The Priority Of Family Worship Series

Question/Answer

5 or younger

Q. 21. Who is our Redeemer?

7 or younger

Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

8 or younger

Q. 14. What is sin?

A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.[38]

10 or younger

Q. 10. How did God create man?

A. God created man male and female, after his own image,[26] in knowledge,[27] righteousness, and holiness,[28] with dominion over the creatures.[29]

Q. 45. Which is the first commandment?

A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.[119]

Q. 63. Which is the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment is, Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.[151]

12 or younger

Q. 42. What is the greatest commandments?

High school or younger

Q. 33. What is justification?

A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace,[91] wherein he pardoneth all our sins,[92] and accepteth us as righteous in His sight,[93] only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us,[94] and received by faith alone.[95]

Q. 35. What is sanctification?

A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace,[97] whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God,[98] and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.[99]

Anyone

Q. 1. What is mankind’s purpose?

A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God,[1] and to enjoy him forever.[2]

Some of these are tough questions and I heard some great answers. Some of you, depending on your upbringing, may have heard these questions before. They are part of the Westminster Shorter Catechism – an old tradition used by protestant believers to instruct their children in the faith. What is amazing is that in some 19th century Presbyterian homes in America, children as young as 7 would be able to answer these questions and more like them.

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In years past, according to Josh McDowell’s 2006 book titled “The Last Christian Generation”, between 55% and 66% of churched young people have said that the church will play a part of their lives when they leave home. Today only 33% percent of youth say that. That means that roughly only 3 out 10 youth that graduate out of this church will not become active participants in a church again. Much of their belief about Christianity, truth, reality and the church comes from a distorted view they have gleaned from the world around them.

However, in the past decade, young people have been the most spiritually interested individuals in America. Studies show that 65% desire a close relationship with God. It’s not their interest that is in question – but rather how are they forming their view of God? And what brand of religion are they adopting? Post-modernism and weak, biblical teaching have resulted in some staggering statistics amongst American teens:

63% don’t believe Jesus is the Son of the one true God

58% believe all faiths teach equally valid truths

51% don’t believe Jesus rose from the dead

65% don’t believe Satan is a real entity

68% don’t believe the Holy Spirit is real entity.

It’s not that they haven’t embraced a version of Christianity; it’s simply that the version they believe in is not built on the true foundation of what is biblical Christianity. And when our view of truth becomes distorted, then how we view God, ourselves, and others is profoundly affected, and this also manifests itself in how we think and act. When young people lack a biblical belief system, they are:

225% more likely to be angry with life

216% more likely to be resentful

210% more likely to lack purpose in life

200% more likely to be disappointed in life.

They are also:

48% more likely to cheat on an exam

200% more likely to steal

200% more likely to physically hurt someone

300% more likely to use illegal drugs

600% more likely to attempt suicide

Turn with me to Deuteronomy 6, starting in verse 4. As we turn there, let me say that I understand and know that not every one in this room today finds themselves in the same circumstance of parenting and raising a family at home. You may still be living at home, either fully dependent upon your parents, or as an independent adult. You may be single. Your family may only consist of you and your spouse. You may be married to an unbelieving spouse. You may be divorced. You may be empty-nesters or grandparents. A lot of the message today, by nature of the passage we will study, does focus on raising a family. But I believe in the words we find in 2nd Timothy, that all scripture is useful to teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. This passage likewise is worthy of everyone’s focus.