© Pasig Covenant Reformed Church • May 2012
Whenever someone new visits and joins our worship service, I always try to imagine what their thoughts could be as they come out of our door. Some of these questions are even openly asked:
Why is your church called “Reformed”? What do you believe? Why is your worship so serious and so different? No Praise & Worship—just strange-sounding old songs? Why does your pastor dominate the whole service? Why do you recite the Apostles’ Creed, and use catechisms and Latin words—are you Catholic?
If you’re really curious, you ‘re all welcome to visit and ask questions. Better yet, you can join other visitors in an Inquirers’ Class, where you may ask whatever is bothering you about “Reformed” churches.
We will be using a book written by Rev. Daniel R. Hyde, Welcome to a Reformed Church: A Guide for Pilgrims (Orlando: Reformation Trust, 2010). I wrote this study guide which we will start using in our next Inquirers’ Class. Browse the study guide below. You might yet find answers to questions you’ve been dying to ask.
Answer each question briefly in a few sentences.
Introduction
How are Reformed churches Christian, Protestant and Reformed?
Chapter 1: ROOTS: Our History (1-25)
1. Why are the creeds—Apostles’, Nicene, Athanasian & Chalcedonian—called ecumenical?
2. Were these creeds written by the Roman Catholic Church? Why or why not?
3. What four solas did the 16th century Protestant Reformers affirm against the Roman church?
4. Why were the Reformers called evangelicals?
5. What are the two great collections of confessions that were written by the Reformers? Why is one collection called the Three Forms of Unity?
6. Summarize in one sentence each the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dort.
Chapter 2: CONFESSIONS: Doctrinal Foundations (27-34)
1. What is the relationship between the creeds and confessions and the Bible?
2. How are creeds and confessions Biblical?
3. How are creeds and confessions beneficial?
Chapter 3: SCRIPTURE: The Final Authority (35-49)
1. The Roman Catholic Church also believes in the authority of the Bible.
2. What is the difference between their belief and the Reformers’ doctrine of sola Scriptura?
3. In what two ways does God reveal himself to man?
4. Why did the Reformers reject the Apocrypha?
5. What are some of the characteristics of the Holy Scripture?
Chapter 4: COVENANT: God’s Story (51-69)
1. Give a simple definition of a Biblical covenant and list some of its parts (52).
2. Why is Reformed theology called “covenantal� What are the four major covenantal parts of the Bible?
3. What is the “covenant of creation� What are its two signs and what do they signify?
4. Summarize the effects of Adam’s sin.
5. Summarize the two covenants God made to redeem man from sin.
6. What does “consummation†mean? When and how will God accomplish this?
Chapter 5: JUSTIFICATION: Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Christ Alone (71-86)
1. What are the three reasons why obedience to the law cannot save anyone?
2. What are the doctrines of grace alone, faith alone, and Christ alone?
3. What are the two parts of Christ’s obedience? Explain how Christ accomplished them.
Chapter 6: SANCTIFICATION: The Christian Life (87-102)
1. Explain the difference between justification and sanctification.
2. How is sanctification illustrated by death and resurrection?
3. Are Christians still bound to obey the moral law (Ten Commandments)? Memorize the main portions of the Ten Commandments.
4. What are the three divisions of the Law of Moses? What are the three uses of the law?
5. What are the three parts of the Lord’s Prayer? Why is it important in Christian life? Memorize the Lord’s Prayer.
Chapter 7: CHURCH: Distinguishing Marks
1. What are the three marks of a true church?
2. What are the three officebearers of the church?
3. What does a pastor have to preach? State the difference between law and gospel?
4. How is baptism “properly†administered? How about the Lord’s Supper?
5. Why is church discipline important to the church and to the individual Christian? Is church discipline only for church officebearers?
Chapter 8: WORSHIP: Of God, by God, for God
1. What is the relationship between God’s Word and worship?
2. Why is Cain’s worship unacceptable to God? How about the worship by Nadab & Abihu?
3. How did Jesus define true worship? What did Paul say about true worship?
4. Why are rock bands, “relevant†sermons, dramas, and entertainment unacceptable to God?
Chapter 9: PREACHING & SACRAMENTS: Means of Grace
What is the meaning of the “means of grace†and what are they?
What is the gospel? Is the gospel only for unbelievers?
What are sacraments? What benefits do we received from each sacrament?
What is baptism? What are the basic differences between Baptist and Reformed views?
What is the Lord’s Supper? Is it only a remembrance of Christ’s death? How is Christ really present when it is administered? What benefits do we receive from it?