The Presbyterian Handbook, Revised Edition
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About this ebook
The Presbyterian Handbook, Revised Edition provides historical and up to date theological information about Presbyterian beliefs alongside fun-filled facts and practical tips on being a churchgoing follower of Jesus Christ. Complete with illustrations, the book presents a wonderful combination of vast truths, complex details, and bits of humor about Presbyterian understanding of the Christian life. This unique and incredibly handy resource is perfect for Presbyterian youth, adults, students, families, and all those interested in learning about much of what encompasses life in the church.
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The Presbyterian Handbook, Revised Edition - Westminster John Knox Press
About Cool Calvin
Having some fun and depicting John Calvin with designer shades
indicates that even though theology is serious stuff, we should nonetheless remember that it is not our theology that saves us, but Jesus Christ. Therefore, our life in the church can be buoyant, and our theological wranglings can be done with a sense of humor and love for our neighbor.
© 2006, 2016 Geneva Press
Part of this book was originally published as The Lutheran Handbook © 2005 Augsburg Fortress.
Revised edition
Published by Geneva Press
Louisville, Kentucky
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 — 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Geneva Press, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202-1396. Or contact us online at www.genevapress.com.
Scripture quotations from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible are copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and are used by permission.
Sources for the charts on pages 69, 70–72, and 74–77 include reference materials from Information PleaseNew York Times Public Library/Hyperion, Rose Publishing, Time-Life, and Wadsworth Group/Thomas Learning.
Book design by James Satter and Ann DeVilbiss
Interior illustrations: Brenda Brown and Fernando Ruiz
Cover design by Dean Nicklas
Cover illustration: Fernando Ruiz
Contributing writers: Julie Bowe, Suzanne Burke, Lou Carlozo, Giacomo Cassese, Mark Gardner, Wes Halula, Sara Henrich, Mark Hinton, Sue Houglum, Rolf Jacobson, Susan M. Lang, Andrea Lee, Daniel Levitin, Terry Marks, Catherine Malotky, David Maxwell, Donald K. McKim, Jeffrey S. Nelson, Rebecca Ninke, Eliseo Pérez-Álvarez, Dawn Rundman, Jonathan Rundman, Ted Schroeder, Ken Sundet-Jones, Hans Wiersma
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Geneva Press.
Title: The Presbyterian handbook.
Description: Revised edition. | Louisville, KY : Geneva, 2016. | Part of this book was originally published as the Lutheran handbook, c2005 Augsburg Fortress
—T.p. verso. | Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015041302 (print) | LCCN 2015040919 (ebook) | ISBN 9781611646573 () | ISBN 9780664262365 (paperback)
Subjects: LCSH: Presbyterian Church—Handbooks, manuals, etc. | BISAC: RELIGION / Christianity / Presbyterian. | RELIGION / Christianity / Denominations. | RELIGION / Christianity / Calvinist.
Classification: LCC BX9175.3 (print) | LCC BX9175.3 .P74 2016 (ebook) | DDC 285/.1—dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015041302
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992.
Most Geneva Press books are available at special quantity discounts when purchased in bulk by corporations, organizations, and special-interest groups. For more information, please e-mail SpecialSales@GenevaPress.com.
CONTENTS
This Book Belongs To
About My Congregation
Preface
Church Stuff
How to Be a Visitor
How to Welcome a Visitor
How to Get to Know Your Pastor
How to Survive for One Hour in an Unair-conditioned Church
How to Respond When Someone Sits in Your Pew
How to Use a Worship Bulletin
How to Sing a Hymn
How to Sing a Praise Song
How to Listen to a Sermon
How to Respond to a Disruption during Worship
Sacraments
The Anatomy of a Baptism
Infant and Younger Children
Adult and Older Children
How to Receive the Lord's Supper
Six Questions and Answers about the Lord's Supper
How to Pass the Plate
How to Share the Peace in Church
How to Stay Alert in Church
What to Bring to a Church Potluck (by Region)
Presbyterian Origins
The Presbyterian Family in the United States
Five Big-Time Presbyterian Ancestors
Five Facts about Life in Medieval Times
History's Six Most Notorious Heretics
How to Avoid Getting Burned at the Stake
Charts and Diagrams
World Religions
Comparative Religions
Family Tree of Christianity
U.S. Christian Denominations
Comparative Denominations
The Seasons of the Church Year and What They Mean
The Seasons of the Church Year (diagram)
PC(USA) Symbol
Everyday Stuff
How to Understand the Relationship between the Law and Grace
How to Know What God Wants You to Do with Your Life
How Presbyterians Understand Evangelism
How to Pray
How to Work for Peace and Justice on Behalf of People Who Are Poor and Oppressed
How to Identify a Genuine Miracle
Three Essential Personal Spiritual Practices
How to Forgive Someone
How to Care for the Sick
How to Identify and Deal with Evil
How to Avoid Gossip
How to Resolve Interpersonal Conflict
How to Console Someone
How to Cope with Loss and Grief
The Top Ten Attributes to Look for in a Spouse
How to Be Saved (by Grace through Faith and Not by Your Good Works)
How to Understand the Trinity as One God in Three Persons
What Is Predestination?
