First Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC 2014 Children s Catechism WEEK 1 - GOD

Transcription

1 Question 1. Who are you? First Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC 2014 Children s Catechism WEEK 1 - GOD I am a child of God. Genesis 1:26-27, John 1:12 & Gal. 3:25-2 Question 2. What does it mean to be a child of God? That I belong to God, who loves me. Matt.19:14 & 1 Cor. 3:23 Question 3. What makes you a child of God? God's grace. Eph. 2:8-10 Question 4. What is grace? God s free gift of love that I do not deserve and cannot earn. Question 5. What is the goal and purpose of humankind? To glorify God and enjoy God forever. Question 6. What does it mean to glorify God? To love God and follow God s commands. Question 7. Why should you glorify God? Because God made me and takes care of me. Question 8. Don't you have to be good for God to love you? No. God loves me in spite of all I do wrong. Rom. 5:8 & 1 John 4:10 Question 9. How do you thank God for this gift of love? I learn to love, trust, and obey God with all my heart. Matt. 22:37 Question 10. How do you love God? By worshipping and obeying God, by loving others, and by respecting what God has created. John 4:24; Deut. 10:26 & Ps. 95:6 Question 11. What did God create? Everything. Gen. 1:1, 31

2 Question 12. Where is God? God is everywhere. Jer. 23:24 Question 13. Does God know everything? Yes. Nothing can be hidden from God. Ps. 147:5 Question 14. Can God do everything? Yes. God can do anything. Deut. 32:4 Question 15. Is there more than one God? There is only one God. Deut. 6:4 Question 16. How many persons are in the one God? Three persons whom we call the Trinity. 2 Cor. 13:14 Question 17. Who are they? The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Matt 28:19 WEEK 2 HUMANITY / SIN Question 18. Who were our first parents? Adam and Eve. Gen. 3:20-21 Question 19. What were our first parents made of? God made Adam s body out of the earth, and Eve was made from Adam s body. Question 20. What did God give Adam and Eve besides bodies? God gave them souls that would never die. Gen. 2:7 Question 21. Do you have a soul as well as a body? Yes, I have a soul that will never die. John 6:58 Question 22. What is special about human beings? God made us, male and female, in the image of God. Gen. 1:26-27 Question 23. What does it mean that we are made in God's image? It means we are made to reflect God's goodness, wisdom and love. Matt. 5:14-16 & 2 Cor. 4:5-6

3 Question 24. If we are made in God s image, why do we often act in destructive and hateful ways? Because we have turned away from God and fallen into sin. Rom. 1:18 & Rom. 7:19-20 Question 25. What is sin? Sin is closing our hearts to God and disobeying God's law. 1 John 3:4 Question 26. How did Adam and Eve sin? They ate the fruit that God said not to eat. Gen. 3:6 Question 27. Who tempted them to sin? The serpent tempted Eve, and she gave the fruit to Adam. Gen. 3:1 Question 28. What happened to Adam and Eve when they sinned? They were separated from God. Rom. 5:12 Question 29. How have Adam and Eve s descendants been affected by their sin? Everyone is born with a sinful nature which we call original sin. Eph. 2: 1-3 Question 30. What is the result of sin? Our relationship with God is broken. Rom. 6:23 Question 31. How does our sin affect our relationships with others? It damages our relationships with one another. Question 32. How does God deal with us as sinners? God hates our sin, but never stops loving us. 2 Cor. 5:17-21 WEEK 3 COVENANT/ TABERNACLE Question 33. What did God do to help us with this problem of sin? God made a covenant with God s chosen people, Israel. Gen. 12:1-3 Question 34. What is a covenant? A solemn bond between two or more persons. Gen. 9:12-17 Question 35. What is God s covenant with Israel? God promised to be Israel s God, and they promised to be God s people. Ex. 6:6-7& 1 Pet. 2:9-10

