What is the Defenders of The Faith Program?

The Defenders of Faith is a church-wide memorization program to help the members and friends of Grace Bible Presbyterian Church hide the Word of God and the truths of Scripture in their hearts. Everyone from children to adults can memorize the same Scripture verses and catechism questions each month and repeat them together whenever we gather for worship and/or teaching. 

Our goal is not just to memorize, but to understand and apply the truths of God that we commit to memory.  Doing this together as a church family allows us to help one another with this important task. 

[Please read "Why Creeds are Useful?" to understand why we also memorize the Westminster Shorter Catechism]

"The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength."  Mark 12:29,30

Can you keep the Ten Commandments perfectly?  No, since the fall of Adam, the only One who has been able to do this is Jesus. 

"But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all conduct."  1 Peter 1:15

"The LORD will give strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace."  Psalm 29:11

What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were first created?  The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were first created was their eating the forbidden fruit.  (Shorter Catechism Question #15)

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trust in You."  Isaiah 26:3

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who trust in Him?"  Nahum 1:7

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

Shorter Catechism Question 14:  What is Sin?  Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of the law of God.

"Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble."  Psalm 119:165

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  John 14:6

"I will hear what God the Lord will speak; for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints."  Psalm 85:8

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."  Romans 5:1

Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?  "Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created by sinning against God."  Shorter Catechism Question 13

"So then, my beloved brethern, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath."  James 1:19

"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him."  Psalm 18:30

"In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid."  Psalm 56:11

"If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."  2 Timothy 2:13