The Jerusalem Chamber

How does this paragraph relate to the previous one? What does “consanguinity” and “affinity” mean? How do we deal with the idea of incest when it comes to the children of Adam and Eve? Where does the Bible specifically address the laws of consanguinity and affinity? How do we know incest laws aren’t only for … More Episode 24.4: Relational Bounds of Marriag...

How does this paragraph treat marriage as a creation ordinance? Is this paragraph confronting Roman Catholicism? What is meant by “all sorts of people”? What does “with judgment to give their consent” mean, and why is it important? Why are Christians to marry only in the Lord? Why can we not marry anyone we love? … More Episode 24.3: The Moral Bounds of Marriage

How do you think most people would answer the question about God’s design for marriage? Does the chapter’s ordering reflect anything historically or polemically? What is meant by “mutual help”? What does that look like? What is “legitimate issue”? How can Christians help support non-Christians in the area of marriage? Does God ordinarily build his … More E...

  Why do you think the WCF doesn’t begin this chapter with a definition of marriage? Can you provide a definition of marriage? How do we know, from the Bible or nature, that marriage is to be between a man and a woman? How relevant is this in today’s culture? Why does the WCF emphasize … More Episode 24.1: The Parties of Marriage

Why is a paragraph like this needed in a confession of faith? Why should we pray for our civil leaders? How do we “honor” their persons? What does “for conscience’s sake” mean? In Romans 13 whose “wrath” is being spoke of: Team Nathan (magistrates) or Team Kyle (God’s)? Excursus: should we obey the speed limit? … More Episode 23.4: Honoring the...

What’s the American context for the edits to this paragraph? Historically, how has the civil magistrate assumed the responsibility of the keys of the kingdom? Does the civil magistrate have a right to determine things around worship? How might the magistrate need to take order? What does that mean? What’s with all the punctuation? Is … More Episode 23.3: The Magistrate’s Re...

What error is this paragraph seeking to oppose? What are qualifications for the civil magistrate? Can you define and biblically defend “maintaining piety,” “justice,” and “peace”? What defines “good” and “evil” in the context of Romans 13? How does “according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth” come into the theonomy d...

Why is it good/necessary for a confession of “faith” to include a chapter on the civil government? How would you define God’s “lordship” and “kingship”? How does God exercise his lordship immediately? What does the word “ordained” mean here in this chapter? Do you think God has ordained all civil magistrates? What are the appointed … More...

Why is the statement “No man may vow to do anything forbidden in the Word of God”? Why can’t we vow to something that would hinder our duty to God? Why must vows be within our ability to perform? Why is the promise of God necessary? Can you explain the Popish monastical vows? Why are … More Episode 22.7: Superstitious Vows

Who should we make a vow to, and why is this important? What is the voluntary nature of a vow and what consequence does that have for those who make vows? How are the activities we vow to limited? How is making a vow not manipulating God? What kinds of things do we vow to? … More Episode 22.6: An Acceptable Vow

What does it mean that a vow is of “like nature” with a promissory oath? What is the difference between an oath and a vow? Can you give examples from the Bible about vows? What is a “social vow”? Can a vow be made to something the Bible requires? Can a vow be made to … More Episode 22.5: What is a Vow?

What is the practical relevance of this chapter? How does one determine the “plain and common sense of the words” of an oath? What does this tell us about the care and caution of writing an oath? What is equivocation and why is it sinful? Where do we see examples of equivocation? Why should an … More Episode 22.4: The Meaning of an Oath

Can you remind us what an oath is? Why is swearing an oath “weighty” and “solemn”? How do you know if you’re making an oath according to the truth? Why does an oath need to be “good and just”? Why does one need to “believe” the oath to be true? Why did those American Presbyterians … More Episode 22.3: Taking an Oath

Why is the only proper way to make an oath to swear in the name of God? How does one make an oath with holy fear and reverence? Why should they not be made rashly? What else do people swear by? What are appropriate times to make an oath? Why can lawful authorities impose an … More Episode 22.2: How to Make an Oath

  What is an “oath” and what is a “vow,” what are the differences between the two? Why does this chapter occur between the chapter on the Sabbath and the civil magistrate? How is oath taking consistent with Jesus’ words in Matthew 5? What are “just occasions”? How does God “witness and judge” the truth … More Episode 22.1: Lawful&#16...

What does it mean to “keep holy unto the Lord”? How do you prepare your heart for the Sabbath? What does this paragraph have to say to the first part of the command: work six days? Why do we rest from our works, words, and thoughts? What is meant by “recreations” and do we really … More Episode 21.8: Sanctifying the Lord’s Day

What is the “law of nature”? How is it being used here in this paragraph? Where do we find the Sabbath command in the Bible? Can you explain: positive, moral, and perpetual? What does the Confession mean when it says “binding all men in all ages”? What significance did the Sabbath have in the old … More Episode 21.7: The Lord’s Day

How did people approach God in worship during the different times of the Old Testament? Why were the Israelites to perform worship toward Jerusalem? Where does Jesus change the centrality of temple worship in the new covenant? What Old Testament passages does Jesus use to anticipate the change in worship? What is meant by family … More Episode 21.6: Spirit and Truth

How is the Bible to be read? Who is supposed to publicly read the Bible? What is the Reformed doctrine of preaching? How should we listen to the preaching of the Word? What does singing “Psalms” mean? Can a case be made that the Assembly believed in exclusive Psalmody? What are the sacraments? Is anything … More Episode 21.5: The Parts of Worship

Why the emphasis on prayer? Is there a difference between praying the will of God and praying for things lawful? Why should we pray for all sorts of men? Why shouldn’t we pray for the dead? Who does that? What is the sin that leads to death? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle … More Episode 21.4: Lawful Prayer

What is prayer? Why the qualification “with thanksgiving”? Why is prayer a “special” part of worship? How do we know prayer is required by God of all men? What’s the difference between “accepted” and “unaccepted” prayer? What does it mean to pray with the help of the Spirit? What does it mean to pray according … More Episode 21.3: The Man...

Why is religious worship to be given to God alone? What is meant by “religious” worship? Are there practical ways our worship can be directed to each person of the Trinity? Why is a Mediator necessary? What’s wrong with the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching of many mediators? Join Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle as they … More Episode 21.2: The Object of Worship

What is the light of nature and how is it a source of revelation? What does the light of nature teach us about the character of God? What does the light of nature not teach us about worship? How is worship instituted and limited by God’s will? Can you demonstrate that from the Bible? What … More Episode 21.1: The Regulative Principle of Worship

Can you briefly distinguish between Christian liberty and liberty of conscience? Can you biblically demonstrate that God has ordained lawful authorities? Can you biblically clarify what the exercise of lawful ecclesiastical and civil power looks like? What is meant by “publishing” and “maintaining”? What’s the distinction between “light of nature” and &#82...

What’s the outline of this paragraph? What is “Christian liberty”? Why is the abuse of Christian liberty something we need to be very cautious of? How does one know if they’re misusing Christian liberty? What boundaries has God given to us? What is meant by “pretense of Christian liberty”? How do the following abuse Christian … More Episode 20.3: Pretense...