
HeidelbergCatechism#3
• QuesUon.Fromwheredoyouknowyoursinsandmisery?
• Answer.FromthelawofGod.
“Forbyworksofthelawnohumanbeingwillbejus6fiedinhissight,sincethroughthelawcomesknowledgeofsin.”Rom3:20
HeidelbergCatechism#4
Q.WhatdoesGod'slawrequireofus?A.ChristteachesusthisinasummaryinMaNhew22:YoushalllovetheLORDyourGodwithallyourheart,andwithallyoursoul,andwithallyourmind.[1]Thisisthegreatandfirstcommandment.Andasecondislikeit,Youshallloveyourneighbourasyourself.Onthesetwocommandmentsdependallthelawandtheprophets.[2]
HeidelbergCatechism#5
Q.Canyoukeepallthisperfectly?A.No,IaminclinedbynaturetohateGodandmyneighbour.
[1]Rom.3:10,23;IJohn1:8,10.[2]Gen.6:5;8:21;Jer.17:9;Rom.7:23;8:7;Eph.2:3;Tit.3:3.
TheKeytoNewLife
• AbidinginChristAbide(Greekmeno):toremain,tostayput,torefrainfromwandering,tomaintainallegianceto– AbidinginhisWord(vs7)
– Keepinghiscommandments(vs10)
– AbidinginHisLove(vs9)
TheWordofGod
“Manshallnotlivebybreadalone,butbyeverywordthatcomesfromthemouthofGod”
• OurSpiritualfood• EssenUalforlife• Godcallsusto“buyit”,yetisisfree.
–Isaiah55
ME&theText
MEIStudy
WORD
WORDtransforms
ME
FormaUonalReadingofScripture
• ThereisadifferenceinreadingforinformaUonandforformaUon.
• InForma6vereading,wereadtobe“formed”and“transformed”bytheWordofGod
• Weshouldnotreaditlikewereadanewspaper(informaUonalreading)
• WedigestsmallbitsandlettheWORDabideinus.
• ThisismeditaUngontheWordofGod.
HolyReading(LecUoDivina)• Selectasmallpieceofscripture(usually5-10verses)• Scriptureisread3Umesslowly.
– First:READ–SimplylettheWordwasoveryou.• Whatword,phraseofideasUcksinyoumind?
– Second:RECEIVE–IaskGodtorevealtomesomethingHewantmetoknowfromthisscripture.Whyisthisword,phraseorideaimpacnul?RESPOND:IpraytoGodaskingHimtorevealtheTruthtomeandIthankHimfortouchingme.
– Third:REFLECT–IbaskintheglowoftheWordandreflectuponthewonderofitallandIgloryinChrist,therevealedwordtome.
Homework
• PracUceHOLYREADINGeverydaythisweek.– Read,Receive,Respond,Reflect
• Setaside20minutesforthis.Beginwithprayer:ACTS(AdoraUon,Confession,Thanksgiving,SupplicaUon)
• Suggestedscriptures:Psalm27:1-6,Luke9:23-27,Luke10:38-42,Joshua4:1-7,Malachi3:16-18,Psalm75,1Cor1:26-31
Exegesis-interpreaUon
• CONTEXT– Historical– Covenant(Heb.8:13)
• LANGUAGE– Hebrew(OT)-Eastern– Greek(NT)–Western– LiteraryForm
Hebrew-greekthinking
!
GreekAbstractexpressions
• Ifthemothercannotcontrolheremo6onalfeelingsinthecontextofthemarriagerela6onshipandthefatherisunabletoexpressthenuancesoftenderness,thenitislikelythatthechildwilldevelopfeelingswhicharedifficulttoreconcile,extremelycomplexandafrustra6ontohisownemo6onaldevelopment.
HEBREWCONCRETEEXPRESSION
• Ifthefatherchewsgarlicandthemothereatsonions,youcan’texpectthechildtosmelllikearose.
