New City Catechism

In the 4th and 5th commandments we come touch on difficult areas in our lives - Sunday and family. Q10. What does God require in the fourth and fifth commandments? A. Fourth, that on the Sabbath day, we spend time in public and private worship of God, rest from routine employment, serve the Lord and others, and so anticipate the eternal Sabbath. Fifth, that we love and honour our father and mother, submitting to their godly disciple and direction. Here's a couple of things

It's been a while since I have blogged on the Catechism - apologies! I thought that we would take a break from it in our services over the last couple of weeks, and so spread out the blogs... but the question for this week ties in well with the theme of remembrance, so we need to get back on track. Let's look back to Question 9. Q9. What does God require in the first, second and third commandment? First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God. Second,

We're back in the New City Catechism this week, picking up at Question 8 Q8. What is the law of God stated in the Ten Commandments? You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below - you shall not bow down to them or worship them. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Honour your father and your

Whenever we are doing an exam, we like to know the pass mark. If you know the pass mark, you get a bit of breathing space. You know there is a little wriggle room, you can get that question wrong and it will still be OK. It gives you some confidence. Over the next few questions, the catechism is going to look at God's law. It begins by asking a question about the pass mark. Q7. What does the law of God require? A. Personal, perfect and perputal obedience; that we love God

Question 6 of the New City Catechism ask How can we glorify God? It's a great question - I mean really, how can WE glorify God? He is so big, so powerful, so great - so glorious in and of himself, how can we add anything to him? The very suggestion that I can add to his glory is as silly as saying I can add something to Real Madrid's football team! I can't do that - I would embarrass myself, and let the whole side down. And that's the point. We can't add anything to G

If you had the power to do whatever you desired what would you do? Question 5 of the New City Catechism speaks of God's power, and how he uses it. What else did God create? God created all things by his powerful word, and all of his creation was very good; everything flourished under his loving rule. Here we learn: God uses his power to create So many people abuse power. They use it for their own ends. They trample down those who oppose them. They harm rather than help.

We'll there is the long and the short answer! Do I just say, I'm Mark, or do I say, I am a husband, father, minister. Or do I say, I am someone made in the image of God. Do I explain that I am a child of the King of the universe! Q4 of the New City Catechism, helps us answer 'Who am I?' How and why did God create us? 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 shoul

Question 3, takes us to the number 3 and one of the hardest truths to get our heads around! So, before we start out - let's remember Q2 - we can't put God in a box! How many persons are there in God? There are three persons in the one true and living God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are the same in substance, equal in power and glory. Heres some things this answer is saying: There is only ONE God. Lots of things may claim to be God. People worship things

Have you ever tried to get between two places and found yourself going past your house? You probably didn't need too - but that is the only way you could figure out to get between the two places, head back past your front door and then out in a different direction! We tend to stick with the familiar, go the way we are comfortable with... it might take a little longer, but I know that I can get there this way. And it's not just about directions - when it comes to ordering c

Have you ever wanted something and then discovered how much it costs? Have you ever wanted to travel somewhere only to discover how far away it is? At both times, you might think - what hope have I got? I could never afford to buy that. I could never reach that place - too far to go on my bike and too remote of buses or cars to make it. The first question of the New City Catechism is about hope. What is our only hope in life and death? That we are not our own but belong,

Each Sunday this year, we shall be thinking together about a question from the New City Catechism. The New City Catechism, has the strap line '52 questions and answers for our hearts and minds'. Over the course of the catechism we shall learn who God is, who we are, what God has provided for us, and how he calls us to live. The catechism shall remind us of basic foundational truths, and shall stretch us in ways we may have not considered before. We shall learn new things