4 Question 36. How did God make this covenant? God called Abraham and Sarah and promised through their family all the world would be blessed. Gen. 12: 1-3 & Gen. 17:1-7 Question 37. Did God keep this covenant? Yes. God led Israel out of slavery in Egypt, gave them the Ten Commandments through Moses, and brought them into the land that God had promised. Ex. 15:13 Question 38. Did Israel keep the covenant? No. They continued to disobey God s law. Ex. 32:1; 1 John 5:21& Deut. 29:25-27 WEEK 4 - TEN COMMANDMENTS Part 1 Question 39. What is God s law? The Law is summed up in the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. Question 40. What are the Ten Commandments called? The Decalogue. Ex. 24:12 Question 41. What do the first four commandments tell us? How to love God. Luke 10:27 Question 42. What do the last six commandments tell us? How to love ourselves and other people. Matt. 22:39; 7:12 Question 43. What are the Ten Commandments? The Ten Commandments are the law of God. Ex. 20:1-17 Question 44. What is the first commandment? The first commandment is: You shall have no other gods before me. Ex. 20:3 Question 45. What does the first commandment tell us to do? To worship only God. Matt. 4:10 Question 46. What is the second commandment? The second commandment is: You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand (generations) of those who love me and keep my commandments.

5 Question 47. What does the second commandment tell us to do? To worship God, not images or idols. Acts 17:24 Question 48. What is the third commandment? You shall not misuse the name of God. Ex. 20:7 Question 49. What does the third commandment tell us to do? To honor God s name. Rev. 15:3 Question 50. What is the fourth commandment? Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Question 51. What does the fourth commandment tell us to do? To keep the Sabbath holy or set apart to focus on God. Ex. 20:8-11 & Lev. 19:30 Question 52. What day of the week is the Christian Sabbath? Sunday, the first day of the week, called the Lord s day. 1 Cor. 16:2 Question 53. Why is it called the Lord s Day? Because on that day Christ rose from the dead. John 20:14-17 WEEK 5 TEN COMMANDMENTS Part 2 Question 54. What is the fifth commandment? Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Ex. 20:12 Question 55. What does the fifth commandment tell us to do? To love and obey our parents. Eph. 5:21 Question 56. What is the sixth commandment? You shall not murder. Ex. 20:13 Question 57. What does the sixth commandment tell us to do? Value life in all it s forms. Don t hate or hurt anyone. Matt. 5:21-26

6 Question 58. What is the seventh commandment? You shall not commit adultery. Ex. 20:14 Question 59. What does the seventh commandment tell us to do? Commit yourselves to one another the way that God commits to you. 1 Cor. 7:2 Question 60. What is the eighth commandment? You shall not steal. Ex 20:15 Question 61. What does the eighth commandment tell us to do? Be honest and respect others and their belongings. 2 Thess. 3:10-12 Question 62. What is the ninth commandment? You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. Ex. 20:16 Question 63. What does the ninth commandment tell us to do? Always to tell the truth. Zech. 8:16 Question 64. What is the tenth commandment? You shall not covet your neighbor s house. You shall not covet your neighbor s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor s house; you shall not covet your neighbor s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Ex. 20:17 Question 65. What does the tenth commandment tell us to do? To be satisfied with who we are and what we have. Romans 12:15 Question 66. What is the main point of these commandments? To instruct God s people to love God and one another. Matthew 22:37-40; Mark 12:28-31 & John 15:12 WEEK 6 - COVENANT OF GRACE / JESUS CHRIST Question 67. Since God s people Israel could not obey the law, what did God do to bring them back to the covenant? God sent prophets to direct them, priests to make sacrifices for them, and kings to protect them. At last God promised to send them a Messiah. Is. 9:1-6; Acts 3:18:22 & 1 Sam. 3:19-20

7 Question 68. What is a Messiah? Messiah means anointed one. The New Testament word for Messiah is Christ. Luke 2:26-38 & Luke 4:18 Question 69. Who was sent to be the Messiah? God sent Jesus. Luke 2:10-11 & Luke 3:22 Question 70. How did God keep the covenant with Israel by sending Jesus? This opened up the covenant with Israel to the whole world, making it the covenant of grace. Gal. 3:6-7 Question 71. What is the covenant of grace? God s promise through Christ to forgive and accept all people despite their disobedience. John 3:16-17 Question 72. How did God make the covenant of grace? By sending God s son, Jesus, to teach, lead and save. John 3:16; & 1 Corinthians 1:30 Question 73. What did God promise to do in the covenant of grace? To justify and sanctify those for whom Christ died. 1 Cor. 1:30 Question 74. What is justification? God forgives sinners and accepts them as if they had never sinned. 2 Cor. 5:18-21 Question 75. What is sanctification? God continues to make the hearts and actions of believers holy. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Question 76. Was Jesus just another human being? No. He was fully human and fully divine. John 1:1, 14 Question 77. What does it mean that Jesus was fully human? Jesus was fully a man, but without sin. He shares all our joy and sorrow. Matt. 26:38-39 Question 78. What does it mean that Jesus was fully divine? Jesus was also God with us and could save us from all our sins. Matt. 1:22-23 Question 79. What was Jesus like? Jesus spoke with God's authority and power. He was also gentle and loving. Mk 1:27 & Mk. 4:41