Covenant• OLDCOVENANT
– GivenatSinai-Exodus24– MadewithIsrael–requiredanimalsacrifices– LawtobeobeyedthroughfaithinYWHW– FulfilledinJesusChrist(MaN5:17)– Nowobsolete&passingaway(Heb8:13,Rom.7:6)
• NEWCOVENANT– InauguratedattheCross– MadewithIsrael–Jesusistheonceforall“LambofGod”
– GenUlesgrasedin– BelieversliveinGodthroughfaith&towardtheirneighborinlove
– WheretruefaithexiststhereisobediencetothelawoftheChrist.(thegospel)
TheInterpreUveJOURNEY
Duvall&Hayes–GraspingGod’sWordp.24
TheinterpreUveJourney• UNDERSTANDTHETEXTINTHEIRTOWN
– Whatdiditmeantothebiblicalaudience
• DETERMINETHEWIDTHOFTHERIVERBETWEENUS– WhatarethedifferencesbetweentheBiblicalAudienceandus?
• FINDTHEPRINCIPLETHATSUPERCEDESTHECONTEXT– WhatisGod’sheartinthistext?
• APPLYTHATPRINCIPLETOOURCONTEXT– HowshouldweapplythistoourlivestodayandseekGod’swill?
Duvall&Hayes–GraspingGod’sWord
Example
“Whoevercurseshisfatherormothershallbeputtodeath”(Ex.21:17).
• Whatdidthismeantotheoriginalaudience?• Whatarethedifferencesbetweenthemandus?• WhatistheTheologicalPrinciplebehindthetext?• Whatdoesthismeantoustodayandhowdoweapplyit?
AbidinginHisWord
• AdiscipleofJesusmustconUnuetofeeddailyontheWordofGod
• AdisciplineofscripturereadingandmeditaUonisessenUaltoLifeinChrist
• YouneedaPLAN– 3bookmarkplan–oneinOT,oneinNT,oneisPsalms/Proverbs…thenreadinchapterineachaday....OnesubpassagemeditaUvely
• Memorizescripturesimportanttoyou.
AbidinginPrayerandWorship
• OurSpiritualLifebreath• Allwhobreathecreatedonthesixthday
• HumansaretheonlycreaturetowhomGodspeaks
• WearerecipientsofGod’saddress.
Prayer–ahumanexpression
• PeoplehavealwaysseentheworldahosUleplace• Forcesbeyondtheircontrol-fear• Socalled“gods”needtobeplacated• Prayerisauniversalexpression–“religion”anaNempttosaUsfythese“gods”,whoarereallydemons(1Cor.10:20)
• SuchprayerisnotheardbytheFATHER,northeSON,northeHOLYSPIRIT.
PrayerinIsrael• Calledtobea“kingdomofpriestsandaholynaUon”(Ex.
19:6)• Tabernacle&templeplacestowardswhichtheycouldpray• DanielprayedtowardsJerusalem(Dan6:10)• Theprayeroftheprophetswaspowerful(James5:16-17)• Ordinarypeoplecouldpray–(Hannah–1Samuel1)• Godwouldonlyregardprayerifofferedinhumilityand
blamelessness(Is.59:2,66:2b)• Unrepentantsinstopsprayer.(Joshua7:10)
Jesus–ManofPrayer• Athomegrowingup• Synagogue&temple• 40daysinwilderness• Earlyinmorning(Luke5:16)
• Beforemajordecisions(Luke6:12)
• Onmountains(Luke9:28)
• Beforehealings(Mark9:29)
• “Teachustopray”–OurFather
• ThyKingdomCome–EvangelisUc
• Forhisdisciples(John17)
• Gethsemane(Luke22:44)
ChrisUanPrayer• DisciplesconUnuedinprayeraserascension&Pentecost• Prayeristhe“secretmark”ofaChrisUan• Wehavenotbecauseweasknotoraskforwrongthings
(James4:2)• Prayeristhe“cryfortheKingdom”StanleyGrentz• PrayerisourlovelanguagetoourLord&Savior.“Andtheydevotedthemselvestotheapostles'teachingandfellowship,tothebreakingofbreadandtheprayers.43Andawecameuponeverysoul,andmanywondersandsignswerebeingdonethroughtheapostles.44Andallwhobelievedweretogetherandhadallthingsincommon.”Acts2:42-44
TheLordsPrayer• "OurFatherinheaven,• Hallowedbeyourname.• Yourkingdomcome,yourwillbedone,• Onearthasitisinheaven.• Giveusthisdayourdailybread,• andforgiveusourdebts,aswealsohaveforgivenour
debtors.• Andleadusnotintotempta6on,• butdeliverusfromevil.”MaN6:9-13
PrayerAccordingtoGod’sWill• “whateveryouaskinprayer,youwillreceiveifyouhave
faith”(MaN21:22).• “Andthisistheconfidencethatwehavetowardhim,that
ifweaskanythingaccordingtohiswillhehearsus.15Andifweknowthathehearsusinwhateverweask,weknowthatwehavetherequeststhatwehaveaskedofhim”(1John5:14-15)
• “Theprayerofarighteouspersonhasgreatpowerasitisworking.”(James5:16).
