Introduction to the Psalms

How do 21st century Americans use poetry written 2500 years ago for the Jewish community? What about songs written for kings or how do we sing psalms that were written about Jesus? What do we do with Psalms that ask God to do terrible things to people and their babies? If we are going to learn to sing and use the Psalms in worship we need to have a solid understanding of the different kinds of Psalms as well as an understanding of how to interpret and apply them to our lives.

What is Worship?

Worship can be defined a couple of ways. It can be a church service. It can also be a showing of reverence and devotion for a deity. Paul says that whatever we do should be done to the glory of God. The 2nd commandment tells us that God will show steadfast love to those who love Him and keep His commandments. Our working definition of worship is that it is 'a lifestyle of loving God and keeping His commandments'. The rest of our classes will be given to exploring what this means for us as individuals and as a church.

Introduction to the Church as a Worshipping Community

What does it mean for the church to be a worshipping community?

The Problem of Justice (HC 11)

God is merciful, but he is more—his mercy does not negate his justice, but must sweetly comply with it.

The Justice of God (HC 10)

God’s just character requires that he punish sin—both in this life and in the next.

The Justness of God (HC 9)

Because man is responsible for his own slavery to sin, God is still just to require perfect obedience from him.

The Impartation of Sin (HC 8)

Each of us inherits a corrupted nature from Adam that affects each of the aspects of the image of God.

Using the Psalms in Devotions

Tim Draper is a ruling elder at Reformation. 

The Imputation of Sin (HC 7)

Because Adam was acting on behalf of all mankind, we are all responsible for the consequences of his sin.

The Image of God (HC 6)

The image of God has four aspects and these help us to understand creation, the fall and the work of Christ.

Owning Our Sin (HC 4-5)

God’s law requires absolute perfect love (for God and for neighbor), which no fallen man can give, which means each of us needs to understand our own sin.

Learning our Sin (HC 3)

God has given us the law to expose our sins to us in order that we might own them and humbly turn from them in order to find mercy.

Trinitarian Comfort (HC 1-2)

True eternal comfort is not found in anything we are or do, but in the Triune God who grants us redemption.

Series Introduction (HC 1)

The Heidelberg Catechism was written to answer man’s most important question, “How can sinful man find peace and rest in the most ultimate of ways?”

Series Conclusion (WSC 1-107)

The Westminster Shorter Catechism addresses mankind as God’s creation, explaining his created purpose and how that was jeopardized by the fall of Adam and restored in Christ.

The Conclusion to the Lord's Prayer (WSC 107; FC 112)

We conclude our thoughts on the Lord’s Prayer with a statement of praise and confidence in the Lord alone.

The Sixth Petition (WSC 106; FC 125)

God allows temptation, never more than we can handle and always to teach us to depend upon him more, but calls us to pray that we would be able to avoid it all together.

The Fifth Petition, Part 2 (WSC 105; FC 123)

Sins incur a (moral) debt and when Christ pays off our debts, he also acquires the debts owed to us—requiring that we trust him to either forgive or collect on those debts.

The Fifth Petition, Part 1 (WSC 105; FC 123)

Sins incur a (moral) debt and when Christ pays off our debts, he also acquires the debts owed to us—requiring that we trust him to either forgive or collect on those debts.

The Fourth Petition, Part 2 (WSC 104; FC 121)

We are to pray that God would supply all our needs—both in this world and the world to come—knowing that if he cares for our eternal needs, he will most certainly care for our temporary ones.