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Sample Copy of the Sunday Bulletin from the Trinity Orthodox Presbyterian
Church of Bridgewater: Click Here.
Below are a few samples of Westminster Shorter Catechism Explanations.
You will notice that sometimes I call the lessons Summary of the Christian
Faith and sometimes, ECSK. This stands for: What Every Christian Should
Know. We have an after School Program called Bible Buddies...for this I
call the Children's Catechism, EKSK...what Every Kid Should Know. Along
with these summaries I have what I normally put on the front of the Bulletin.
Most of these relate closely to the QA being explained, sometimes they
relate to the church Calendar.
Oh well, feel free to use and modify these as you see fit. Thanks.
File of Westiminster Shorter Catechism Explanations
Here are a few Examples of the summaries:
A Summary of the Christian Faith
What could be more fitting as we approach the Easter Season than to
consider what Christ accomplished by his suffering and death? Last week
the question asked who our Redeemer was. This week the next logical
step, what did our Redeemer have to do?
His threefold task addresses every aspect of our need. As our Prophet, He
reveals the will of God. As our Priest (Intercessor), He becomes the
sacrifice of atonement for our sins. As our King, He reigns within us and
without, directing all things for His glory.
In order to really believe in Jesus, we have to believe these things are true.
Faith in Christ isn’t empty, but full of content. We don’t believe in the idea
of Jesus. We believe in who He was and what He did. By faith we trust in
what He did FOR US.
Westminster Shorter Catechism (Week 12)
Q. 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our redeemer?
A. Christ, as our redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest,
and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.
Q. 24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word
and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.
Q. 25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a
sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in making
continual intercession for us.
Q. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling
and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our
enemies.
Jesus Christ Became Our Redeemer by being our
Prophet, Priest and King.
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of his grace, which He made to abound toward us in
all wisdom and prudence,….”
Ephesians 1:7,8
A Summary of the Christian Faith
What could be more fitting as we approach the Easter Season than to
consider what Christ accomplished by his suffering and death? Last week
we saw that He was a Prophet, Priest and King. This week we look at his
work from a little different perspective. We consider his humiliation.
Of what this consisted is detailed in the A 27. I think our greater interest is
to understand the necessity and purpose of all this. God loved us and
willed our redemption in Christ. This meant that Christ would have to satisfy
the wrath of God for our sin. He had to become man, live a perfect life,
endure the rejection and scorn of men, and finally drink the full cup of God’
s wrath, and suffer death. He did all this for US and OUR SALVATION.
Praise the Savior Now and Ever.
Westminster Shorter Catechism (Week 13)
Q. 27. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?
A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low
condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the
wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and
continuing under the power of death for a time.
Christ’s Humiliation Made His (and our)
Exaltation Possible
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and
became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Philippians 2:8
A Summary of the Christian Faith
What could be more fitting as we celebrate Easter than to consider what
Christ did to accomplish our salvation. Last week we considered his
humiliation. In order to save us from our sins, he had to take them upon
himself and bear the penalty of our sin. He received the punishment that
we deserved. With suffering that we can’t comprehend, we were reconciled
to the Father. Throughout his life, and especially on the cross, he endured
a eternity of punishment for each of his own. Because He gave ALL, we
owe Him everything.
Our interest this week is with what happens next. After he dies and is
buried in the tomb for three days, His body and soul are reunited and He is
resurrected from the dead. What is more, He later ascends to the Father’s
right hand and is exalted above every name, power and authority. In this
state, He not only promises to be with his people forever, but also to come
back to judge the living and the dead. His own he will take to heaven, those
who are unrepentant will be condemned to an eternity of suffering and
pain. The benefit of his exaltation is evident. We need not doubt or fear.
We need only trust and obey. After all, “there’s no other way to be happy
in Jesus.”
Westminster Shorter Catechism (Week 14)
Q. 28. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation?
A. Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the
third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God
the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.
Christ’s Exaltation Guarantees Us Our
Eternal Salvation
“Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was
dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of
Hades and of of Death..”
Revelation 1:18
B
