2021

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Heidelberg Catechisms 96 – 98

Preacher: Rev Gavino Fioretti

Reading: Exodus 32

Text: Exodus 20: 4 – 6 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (ESV)

Q. 96 What is God’s will for us in the second commandment?

That we in no way make any image of God nor worship him in any other way than has been commanded in God’s Word.

Q. 97 May we then not make any image at all?

God cannot and may not be visibly portrayed in any way. Although creatures may be portrayed, yet God forbids making or having such images if one’s intention is to worship them or to serve God through them.

Q. 98 But may not images be permitted in churches in place of books for the unlearned?

No, we should not try to be wiser than God. God wants the Christian community instructed by the living preaching of his Word not by idols that cannot even talk

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Introduction:

The images of God:

The worship of God:

The authority of God:

  1. God’s image: John 4:24
  1. God’s sovereignty:
  1. God’s Word:
  1. God’s wisdom:
  1. God’s means:
  2. Worship:
  3. Instruction:
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Being saved

Preacher: Rev Gavino Fioretti

Reading: Ephesians 2

Text: Ephesians 2:5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved (ESV)

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Introduction:

  1. Being alive:

Made alive with Christ:

Raised up with Christ:

  1. Being delivered:

From the devil’s dominion:

From a sinful life:

From wrath:

  1. Being loved:

Great love:

Great in mercy:

Undeserved grace:

  1. Being seated:
  1. Being given:

Recipient:

Believer:

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The rejected one

Preacher: Rev Gavino Fioretti

Reading: Isaiah 52: 13 – 53: 12

Text:Isaiah 53: 3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (ESV)

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Introduction:

  1. The object of such rejection:

God’ servant:

God’s exalted one:

  1. The authors of such rejection:

Men:

Us:

  1. The nature of this rejection:

Contempt:

Determinate rejection:

Discounted:

  1. The manifestation of this rejection:

Lack of faith:

Lack of devotion:

Lack of adoration:

  1. The reasons for this rejection:

His incarnation:

His humiliation:

His suffering:

His role:

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God’s love

Preacher: Rev Gavino Fioretti

Reading: Jeremiah 30: 1 – 31: 9

Text: Jeremiah 31: 3 The LORD has appeared of old unto me, saying: I have love thee with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (AV)

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Introduction:

An abused subject:

A needed subject:

A comforting subject:

An appropriate subject:

  1. The origin of this love:

God’s character:

God’s decision:

  1. The nature of this love:

No beginning:

No ending:

  1. The object of this love:

His covenant people:

His undeserving people:

His disciplined people:

  1. The manifestations of this love:

Divine intervention:

Divine drawing:

Divine mercy:

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Heidelberg Catechisms 94, 95

Preacher: Rev Gavino Fioretti

Reading: Exodus 20: 1 – 21

Text: Exodus 20: 2 – 3 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. (ESV)

Q. 94 What does the Lord require in the first commandment?

A. That I, not wanting to endanger my own salvation, avoid and shun all idolatry, sorcery, superstitious rites, and prayer to saints or to other creatures. That I rightly know the only true God, trust him alone, and look to God for every good thing humbly and patiently, and love, fear, and honour God with all my heart.

In short, that I give up anything rather than go against God’s will in any way.

Q. 95 What is idolatry?

A. Idolatry is having or inventing something in which one trusts in place of or alongside of the only true God, who has revealed himself in the Word.

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Questions 94-95

Introduction:

Divine existence:

Divine revelation:

Divine covenant:

Divine redemption:

  1. To know Jehovah:

As the only God:

As the true God:

As the self-revealing God:

  1. To trust Jehovah:

Alone:

Humbly:

Patiently:

  1. To be devoted to Jehovah:

Intense love:

Reverent fear:

Sincere worship:

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Abraham buries Sarah

Preacher: Rev Gavino Fioretti

Reading: Genesis 23

Text: Genesis 23: 6 “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God[a] among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.” (ESV)

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Introduction:

  1. Death:

Its inevitability:

Its painfulness:

Its right response:

  1. Relationship:

Family:

Business:

  1. Faith:

God’s daughter:

God’s covenant:

God’s city:

  1. Fulfilment:

The land:

The favour: