The Heidelberg: Lord’s Day 9

February 28, 2012 • Heidelberg Catechism • by
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Q & A 26
Q. What do you believe when you say,
“I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth”?
A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who out of nothing created heaven and earth
and everything in them,1
who still upholds and rules them
by his eternal counsel and providence,2
is my God and Father
because of Christ the Son.3
I trust God so much that I do not doubt
he will provide
whatever I need
for body and soul,4
and will turn to my good
whatever adversity he sends upon me
in this sad world.5
God is able to do this because he is almighty God6
and desires to do this because he is a faithful Father.7
1 Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11; Ps. 33:6; Isa. 44:24; Acts 4:24; 14:15
2 Ps. 104; Matt. 6:30; 10:29; Eph. 1:11
3 John 1:12-13; Rom. 8:15-16; Gal. 4:4-7; Eph. 1:5
4 Ps. 55:22; Matt. 6:25-26; Luke 12:22-31
5 Rom. 8:28
6 Gen. 18:14; Rom. 8:31-39
7 Matt. 7:9-11

Word Document w/ Scripture References

The Heidelberg: Lord’s Day 7

February 11, 2012 • Heidelberg Catechism • by
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Q & A 20
Q. Are all people then saved through Christ
just as they were lost through Adam?
A. No.
Only those are saved
who through true faith
are grafted into Christ
and accept all his benefits.1
1 Matt. 7:14; John 3:16, 18, 36; Rom. 11:16-21

Q & A 21
Q. What is true faith?
A. True faith is
not only a sure knowledge by which I hold as true
all that God has revealed to us in Scripture;1
it is also a wholehearted trust,2
which the Holy Spirit creates in me3 by the gospel,4
that God has freely granted,
not only to others but to me also,5
forgiveness of sins,
eternal righteousness,
and salvation.6
These are gifts of sheer grace,
granted solely by Christ’s merit.7
1 John 17:3, 17; Heb. 11:1-3; James 2:19
2 Rom. 4:18-21; 5:1; 10:10; Heb. 4:14-16
3 Matt. 16:15-17; John 3:5; Acts 16:14
4 Rom. 1:16; 10:17; 1 Cor. 1:21
5 Gal. 2:20
6 Rom. 1:17; Heb. 10:10
7 Rom. 3:21-26; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-10

Q & A 22
Q. What then must a Christian believe?
A. All that is promised us in the gospel,1
a summary of which is taught us
in the articles of our universal
and undisputed Christian faith.
1 Matt. 28:18-20; John 20:30-31

Q & A 23
Q. What are these articles?
A. I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Word Document w/ Scripture References

Bon Iver: Live Performance Videos

February 10, 2012 • Rhythm & Melody • by
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A few videos for your listening pleasure.

Perth by Bon Iver

Calgary by Bon Iver

The Heidelberg: Lord’s Day 6

February 10, 2012 • Heidelberg Catechism • by
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Q & A 16
Q. Why must the mediator be a true and righteous human?
A. God’s justice demands
that human nature, which has sinned,
must pay for sin;1
but a sinful human could never pay for others.2
1 Rom. 5:12, 15; 1 Cor. 15:21; Heb. 2:14-16
2 Heb. 7:26-27; 1 Pet. 3:18

Q & A 17
Q. Why must the mediator also be true God?
A. So that the mediator,
by the power of his divinity,
might bear the weight of God’s wrath in his humanity
and earn for us
and restore to us
righteousness and life.1
1 Isa. 53; John 3:16; 2 Cor. 5:21

Q & A 18
Q. Then who is this mediator—
true God and at the same time
a true and righteous human?
A. Our Lord Jesus Christ,1
who was given to us
to completely deliver us
and make us right with God.2
1 Matt. 1:21-23; Luke 2:11; 1 Tim. 2:5
2 1 Cor. 1:30

Q & A 19
Q. How do you come to know this?
A. The holy gospel tells me.
God began to reveal the gospel already in Paradise;1
later God proclaimed it
by the holy patriarchs2 and prophets3
and foreshadowed it
by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law;4
and finally God fulfilled it
through his own beloved Son.5
1 Gen. 3:15
2 Gen. 22:18; 49:10
3 Isa. 53; Jer. 23:5-6; Mic. 7:18-20; Acts 10:43; Heb. 1:1-2
4 Lev. 1-7; John 5:46; Heb. 10:1-10
5 Rom. 10:4; Gal. 4:4-5; Col. 2:17

Word Document w/ Scripture References

Trinity Grace CRC: Partnering Team and Residency Update

February 8, 2012 • Church Planting, Trinity Grace CRC • by
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One of the primary objectives coming out of the CPD Partner’s Meeting in January was the formation of a Partnering Team. This team is comprised of five key components; myself, a representative from our parent church, a representative from Classis Lake Erie, a church planter within Classis, and a member from the Great Lakes Home Missions team. One of the primary objectives of the partnering team will be to formalize a comprehensive residency plan and oversee the 12 month residency period that will begin in April 2012.

I am excited to share that this partnering team had its first official meeting earlier this week. The meeting was a huge success! During our time together we reviewed and amended a proposed plan for the residency period. This plan should be finalized withing the next couple weeks. Once approved, this plan with provide a template for a public timeline that will be published sometime shortly after the residency begins in April. This timeline will outline all of the major benchmarks from the beginning of the residency period to the launch of Trinity Grace in March 2013. It is incredibly exciting to see target dates identified as this dream that began five years ago is finally becoming a reality! Please pray for continued wisdom and guidance for myself and the partnering team during this planning process.

Also, as I recently shared, we have finalized a plant location after sensing a clear clarification of God’s calling on our family to love, serve, and plant the gospel in Midland, Michigan. We rejoice in this answer to prayer and look forward to planting in the location where God has clearly drawn and planted our family. In addition to identifying Midland as our target city, we have identified a specific target area within the city; a .75 mile radius around the intersection of Ashman Street and Carpenter Street. If you are not familiar with Midland and would like a better picture of our target area, you can take a look here.

Finally, along with the 12 month residency plan, our partnering team discussed five important financial support streams. As Rachel and I look ahead to this residency period, we realize that we are going to be reliant upon the generosity and support of others who share the vision of a church being birthed in Midland. Over the next two months we will begin raising support from these five primary streams; Christian Reformed Home Missions, Classis Lake Erie, partnering churches, plant team members, and individual contributors. Please pray for Rachel and I as we begin to raise financial support in anticipation of the start of the residency in April.

If you would like more information about what is happening with the planting of Trinity Grace in Midland, please shoot me an email at shawn@trinitygracecrc.org