October Questions
Question 40: October 4
QUESTION 40: What should we pray?a
Answer: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.b
Scripture: For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14–21)
Answer: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.b
Scripture: For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14–21)
- a.) See also The Baptist Catechism QUESTION 110.
- b.) 2 Timothy 3:16-17. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. See also Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4.
Question 41: October 11
QUESTION 41: What is the Lord’s Prayer?a
Answer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,b your kingdom come,c your will be done,d on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.e And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.f And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.g
Scripture: Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...” (Matthew 6:9)
Answer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,b your kingdom come,c your will be done,d on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.e And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.f And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.g
Scripture: Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...” (Matthew 6:9)
- a.) See also The Baptist Catechism questions 111-118.
- b.) Psalm 67:1-3. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! See also Revelation 4:11.
- c.) Matthew 9:37-38. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Romans 10:1-2. Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. See also Psalm 68:1-18, 2 Thessalonians 3:1, and Revelation 22:20.
- d.) Psalm 25:4-5. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. See also Psalm 103:20-21 and Psalm 119:26.
- e.) 1 Timothy 6:6-8. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. See also Proverbs 30:8-9 and1 Timothy 4:4-5.
- f.) Mark 11:25. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. See also Matthew 18:35.
- g.) Matthew 26:41. Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 1 Corinthians 10:13. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Question 42: October 18
QUESTION 42: How is the Word of God to be read and heard?a
Answer: With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.b
Scripture: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Answer: With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.b
Scripture: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
- a.) See also The Baptist Catechism questions 4-7 and 95-97.
- b.) 2 Chronicles 34:27. Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. Ezra 7:10. For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. Psalm 119:97. Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Acts 17:11. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 2 Thessalonians 2:13. And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 1 Peter 2:1-2. So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation. See also Exodus 24:7, Nehemiah 8:6-8, Psalm 19:7, Proverbs 8:34,Romans 1:16, and 2 Peter 1:19-21.
Question 43: October 25
QUESTION 43: What are the sacraments or ordinances?a
Answer: The sacraments or ordinances given by God and instituted by Christ, namely baptism and the Lord’s Supper, are visible signs and seals that we are bound together as a community of faith by his death and resurrection. By our use of them the Holy Spirit more fully declares and seals the promises of the gospel to us.b
Scripture: We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4) And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:19-20)
Answer: The sacraments or ordinances given by God and instituted by Christ, namely baptism and the Lord’s Supper, are visible signs and seals that we are bound together as a community of faith by his death and resurrection. By our use of them the Holy Spirit more fully declares and seals the promises of the gospel to us.b
Scripture: We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4) And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:19-20)
- a.) See also The Baptist Catechism QUESTION 95, 98, and 99.
- b.) Article VII. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper from The Baptist Faith and Message 2000: Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper. 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.