Catechism & Confessions of Faith

October 4, 2026 · Service Leader

Catechism & Confession of Faith

Let’s read out loud together of what we as members believe about God AND of what we believe God has done and will do for his church. [read creed] After having read of God and his work, we’ll now sing a prayer to Him. In verse 1, we’ll ask God to fill our thoughts with himself now; and in the last verse, we’ll ask God to bring us to heaven’s joys then. We want to live for God, by God’s strength, all the way to glory. So let’s pray to that end in our next song, “Be Thou My Vision”.

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from there he shall 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.

*The word "catholic" means "universal, or worldwide." It does not refer to the "Roman Catholic Church."

October 4, 2026 · Lead Elder

Catechism & Confession of Faith

Question 40
What should we pray?

The whole Word of God directs us in what we should pray.

September 27, 2026 · Lead Elder

Catechism & Confession of Faith

Question 39
With what attitude should we pray?

With love, perseverance, and gratefulness.

September 20, 2026 · Lead Elder

Catechism & Confession of Faith

Question 38
What is prayer?

Prayer is pouring out our hearts to God.

September 13, 2026 · Lead Elder

Catechism & Confession of Faith

Question 37
How does the Holy Spirit help us?

The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, and he enables us to pray and to understand God’s Word.

September 6, 2026 · Lead Elder

Catechism & Confession of Faith

Question 36
What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?

That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son.

August 30, 2026 · Lead Elder

Catechism & Confession of Faith

Once you begin to see how deformed our inner spiritual compass is, that we are still prone to make idols instead of love God, you have no problem understanding, believing and accepting the truth of this week's catechism question. [read thru Q and A, then read Q and get congregation to read A]

Question 35
Q: Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, where does this faith come from?

A: From the Holy Spirit.

August 23, 2026 · Lead Elder

Catechism & Confession of Faith

Our catechism question this week highlights something very important… whether or not good works matter at all. I will read the question and answer, so you can see the logic. Then I will read the question again, and you read out loud the answer to me.

Question 34
Q: Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through Christ alone, must we still do good works and obey God’s Word?

A: Yes, so that our lives may show love and gratitude to God; and so that by our godly behaviour others may be won to Christ.

August 16, 2026 · Service Leader

Catechism & Confession of Faith

Please read out loud with me the words of this creed translated into English, but first written in the early fourth century. The Creed of Caesarea* We believe in one God, the Father All-sovereign, the maker of things visible and invisible; And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, God of God, Light of Light, Life of Life, Son only-begotten, Firstborn of all creation, begotten of the Father before all the ages, through whom also all things were made; who was made flesh for our salvation and lived among men, and suffered, and rose again on the third day, and ascended to the Father, and shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead; We believe also in one Holy Spirit.

*This was the creed used by the church of Eusebius of Caesarea (Israel). He brought it with him and suggested its use at the council of Nicea (western Turkey), convened by Emperor Constantine in AD 325. It formed the basis of what came to be called the Nicene Creed.

August 16, 2026 · Service Leader

Catechism & Confession of Faith

Last week, Pastor Paul made it clear that there is no hope in doing good works to earn your salvation. This week, our catechism affirms the same. [Read Q and A once, then read Q and have congregation read A.]

Question 33
Q. Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else?

A. No, everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ.

August 9, 2026 · Lead Elder

Catechism & Confession of Faith

We have been learning a great deal about what it means to be justified by God from the book of Romans. Hopefully this has helped you to see the difference between justification and sanctification. Our catechism question lays out this distinction quite clearly. [Read Q and A, then read Q and ask congregation to read A.]

Question 32
Q: What do justification and sanctification mean?

A: Justification means our declared righteousness before God. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness.

July 26, 2026 · Service Leader

Catechism & Confession of Faith

Q 30: What is faith in Jesus Christ?
A: Receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.

July 19, 2026 · Complementary Scripture Reader

Catechism & Confession of Faith

Leader – asks question
Congregation – reads answer

New City Catechism: Question 29
Question: How can we be saved?
Answer: Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross.

May 24, 2026 · Service Leader

Catechism & Confession of Faith

Let's affirm out loud together what we as a church believe from our Statement of Faith. The words are printed in your songsheet; Please read articles 8 and 9 out loud with me:

8. Jesus Christ alone is the Head of the one true Christian Church,
which is made up of only those people who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
All these are presently indwelt by the Holy Spirit,
and by their words and deeds show their allegiance to Christ.

9. There are two ordinances which have been instituted by the Lord Jesus;
believers baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Neither of these has, in itself, the power to save men from their sins,
but are outward symbols of inward, spiritual realities.

April 12, 2026 · Service Leader

Catechism & Confession of Faith

[Please read out loud with me this article from the Together for the Gospel Statement of Faith.] ARTICLE VIII of the Together for the Gospel Affirmations and Denials (2006) We affirm that salvation is all of grace, and that the Gospel is revealed to us in doctrines that most faithfully exalt God’s sovereign purpose to save sinners and in His determination to save his redeemed people by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to His glory alone. We deny that any teaching, theological system, or means of presenting the Gospel that denies the centrality of God’s grace as His gift of unmerited favor to sinners in Christ can be considered true doctrine.