• BeReconciledfirst(MaN5:23-24)• Husbands&Wives(1Peter3:7,Mal.2:16).
ACTSAcrosUc
AADORATIONCCONFESSIONTTHANKSGIVINGSSUPPLICATION
THECOLLECT
1. Address(thepersonoftheTrinitywhoisbeingaddressed).
2. AnaNributeorqualityofGodbaseduponwhatHehasdoneorpromisedtodothatisrelatedtothepeUUon.
3. ThepeUUon,consisUngofarequestlinkedtotheaboveaNribute.
4. Thereasonfor,orresultexpectedfrom,thepeUUon.
5. Conclusionordoxology(blessing).
THECOLLECT
• “AlmightyGod,toyouallheartsareopen,alldesiresknownandfromyounosecretsarehidden:cleansethethoughtsofourheartsbytheinspira6onofyourHolySpirit,thatwemayperfectlyloveyouandworthilymagnifyyourholyname,throughJesusChristourLord,Amen”
RobertWebber,TheRenewalofSundayWorship(HendricksonPublishers,1993),25.
THECOLLECT(AAPRC)TheAddress=AlmightyGodTheANribute=omniscience–toyouallheartsareopen,alldesires
known,nosecretshidThePeUUon=cleansethethoughtsofourheartsbytheinspiraUonofyourHolySpiritTheReason=thatwemightperfectlyloveyouandworthilymagnifyyourHolynameConclusion=throughJesusChristourLord,Amen
THEPSALMS–prayerbookofthebible
• 60%-PsalmsofLament• ChiasUcStructure• AlsoporUonsoftheprophets(Isaiah55)
!
Psalm541OGod,saveme,byyourname,andvindicatemebyyourmight.2OGod,hearmyprayer;giveeartothewordsofmymouth.3Forstrangershaverisenagainstme;ruthlessmenseekmylife;theydonotsetGodbeforethemselves.Selah4Behold,Godismyhelper;theLordistheupholderofmylife.5Hewillreturntheeviltomyenemies;inyourfaithfulnessputanendtothem.6WithafreewillofferingIwillsacrificetoyou;Iwillgivethankstoyourname,OLORD,foritisgood.7Forhehasdeliveredmefromeverytrouble,andmyeyehaslookedintriumphonmyenemies.
The“SecretofthePsalter” DietrichBonhoeffer“LifeTogether”
• Twovoicesheardinthepsalms–MineandChrist’s
• Thepsalmsareaduet….Ipray,Christprayswithme.
• PrayingthroughaPsalmasadevoUonalpracUce
Worship• Atitsleast-ascribingworth• Proskuneo–tobowdownbeforeandkiss(Luke7:41-42)• A“gisedresponse”thebride&bridegroom–DennisNgien• Looksbackinlovetomyredeemer’ssavingevent-Robert
Webber• ALoveresponse–CommitmentwithaffecUon(the4Loves)• Alivingsacrifice–costly,total,withholdingnothing
“Iappealtoyoutherefore,brothers,bythemerciesofGod,topresentyourbodiesasalivingsacrifice,holyandacceptabletoGod,whichisyourspiritualworship.”Romans12:1
QuesUonsforDiscussion
1.Whata{tudesshouldcharacterizeuswhenwepray?(SeeMaN.6:5-6,MaN.6:7,Luke18:10-14,Micah6:8,Jude1:20,Mark11,24-25,Phil.4:4-6)
Homework1. Setaside20-30minuteseachdayforadevoUonalUme.2. StartwiththeACTSmodelofprayer3. SelectsmallporUonsofapsalmtopraythrough.4. BeginorconUnueadailyBiblereadingplan,butchoose
onepassageeachdayforHoly(meditaUve)reading.(Read,Receive,Respond,Reflect)
5. BeawareofthosearoundyouwhoneedawordorencouragementorawordfromGod.