By Mike Peek

Dear Neighbor, Question 101: What do we pray for in the first petition? Answer: In the first petition, which is, "Hallowed be thy name," we pray, That God would enable us and others to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself known; and that he would dispose all things to his own glory. It is for the glory of God and the Lamb that we pray. What is the purpose of all things? The purpose for all things is the glory of God. The very first question and answer in the Westminster Shorter Catechism: Question 1: What is the chief end of man? Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever. Man was created to glorify God, and to enjoy God forever, but man sinned and fell short of his glory. However, it is for the glory of God, that God justified man. We are justified as a gift, by the grace of God alone, through faith alone, in Christ Jesus alone, for the glory of God alone, as it is written in Scripture alone. (cf. Rom. 3:10-26) We who are redeemed...

Dear Neighbor, Question 100: What doth the preface of the Lord's prayer teach us? Answer: The preface of the Lord's prayer, which is, "Our Father which art in heaven," teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, able and ready to help us; and that we should pray with and for others. When Jesus meet Mary Madeline in the garden, he said to her: “G o to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” (Jn. 20:17b) This indicates a change in covenant, for God’s covenant name in Israel was Yahweh or Jehovah, but we should understand God, not as the God who took us out of slavery in Egypt, but as a loving Father who elected us and Jesus Christ as a loving brother who died for us. Therefore, when you pray, pray to your Father who loves you, for he elected you before the foundation of the earth and adopted you as a son or daughter of God. However, we should not think of God a...

Dear Neighbor, Question 99: What rule hath God given for our direction in prayer? Answer: The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord's Prayer. Yesterday I mentioned that the pastor of Sylvania Church often reads Puritan prayers from The Valley of Vision . He also does something else that I think is very interesting; he prays from the psalms. He will take one of the psalms and pray it aloud, adapting it to the congregation for which he is praying. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, says: “ All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” Therefore, the Westminster Puritans are correct in their assertion that the whole Word of God is useful to direct us in prayer. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, (cf.  Luke 11...

Dear Neighbor, My personal devotional time begins each morning with a recitation of a chapter out of the Gospel According to John; after this, I write a write a letter to God; after this, I read a portion of Scripture; after this, I write a letter to you. Prayer is very very important to me. I surround my prayer time with the Scriptures. The Puritans have much to teach us about prayer, for they were a prayerful people. In the liturgy of the worship service, at Sylvania Church, our pastor often reads a Puritan Prayer from the Valley of Vision; therefore, I believe that the Puritans have much that they can teach us about prayer.  The Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 98: What is prayer? Answer: Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies. I do not always do so, but several years ago, someone suggested to me to use the acronym A.C.T.S. while pra...

Question 97: What is required to be the worthy receiving of the Lord's supper? Answer: It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord's body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgement to themselves. This is a good and biblical answer, however, there is something missing from this answer. The thing missing is church membership. I do not mean membership in the particular local church in which a traveler might take part in the Lord’s Supper, but I mean membership in the church universal. We do not believe in Baptismal regeneration; therefore, this is not of which I am speaking. However, we do believe that Baptism is a church ordinance; therefore, Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and the Lord’s Supper. Faith in Jesus Christ is the prerequisite to Baptism, believers...

Question 96: What is the Lord's supper? Answer: The Lord's Supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ's appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worth receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace. Dear Neighbor, I do not believe that this answer is sufficient. I believe “The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.” (BFM, Article 7b)  The Westminster Puritans believe that the Lord’s Supper is a sacrament but I believe that it is a symbolic act of obedience. Remember, the word sacrament implies that the act itself conveys grace to the believer. I do not believe that the act of receiving the Lord’s Supper conveys any grace t...

Dear Neighbor,  This is the day that the Lord has made, so let us rejoice and be glad in it. God created everyday, but the first day of the week is a special day. The first day of the week is the Lord’s day! Christians regularly observe the first day of the week as being the Lord’s special day of the week. Not in observance of the Sabbath rest, commanded of Israel, in the covenant that he made with them at Mount Sinai in the desert, but because it commemorates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. Therefore, Christians come together on the first day of the week to worship God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  It was on the first day of the week, when the doors were shut, where the disciples were, that Jesus first appeared to the disciples, bodily resurrected from the dead. Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you.” After saying this, he showed them that he was not a spirit but bodily resurrected. The disciples rejoiced when the saw the Lord Jesus Ch...