On January 5, 2020
A catechism is a method of learning doctrine by asking & answering questions. IBC plans to have 1, 2, or 3 catechism questions each week for the church to study together. We recommend that each family goes over the questions & answers weekly. On Sunday nights the entire church family will recite the answers. Please see below for the latest weekly installments that will change each Sunday for the week.
WEEK 1 OF JANUARY 5, 2020-
Question 1. Who is the first & best of all things?
Answer: God is the first & best of all things (Isaiah 44:6; Psalm 8:1; 97:9)
Question 2. What is the chief end of man?
Answer: The chief end of man is to glorify God & to enjoy Him forever (1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalm 73:25-26)
WEEK 2 OF JANUARY 12, 2020-
Question 3. How do we know there is a God?
Answer: The light of nature in man, & the works of God plainly declare that there is a God; but His Word & Spirit only, do effectually reveal Him to us for our salvation. (Romans 1:18-20; Psalm 19:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 Corinthians 1:21-24; 2:9-10)
WEEK 3 OF JANUARY 19, 2020-
Question 4. What is meant by the providence of God?
Answer: God's providence means that God cares for all His creatures & provides for their welfare.
Question 5. Does God's providence extend to the righteous & to the wicked?
Answer: God makes all things work together for good to them that love Him (Romans 8:28; Psalm 23:1); God also gives to the wicked all the common blessings of life, thereby calling them to repentance (Matthew 5:45; Psalm 145:9; Romans 2:4).
WEEK 4 OF JANUARY 26, 2020-
Question 6. Does God act according to His purposes formed beforehand?
Answer: God has always intended to do whatever He doesd (Ephesians 1:11; 1 Peter 1:20)
Question 7. Do God's purposes destro our freedom of action?
Answer: We choose & act freely, & are accountable for all we do (Deuteronomy 30:19; Romans 14:12).
WEEK 5 OF FEBRUARY 2, 2020-
Question 8. What is the Word of God?
Answer: The Scriptures of the Old & New Testaments, being given by divine inspiration, are the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith & practice (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Isaiah 8:20).
WEEK 6 OF FEBRUARY 9, 2020-
Question 9. How many separate books are there in the Bible?
Answer: There are 66 books in the Bible; 39 books in the Old Testament & 27 in the New Testament.
WEEK 7 OF FEBRUARY 16, 2020-
Question 10. How do we know the Bible is the Word of God?
Answer: We know that the Bible is the Word of God because the Spirit of God bears witness with the Scriptures & confirms this in our hearts.
WEEK 8 OF FEBRUARY 23, 2020
Question 11. What do the AScriptures principally teach?
Answer: The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God & what duty God requires of man. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 20:31; Acts 24:14; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Ecclesiastes 12:13)
WEEK 9 OF MARCH 1, 2020-
Question 12. Are there more gods than one?
Answer: There is but one only, the living & true God. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10)
WEEK 10 OF MARCH 8, 2020-
Question 13. How many Persons are there in the Godhead?
Answer: There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, & the Holy Spirit; & these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power & glory. (1 Corinthians 8:6; John 10:30; 14:9; Acts 5:3-4; Matthew 28:19)
WEEK 11 OF MARCH 15, 2020-
Question 14. What is the work of creation?
Answer: The work of creation is God's making all things out of nothing, by the Word of His power, in the space of six days, & all very good.
(Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3; Exodus 20:11; Genesis 1:31)