What Kingdom are we focused upon? Whose kingdom are we seeking to promote or build? What wars against the kingdom of God, and how do we rightly oppose it? We explore these questions and more today! Lord’s Day 48 Q & A 123 Q. What does the second petition mean? A. “Your kingdom come” means: Rule us by your Word and Spirit in such a way that more and more we submit to you. Preserve your church and make it grow. Destroy the devil’s work; destroy every force which revolts against you and every conspiracy against your holy Word. Do this until your kingdom fully comes, when you will be all in all.

The first request of the Lord's Prayer is that God's name would be glorified! To faithfully do this, we must know who our God is, how he has revealed himself, and avoid being glory thieves. Lord’s Day 47 Q & A 122 Q. What does the first petition mean? A. “Hallowed be your name” means: Help us to truly know you, to honor, glorify, and praise you for all your works and for all that shines forth from them: your almighty power, wisdom, kindness, justice, mercy, and truth. And it means, Help us to direct all our living— what we think, say, and do— so that your name will never be blasphemed because of us but always honored and praised.

At the very beginning of our prayer, we are instructed to recognize both the immanence and transcendence of our God, as we pray to him as our father, while being reminded of his heavenly abode. Lord’s Day 46 Q & A 120Q. Why did Christ command us to call God “our Father”? A. To awaken in us at the very beginning of our prayer what should be basic to our prayer—a childlike reverence and trust that through Christ God has become our Father, and that just as our parents do not refuse us the things of this life, even less will God our Father refuse to give us what we ask in faith. Q & A 121 Q. Why the words “in heaven”? A. These words teach us not to think of God’s heavenly majesty as something earthly, and to expect everything needed for body and soul from God’s almighty power.

Today we begin the final section of the Heidelberg Catechism, which focuses on the most important part of our thanksgiving, prayer! Why do we pray if God is in control of everything? How does God use our prayers? Lord’s Day 45 Q & A 116 Q. Why do Christians need to pray? A. Because prayer is the most important part of the thankfulness God requires of us. And also because God gives his grace and Holy Spirit only to those who pray continually and groan inwardly, asking God for these gifts and thanking God for them.Q & A 117 Q. What is the kind of prayer that pleases God and that he listens to? A. First, we must pray from the heart to no other than the one true God, revealed to us in his Word, asking for everything God has commanded us to ask for. Second, we must fully recognize our need and misery, so that we humble ourselves in God’s majestic presence. Third, we must rest on this unshakable foundation: even though we do not deserve it, God will surely listen to our prayer because of Christ our Lord. That is what God promised us in his Word.Q & A 118 Q. What did God command us to pray for? A. Everything we need, spiritually and physically, as embraced in the prayer Christ our Lord himself taught us. Q & A 119 Q. What is this prayer?A. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours forever. Amen.

The Tenth Commandment isn't just one more, tacked on to the list, but rather a key that helps us understand our Lord's expectations for the other nine and every area of our lives. Lord’s Day 44 Q & A 113 Q. What is the aim of the tenth commandment? A. That not even the slightest desire or thought contrary to any one of God’s commandments should ever arise in our hearts.Rather, with all our hearts we should always hate sin and take pleasure in whatever is right.Q & A 114Q. But can those converted to God obey these commandments perfectly?A. No. In this life even the holiest have only a small beginning of this obedience.Nevertheless, with all seriousness of purpose, they do begin to live according to all, not only some, of God’s commandments.Q & A 115 Q. Since no one in this life can obey the Ten Commandments perfectly, why does God want them preached so pointedly?A. First, so that the longer we live the more we may come to know our sinfulness and the more eagerly look to Christ for forgiveness of sins and righteousness.Second, so that we may never stop striving, and never stop praying to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, to be renewed more and more after God’s image, until after this life we reach our goal: perfection.

Dealing with the 9th Commandment, we are warned about following the pattern of the Devil, the father of lies, and instead challenged to consider how we can better guard our neighbors good name! Lord’s Day 43 Q & A 112 Q. What is the aim of the ninth commandment? A. That I never give false testimony against anyone, twist no one’s words, not gossip or slander, nor join in condemning anyone rashly or without a hearing.Rather, in court and everywhere else, I should avoid lying and deceit of every kind; these are the very devices the devil uses, and they would call down on me God’s intense wrath. I should love the truth, speak it candidly, and openly acknowledge it. And I should do what I can to guard and advance my neighbor’s good name.

The 8th Commandment reflects the necessity of trust in society, but goes far beyond worrying about a pick-pocket. Tax policy, national debt, state lotteries, even seeking higher education all tie in. Lord’s Day 42 Q & A 110 Q. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment? A. God forbids not only outright theft and robbery, punishable by law. But in God’s sight theft also includes all scheming and swindling in order to get our neighbor’s goods for ourselves, whether by force or means that appear legitimate, such as inaccurate measurements of weight, size, or volume; fraudulent merchandising; counterfeit money; excessive interest; or any other means forbidden by God. In addition God forbids all greed and pointless squandering of his gifts. Q & A 111 Q. What does God require of you in this commandment? A. That I do whatever I can for my neighbor’s good, that I treat others as I would like them to treat me, and that I work faithfully so that I may share with those in need.

In the 7th Commandment, we are challenged to think about God's good gift of sexuality, and how it is to be honored and protected. Unchastity is rampant in societies, but God's people are to detest it! Lord’s Day 41 Q & A 108 Q. What does the seventh commandment teach us? A. That God condemns all unchastity, and that therefore we should thoroughly detest it and live decent and chaste lives, within or outside of the holy state of marriage. Q & A 109 Q. Does God, in this commandment, forbid only such scandalous sins as adultery?A. We are temples of the Holy Spirit, body and soul, and God wants both to be kept clean and holy. That is why God forbids all unchaste actions, looks, talk, thoughts, or desires, and whatever may incite someone to them.

Is it ever permissible to kill another human being? Why did the OT have building requirements for roof tops? Is it a sin to ride a motorcycle? Is political speech a violation of the 6th Commandment? We consider these questions and more, as we continue our journey through the Ten Commandments. Lord’s Day 40 Q & A 105 Q. What is God’s will for youin the sixth commandment?A. I am not to belittle, hate, insult, or kill my neighbor— not by my thoughts, my words, my look or gesture, and certainly not by actual deeds— and I am not to be party to this in others; rather, I am to put away all desire for revenge.I am not to harm or recklessly endanger myself either. Prevention of murder is also why government is armed with the sword.Q & A 106Q. Does this commandment refer only to murder?A. By forbidding murder God teaches us that he hates the root of murder: envy, hatred, anger, vindictiveness. In God’s sight all such are disguised forms of murder.Q & A 107Q. Is it enough then that we do not murder our neighbor in any such way?A. No. By condemning envy, hatred, and anger God wants us to love our neighbors as ourselves, to be patient, peace-loving, gentle, merciful, and friendly toward them, to protect them from harm as much as we can, and to do good even to our enemies.

The 5th Commandment is not just about listening to our moms and dads, but here the Lord is teaching us about the necessity of honoring and submitting to those in authority, as God has given them that position. Lord’s Day 39Q & A 104Q. What is God’s will for you in the fifth commandment?A. That I honor, love, and be loyal to my father and mother and all those in authority over me; that I submit myself with proper obedience to all their good teaching and discipline; and also that I be patient with their failings— for through them God chooses to rule us.