CPC Lay Leader Reader
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Table of Contents The Westminster Confession of Faith 2 The Gospel in All Its Forms (Keller) 19 Coming Together on Culture (Keller) 24 The Problem of Good (Kauffmann) 27 Why Work? (Sayers) 38 Leaf by Niggle (Tolkein) 47 What’s So Great About the PCA? (Keller) 57 To My Elated and Despairing Post-Election 63 READER Friends (Sauls) Kingdom Centered Prayer (Keller) 68 The Character Traits of a Spiritual Leader (Sauls) 70 How Do You Take Criticism of Your Views? (Keller) 74 Christ Presbyterian Church Lay Leader Intensive DVD’s and MP3’s Reason for God DVD Set (Timothy Keller) Downloadable Sermons (Various) Books CPC101 Manual Deep Church (Jim Belcher) Life Together (Dietrich Bonhoeffer) When Helping Hurts (Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert) The Next Christians (Gabe Lyons) Concise Theology (JI Packer) Dangerous Calling (Paul Tripp) 1 James, 1 & 2 Epistles of Peter, 1, 2 & 3 Epistles of John, The The Westminster Confession of Faith Epistle of Jude, The Revelation of John. All which are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and As you read, mark “!” in the margins for insights that are new to life. you, and “?” when you have a question. Write your insights and 3. The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine questions in the margin for group discussion. inspiration, are no part of the canon of the Scripture, and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God, nor to be any Chapter 1—Of the Holy Scripture. otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings. 1. Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and 4. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power believed, and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet they are not sufficient to man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and Word of God. in divers manner, to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will 5. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church unto His Church; and afterwards, for the better preserving and to an high and reverend esteem of the Holy Scripture. And the propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto whole (which is, to give all glory to God), the full discovery it writing: which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary; makes of the only way of man's salvation, the many other those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are being now ceased. arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the 2. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, Word of God: yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is which are these, from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, with the Word in our hearts. Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 6. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Songs, Isaiah, set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habbakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit or traditions Zechariah, Malachi. of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: The Gospels according to Matthew, the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of Mark, Luke and John, The Acts of the Apostles, Paul’s epistles to such things as are revealed in the Word: and that there are some the Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are Titus and Philemon, The Epistle to the Hebrews, The Epistle of to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, 2 according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, be observed. most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His 7. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor own immutable and most righteous will, for His own glory; most alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that of them that diligently seek Him; and withal, most just, and terrible not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of the guilty. them. 2. God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of 8. The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek standing in need of any creatures which He hath made, nor (which, at the time of the writing of it, was most generally known deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting His own glory to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and, by His in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the alone fountain of all being, singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages, are therefore of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things and hath authentical; so as, in all controversies of religion, the Church is most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or finally to appeal unto them. But, because these original tongues upon them whatsoever Himself pleaseth. In His sight all things are not known to all the people of God, who have right unto, and are open and manifest, His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God, independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into contingent, or uncertain. He is most holy in all His counsels, in all the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that, His works, and in all His commands. To Him is due from angels the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship Him and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worhsip, service, in an acceptable manner; and, through patience and comfort of or obedience He is pleased to require of them. the Scriptures, may have hope. 3. In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one 9. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and and God the Holy Ghost: the Father is of none, neither begotten, full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must not proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly. Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son. 10. The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient Chapter 3 – Of God’s Eternal Decree. writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, 1. God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture. to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or Chapter 2 – Of God and the Holy Trinity. contingency of second causes taken away, but rather 1. There is but one only, living, and true God, who is infinite in established. being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, 2. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass parts, or passions; immutable, immense, eternal, upon all supposed conditions, yet hath He not decreed any thing 3 because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely pass upon such conditions.