Apostles Creed: Article 1

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Ladies Group Thurs. at 6:30

Blessing Basket for Dameon and Brittney McElhaney

*CHURCH UPDATES: Digital and paper connect Card

DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

SVCC is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, and we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit.

Prayer for...

INTRODUCTION:

Review: I believe…Faith as Trust, Knowledge, and Confession (i.e. Decision)

WHY?…

TODAY: The remainder of Article 1

Reveals a God who is not absent from creation but wants to be present with His creation!

“The creed of creeds”:

Historic Creeds and Confessions Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth

And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary

Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell

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 thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead

I believe in the Holy Ghost

I believe a holy catholic church; the communion of saints

The forgiveness of sins

The resurrection of the body

And the life everlasting. Amen.

Opening Scripture:

Ephesians 3:14–15 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

God the Father

God is first of all Father

Luke 11:2 ESV

2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.

God in the highest is revealed through God the Son

Matthew 11:27 ESV

27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

God Almighty

God’s power and authority goes beyond this Earth (i.e. God in the Highest)

Luke 2:14 ESV

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Genesis 17:1 ESV

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,

All things therefore are under God’s governance

Hebrews 1:2–3 ESV

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Creation depends on God (Colossians 1:17)!

God judges what is good and what is evil (Romans 2:6-11)

God the Creator

Historic Creeds and Confessions Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

God as creator walked with creation

Genesis 3:8 ESV

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

God as creator perhaps shows his intent to make Earth His home

Isaiah 66:1 ESV

1 Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?

God as creator tells us that “his commitment stands forever” (i.e. Covenant)

Psalm 136 ESV

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; 4 to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; 5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; 6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; 7 to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; 8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; 9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever; 10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; 11 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever; 12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever; 13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; 14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; 15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever; 16 to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever; 17 to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; 18 and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; 19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever; 20 and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever; 21 and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever; 22 a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever. 23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; 24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; 25 he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.

God as creator comes to redeem His creation

John 1:1–5 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Conclusion/Reflection:

As we move to our communion service where we partake of Lord’s table we are recognizing the Creator coming based on His commitments to redeem us. The creator who comes in this moment in a special way to be with us!

***Communion***

1 Corinthians 11:24–26 ESV

24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:20–21 ESV

20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.

1 Corinthians 11:28 ESV

28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

Examine:

Are you connecting with God each day?

Are you walking each day by the Spirit of God?

Are you regularly gathering with a Church congregation?

Are you connecting with other believers in a community group? (Are you called to lead a group?)

Are you eating once a month with someone from SVCC and eating with someone who is not regularly participating with a Church congregation?

Sources:

Barth, Karl. The Faith of the Church: A Commentary on the Apostle’s Creed according to Calvin’s Catechism. Edited by Jean-Louis Leuba. Translated by Gabriel Vahanian. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2006.

Ensminger, Sven. Karl Barth’s Theology as a Resource for a Christian Theology of Religions. Edited by John Webster, Ian A. McFarland, and Ivor Davidson. Vol. 28. T&T Clark Studies in Systematic Theology. London; New Delhi; New York; Sydney: Bloomsbury, 2014.

Goldingay, John. Old Testament Theology: Israel’s Gospel. Vol. 1. Westmont, IL: IVP Academic, 2003.

Green, Michael P., ed. Illustrations for Biblical Preaching: Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Revised edition of: The expositor’s illustration file. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989.

Grenz, Stanley, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999.

Grudem, Wayne A. Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know. Edited by Elliot Grudem. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005.

Historic Creeds and Confessions. Electronic ed. Oak Harbor: Lexham Press, 1997.

OTHER:

*Creation (grace) > Covenant (Jesus) > Redemption (Fellowship)*

Creation has the goal of relationship (ground of creation is God’s grace because it only exists and continues by the Word of God))

Covenant happens only in relationship

Redemption comes through relationship with God who came to us and is calling us to Him still!