We believe that through Jesus, God gives all people the opportunity to know they belong to him. But what does it mean to belong, to truly know that we are God’s loved daughters and loved sons?
During the weeks of October 11, 18, and 25, we’re going to visit an old place to explore the answer. We call it “Heidelberg U.”
Old timers (like Pastor Jon) will remember something called “The Heidelberg Catechism.” A fancy title for a little book of questions and answers that two pastors wrote in 1563 to help young people understand Christianity. These guys lived in Heidelberg, Germany. And the book they wrote is one of the founding books of the Reformed Church. It’s divided into 52 parts – one for each week of the year.
It may sound a little bit stuffy, but it really is a book about grace and belonging. It’s most beautiful line may be “… I belong body and soul, in life and in death, to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ…” As we look, we’ll learn…
- God’s grace comes to us before we even believe in Jesus.
- God holds everything in our lives together through his generous providence.
- Jesus Christ pleads our cause before his Father.
- The Holy Spirit adopts us into the family of the Triune God.
If you’d like to read the questions and answers for each week, click the links below:
- October 11 – What is your only comfort in life and in death? (Questions 1-2)
- October 18 – What does God’s law require of us? (Questions 3-5)
- October 25 – But are we so corrupt…? (Questions 6-8)