Hallowed By Your Name - HC 122

Hallowed By Your Name Heidelberg Catechism 122 122. What is the first petition? “Hallowed be Thy name;” that is, grant us, first, rightly to know You, and to hallow, magnify, and praise You in all Your works, in which Your power, goodness, justice, mercy, and truth shine forth; and further, that we so order our whole life, our thoughts, words, and deeds, that Your name may not be blasphemed, but honored and praised on our account. Asking God to hallow his name is to seek his honor and glory above all else—including above ourselves. I. The Name of the Lord (Exodus 34:4-7; Deuteronomy 12:11) A. Difference Between Names and Titles B. The Name of God Reveals the God of the Name II. Two Responses A. Blaspheming B. Hallowing III. The Petition A. Asking God to do It B. Father, Son, or Holy Spirit? C. First Petition and the First Commandment

What is Prayer? - HC 116-119

What is Prayer?

Heidelberg Catechism 116-119

116. Why is prayer necessary for Christians?

Because it is the chief part of thankfulness which God requires of us, and because God will give His grace and Holy Spirit only to those who earnestly and without ceasing ask them of Him, and render thanks unto Him for them.

117. What belongs to such prayer which is acceptable to God and which He will hear?

First, that with our whole heart we call only upon the one true God, who has revealed Himself to us in His Word, for all that He has commanded us to ask of Him; second, that we thoroughly know our need and misery, so as to humble ourselves in the presence of His divine majesty; third, that we be firmly assured that notwithstanding our unworthiness He will, for the sake of Christ our Lord, certainly hear our prayer, as He has promised us in His Word.

118. What has God commanded us to ask of Him?

All things necessary for soul and body, which Christ our Lord comprised in the prayer which He Himself taught us.

119. What is the Lord’s Prayer?

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Prayer is an act of gratitude and worship, where we lay ourselves before the Lord and seek his will in our lives.

I. The Necessity of Prayer (116)

A. It’s Who We Are (Matthew 21:13; Ephesians 2:19-21; 1 Peter 2:4-5)

B. It’s the Chief Act of Gratitude

C. It’s a Means of Grace

II. The Standard of Prayer (117)

A. Why We Need a Standard

B. Directed to the True God (Matthew 28:18-20)

C. Guided by His Character (John 14:13-14)

D. Flows from Humility and Sense of Need

E. Accompanied with Confidence in God (Romans 8:28)

F. For Physical and Spiritual Needs (HC 118)

Why the Ten Commandments? - HC 114-115

Why the Ten Commandments?

Heidelberg Catechism 114-115

114. Can those who are converted to God keep these Commandments perfectly?

No, but even the holiest men, while in this life, have only a small beginning of such obedience, yet so that with earnest purpose they begin to live not only according to some, but according to all the Commandments of God.

115. Why then does God so strictly enjoin the Ten Commandments upon us, since in this life no one can keep them?

First, that as long as we live we may learn more and more to know our sinful nature, and so the more earnestly seek forgiveness of sins and righteousness in Christ; second, that without ceasing we diligently ask God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we be renewed more and more after the image of God, until we attain the goal of perfection after this life.

The Ten Commandments exist, not to give us life, but to lead away from ourselves to Jesus and to guide and bless our lives in following him.

I. Only Imperfection in this Life (Heidelberg Catechism 114)

A. Does “Should” Mean “Can”? (Matthew 5:48; James 2:10; Galatians 3:10)

B. Perfectionism? (1 John 1:8; Philippians 1:6; 3:12)

C. A Small (but Important) Beginning (James 2:14-26; Matthew 7:17–18; 12:33; Galatians 5:22-23; John 13:35)

II. Perfect Reasons for Imperfection (Heidelberg Catechism 115; Westminster Larger Catechism 95-97)

A. To Lead Us from Ourselves (Guilt) (Romans 7:7; Psalm 32:3, 5; 1 John 1:9)

B. To Lead Us to Jesus (Grace) (Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

C. To Lead Us to Pray

D. To Lead Us to Obedience (Gratitude)

E. To Lead Us to Blessing

Coveting (Tenth Commandment) - HC 113

The Tenth Commandment

Heidelberg Catechism 113

113. What does the tenth Commandment require?

That not even the least inclination or thought against any commandment of God ever enter our heart, but that with our whole heart we continually hate all sin and take pleasure in all righteousness.

Coveting is any discontentment with God and his will and leads to the breaking of all other commandments.

I. Where it Comes from and Where it Leads

A. What Coveting Is

B. What Drives Coveting

C. Coveting and the other Commandments

II. Hope for the Covetous

A. Changing Your Focus

B. Where We Learn This

What is the Law of God (HC 92-93)