1. Introduction to the Heidelberg Catechism
Comfort in life and death

2. Heidelberg, Germany
Time of the Reformation – lots of confusion amongst Christians regarding what they should believe/what the Bible teaches
1562 – Elector Frederick III (Chief of a province) commissioned a catechism to clearly teach the Bible to people in his province
Aim: Help people know what the Bible teaches/unify Christians in his province

3. Composers
Zacharias Ursinus (Primary) Professor at college in Heidelberg Lots of contact with Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed Christians Catechism to be accepted by both Reformed and Lutheran
Caspar Olevianus (Secondary)
Helped to proofread/check the catechism together with other professors from the university at Heidelberg

4. Catechism/Creed
Catechism – name given to a brief and simple summary of the main parts of the Christian faith Κατηχήθης – Catechised/instructed (Greek) Credo – I believe (Latin) Apostles Creed ( AD) Nicene Creed (325 AD) Athanasian Creed ( AD)

5. Luke 1:1-4
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. ἵνα ἐπιγνῷς περὶ ὧν κατηχήθης λόγων τὴν σφάλειαν

6. Luke 1:1-4
Theophilus – was first taught by others, before he would have been able to read/study the bible on his own. Bible is the ultimate/final test of truth, not a Catechism. Catechism is an attempt to clearly and faithfully summarise what the Bible teaches.

7. Map
Walk around street by street to come up with your own map of the area
Consider all the maps which others have made of Potch, use them to guide you help you, then go and test those maps by visiting some of the places mentioned/described.

8. Maps of the Bible
Creed/Catechism are 'maps' of the Bible Result of a lot of different people, having studied/read the Bible over many years (walked through the streets of Potch themselves) and come up with an explanation of what the Bible teaches.

9. John 16:12-15
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

10. Help and guidance from God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit was given by Jesus to guide his followers into all truth Throughout the centuries, the church has constructed different creeds/confessions to map what the Bible teaches We trust and believe that God the Holy Spirit has been guiding his church into all truth – helping his church to better grasp and understand what the Bible teaches

11. Learn from past work of Christians
There is a unity in what Christians have believed throughout the ages so we can learn from the creeds/confessions which Christians have constructed in the past Not necessary for each one of us to discover the truth of the Bible without the help and guidance of other Christians Help us to make sure we are interpreting and understanding the Bible correctly ourselves

12. Testing interpretations
Good test of any interpretation of the Bible is: 'Does my interpretation conform with what Christians throughout the centuries have believed or is it completely new and radical?' The Bible is the ultimate/final test of truth – creeds and catechisms must be measured against the Bible – constantly checked and re-checked Heidelberg Catechism has stood the test of time for almost 500 years now

13. Questions
What danger exists for a church if it does not have and creeds/confessions? Do you think it is wise to learn the Christian faith by beginning with a Catechism?

14. Division of Heidelberg Catechism
129 questions and answers (memorisation) Q1-2 – Introduction Q3-11 – Part 1: The sin and misery of mankind Q12-85 – Part 2: The way of deliverance Q – Part 3: Life of gratitude/thankfulness

15. Q1
Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death? What/where do you go looking for comfort when 'disaster' strikes? What is the one thing that, no matter what else happens, you know you will be okay in the end?

16. Modern comforts Sex Alcohol Drugs Thrills (Adventure) Pain
Escapism (Series indulgence/Facebook)
Work
Family

17. Only one comfort
A. That I am not my own, but belong— body and soul, in life and in death— to my faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

18. Only comfort What Jesus Christ has already done for me (PAST)
What Jesus Christ continues to do for me today (PRESENT)

19. Q2
Q. What must you know to live and die in the joy of this comfort? What must you know/believe/experience for this comfort to be reality for you/in your life

20. Q2A
A. Three things: first, how great my sin and misery are; second, how I am set free from all my sins and misery; third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance.

21. Questions
Given that 'The Bible is the ultimate/final test of truth – creeds and catechisms must be measured against the Bible – constantly checked and re-checked' – how does Q/A 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism compare to what the Bible teaches?

22. That I am not my own,1 but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—2 to my faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ.3 He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,4 and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.5 He also watches over me in such a way6 that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven;7 in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.8 Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life9 and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.10
1 1 Cor. 6:19-20
2 Rom. 14:7-9
3 1 Cor. 3:23; Titus 2:14
4 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:2
5 John 8:34-36; Heb. 2:14-15; 1 John 3:1-11
6 John 6:39-40; 10:27-30; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:5
7 Matt. 10:29-31; Luke 21:16-18
8 Rom. 8:28
9 Rom. 8:15-16; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14
10 Rom. 8:1-17

23. Doxology
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Know that the Lord our God is good; his mercy is forever sure; his truth at all times firmly stood, and shall from age to age endure.