Trinity Reformed Church

We wrap up our study of the atonement with penal substitutionary atonement, the term that describes the Biblical view of what Christ accomplished on the cross. Listen as Pastor Nate Harlan teaches on the concept in our family study.

In today’s family study, Pastor Nate Harlan works through another theory of the atonement: The Governmental Theory as taught by the Arminian jurist Hugo Grotius.

As we consider the questions in the Heidelberg Catechism that concern the atonement, Pastor Nate Harlan ledas us through a conversation about theories about the atonement: Ransom Theory, Moral Influence Theory, and Penal Substitutional Atonement.

Pastor Nate Harlan leads the family study through Questions 12 and 13 of the Heidelberg Catechism, in which we affirm that we are all incapable of paying our debt to God and deserve the punishment of Hell.

Pastor Nate Harlan and the Trinity family study take a short detour from the Heidelberg Catechism to consider the inheritance of Christ and the doctrine of Hell.

The study finishes up Question 11 of the Heidelberg Catechism which addresses God’s mercy and justice. But why is there a Hell? As Pastor Nate Harlan says, “There is a direct correllation between our appreciation of the work of Jesus and the severity of the punishment that we deserve.”

As the family study at Trinity Evangelical Church moves through the Heidelberg Catechism, Pastor Nate Harlan asks: How can God be merciful and yet also punish sin? 

After a short recap of Question 9, Pastor Nate Harlan takes the class through Question 10 of the Heidelberg Catechism, which concerns itself with God’s just judgment of disobedience and apostasy.

After reviewing our study of Question 8, Pastor Nate Harlan continues to the next question and answer in The Heidelberg Catechism concerning the depravity of man and the justice of God: Q. But does not God do man an injustice by requiring in his law what man cannot do? A. No, for God so created…

After a short review of Question 7 of the Heidelberg Catechism, Pastor Nate Harlan leads a discussion on Question 8: “Are we then so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good, and inclined to all wickedness? Answer: Indeed we are; except we are regenerated by the Spirit of God.”

In this lesson, Pastor Nate Harlan and the attendees of this Trinity Evangelical Church family study look at the doctrine of federal headship, a doctrine spoken about in Romans 5, especialy verse 15: “For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace…

This week, Pastor Nate Harlan and the family study discuss Question 7 of the Heidelberg Catechism: “From where, then, did man’s depraved nature come?”

We review Question 6 of the Heidelberg Catechism: “Did God then create man so wicked and perverse?” We consider how something created as good could become corrupt.

After finishing up Question 4 of the Heidelberg Catechism, Pastor Nate Harlan brings us to Question 5: “Canst thou keep all this (the law of God) perfectly? No: for I am by nature prone to hate God and my neighbor.”

In order to find comfort in this world, we need first to be honest about our sin and misery. Pastor Nate Harlan leads us through the next few questions of the Heidelberg Catechism in which we contrast our felt needs with our true needs as explained by Scripture.

How may we live and die happily? The Heidelberg Catechism gives a three-fold answer: Know your great sin, know who delivers you from that sin, and know how to express your gratitude to God for your deliverance. Pastor Nate Harlan leads us through this family study.

This week, Pastor Nate Harlan and the family study really do wrap up our discussion of the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism: What is your only comfort in life and death?

Despite our church’s propensity to go down any number of interesting rabbit trails during the family study, Pastor Nate Harlan says that this time we will wrap up Question 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism. NARRATOR: They did not wrap up Question 1.

Pastor Nate Harlan continues our discussion centered around The Heidelberg Confession. The group talks about our comfort in life and death, and how the world’s comfort is fleeting and even non-sensical.

Pastor Nate Harlan continues our study on the Heidelberg Catechism by discussing the three parts of the catechism: The Misery of Man, The Redemption of Man, and The Gratitude Due from Man.

Pastor Nate Harlan begins a study on the Heidelberg Catechism, beginning with its purpose and history. This catechism was commissioned in 1563 by a Protestant prince to aid in the teaching of Reformed Christian doctrine.