A Short Catechism from Christ Community Church.
Welcome to Christ Community Study page. We as a community desperately need and want to know God in a deeper way each and every day. We acknowledge that God has commanded us to live together in community. This community is a fellowship of believers who have in common that we want to live out God’s plan for us here on earth. His plan included us walking and following in the truth (3 Jn1:4). In the bible God has given us this plan of community and with that plan he will also give us the grace to walk in all that he calls us to (Acts 2:38-47).
As a community then we must do our best to look for God where he has told us He will be found. He has declared that the primary place is in the pages of our bibles (2 Timothy 3:15-17).
With this in mind Christ Community has put together a short teaching page that is in the form of questions and answers that you can easily learn and teach to your family. We know time is precious, and we don’t want to burden any family with requirements that don’t cause you benefit. With that in mind we have made these questions easy to read and also the bible references are in each question if you like (although it would be much better if you look up each reference so you and your family can see where in the bible it comes from). Also you will be able to read other passages that are around the passage your are looking for so you can keep each verse in context.
1._ Q: What is the chief end of man?
A: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
This question comes from the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
Part 1 answer
1 Cor 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Rom 11:36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Part 2 answer
Psalm 73: 24 With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
John 17:22, 24 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
2. Q: What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A: The word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
Answer
Gal 1:8=9 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
Isaiah 8:20. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Luke 16:29, 31. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them… And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
2 Timothy 3:15-17. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
3. Q: What is God?
A:God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
Answer
John 4:24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Psalm 90:2. From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Malachi 3:6. For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore are ye sons of Jacob not consumed.
James 1:17. The Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
1 Kings 8:27. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
Jeremiah 23:24. Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? Saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? Saith the Lord.
Isaiah 40:22. It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.
Psalm 147:5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
Romans 16:27. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Genesis 17:1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Revelation 19:6. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Isaiah 57:15. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
John 17:11. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
Revelation 4:8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they werefull of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Deuteronomy 32:4. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Psalm 100:5. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Romans 2:4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Exodus 34:6. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.
Psalm 117:2. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord.
4. Q: What do the scriptures principally teach?
A: The scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.
Answer
Micah 6:8. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
John 20:31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
5. Q: What does the law of God require of us?
A: Christ teaches us that briefly, Matt. 22:37-40, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first and the great commandment; and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Answer
Deut.6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Lev.19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD.
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
6. Q: Can anyone keep the law perfectly
A: Since the fall, no mere human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly, but consistently breaks it in thought, word, and deed.