How to Explain Predestination to Your Friends
Bible Stuff
Common Translations of the Bible
60 Essential Bible Stories
How to Read the Bible
How to Interpret the Bible
How to Memorize a Bible Verse
Ten Bible Villains
Ten Bible Heroes
The Three Most Rebellious Things Jesus Did
The Seven Funniest Bible Stories
The Five Grossest Bible Stories
Five Facts about Life in Old Testament Times
Ten Important Things That Happened between the Old and New Testaments
Five Facts about Life in New Testament Times
The Five Biggest Misconceptions about the Bible
Jesus' Twelve Apostles (Plus Judas and Paul)
The Five Weirdest Laws in the Old Testament
The Top Ten Bible Miracles and What They Mean
Maps and Diagrams
The Exodus
The Holy Land—Old Testament Times
The Holy Land—New Testament Times
Paul's Journeys
Jerusalem in Jesus' Time
Noah's Ark
The Ark of the Covenant
Solomon's Temple
The Armor of God
The Crucifixion
Presbyterian Stuff
The Great Ends of the Church
The Church Reformed and Always Being Reformed
Key Presbyterian Concepts
Presbyterian Government
Presbyterian Lingo
Changes to the Form of Government
Welcoming Sexual Minorities
A New Hymnal: Glory to God
Ordination and Installation
Confessing the Faith
Creeds and Confessions
The Book of Confessions
Key Comments from the Confessions
Belhar: The Newest Confession
Tips on Interpreting the Book of Confessions
Three Creeds
The Nicene Creed
The Apostles' Creed
A Brief Statement of Faith
Important Features of A Brief Statement of Faith
For Further Study
Twelve Books for Presbyterians to Read
Notes & Stuff
Excerpt from More Presbyterian Questions, More Presbyterian Answers by Donald K. McKim
PREFACE
Please Be Advised:
Lots of books, pamphlets, and booklets have been written through the centuries as companions for average folks who wanted help navigating their way through a complicated subject. The Boy Scout Handbook comes to mind, for example. So do The American Red Cross First Aid and Safety Handbook, Tune and Repair Your Own Piano: A Practical and Theoretical Guide to the Tuning of All Keyboard Stringed Instruments, and National Audubon Society's Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. They stand as testimony to the average person's need for a guide to both the vast truths and complex detail that make up a particular area of interest. These books turn complicated, inaccessible ideas into simple, easy-to-understand concepts and, if necessary, into action steps that are easy to follow.
Likewise, The Presbyterian Handbook follows this format. Here, you will discover a combination of reliable, historical, and theological information alongside some fun facts and very practical tips on being a churchgoing follower of Jesus Christ, all presented in that oh-so-Presbyterian, down-to-earth, tongue-in-cheek sort of way.
You will also discover that this book is intended for learning and enjoyment. (Some Presbyterians have trouble doing the latter until they've first suffered through the former.) It's meant to spur conversation, to inform and edify, and to make you laugh. Think of the book as a comedian with a dry sense of humor and a degree in theology. It can be used in the classroom with students or at the dinner table with family or in solitude.
But however you use it, use it! It's printed on paper that accepts either ink or pencil nicely, so feel free to write and highlight in it (and there's room for notes in the back).
Anyway, the point is this: Being a follower of Jesus is hard enough without having to navigate the faith journey—let alone the maze of church culture—all alone. Sooner or later everyone needs a companion.
—THE EDITORS
CHURCH STUFF
Every well-prepared Presbyterian should have a basic understanding of Presbyterian teachings and where they came from.
Plus, since every church goes about worship in a slightly different way, it might take a little time to get the hang of things—especially if you're new to a congregation.
This section includes:
•Essential facts about the Presbyterian faith. (If you know these things, you'll know more than most.)
•Practical advice for singing hymns, taking Communion, and getting to know the people in your congregation.
•Hints for enjoying worship—even when you're having a bad day.
HOW TO BE A VISITOR
Where else does one get an hour of entertainment absolutely free? Go to worship! No reservation needed!
Whether you come from another church tradition or have no church experience at all, approach a new church like you would enter any foreign culture: with respect, patience, and a good attitude.
Go with an open mind.
No two worship services are alike. The prayers, songs, and litanies will vary from church to church. They say most people enjoy approximately 60 percent of worship and hate the other 40 percent. The problem is your favorite part is probably someone else's worst moment. Look