8 WEEK 7- MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST Question 80. What did Jesus ministry look like? He called disciples to follow him, teaching us all how to fulfill the law. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, blessed children, befriended outcasts, called people to repent, and forgave their sins. Luke 5:9-11; Mark 6:41-42; Luke 5:13 & Luke 5:20 Question 81. What does it mean to repent? You turn away from your sin. Mark 1:15 Question 82. What did Jesus teach during his life on earth? To love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Matt. 22:37-40 Question 83. What did Jesus do to show God s love for us? He demonstrated God s love through his life and his death. Is. 53:5 Question 84. What did Jesus do to show God s mercy for us? He gave mercy to all people during his ministry and broke the power of sin by dying on the cross for us. 1 Cor. 15:3 Question 85. What did Jesus do to show God s power for us? He was resurrected from the dead to show God s power over death. Rom. 4:24-25 Question 86. Where is Christ now? In Heaven, representing us before God. Question 87. What is the atonement? Christ s suffering and dying to break the power of sin and death. 1 Cor. 15:3 & 2 Cor. 5:19 Question 88. What is salvation? Salvation means forgiveness and eternal life with God when we place our faith in Christ. John 3:15 Question 89. What does it mean that Jesus is Lord? We receive God s love, power, and mercy through Jesus. John 20:15-18 & 1 Cor. 15:5-7, 11 Question 90. How do we know that Jesus is Lord? After he died and was raised from the dead, he appeared to his disciples, both women and men. He revealed himself to them as our living Lord and Savior. Through the Bible, he continues to reveal himself to us today. John 21:12-14; & 1 Cor. 15:3-4

9 Question 91. What does it mean that Jesus ascended into heaven? That he returned to God the Father to prepare a place for us and to rule with God in love. Acts 1:6-11 Question 92. How is Jesus still with us today? Jesus remains with us now through the gift of the Holy Spirit. John 14:3; 16 & 26 Question 93. Will Jesus come again? Yes, at the end of time Christ will come to judge the world. Question 94. What is the gospel? The word gospel literally means good news. It is the good news about Jesus. Rom. 1:16 Question 95. What comfort does the good news give you? That I belong, body and soul, to God, who died and rose again, so that nothing will ever separate me from God s love. Rom. 8:31-32 & Rom. 8:38-39 Question 96. How do we know this good news? Through reading the Bible and hearing it taught and preached. 2 Tim. 3:16 WEEK 8 - THE HOLY SPIRIT / THE CHURCH Question 97. What is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity who nurtures life. Question 98. When was the Holy Spirit given to the first Christians? On the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:1-4 Question 99. What happened on the day of Pentecost? When the first Christians met together in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit came upon them like a mighty wind. Acts 2:1-4 Question 100. How did the Christians respond to the Holy Spirit? They all began to believe the gospel. Acts 2:14-24 Question 101. What were the results of Pentecost? The people began to understand, share, and live out the gospel. Acts 4:31-35 Question 102. How does the Holy Spirit continue to work in our lives today? The Holy Spirit moves us to understand and believe the gospel, giving us strength and wisdom to live by it, and uniting us into a new community called the church. Acts 9:17-19 & Eph. 4:4-6

10 Question 103. What is the church? The people of God who believe the good news about Jesus and who respond in worship and service. 1 Cor. 12:4-7, 12-13; Acts 2:38-47 & Eph. 3:14-19 Question 104. Who wrote the Bible? Human beings inspired by the Holy Spirit. John 14:26 & 2 Peter 1:20-21 Question 105. What else does the Holy Spirit do for the church? The Spirit gathers us to worship God, builds us up in faith, hope and love. Rom. 8:15-16 Question 106. How do we respond to the work of the Spirit? We worship God and proclaim the good news in the world. Acts 1:8 & John 15:26-27 Question 107. Why do Christians gather for worship on the first day of the week? Because it is the day when God raised our Lord Jesus from the dead. Matt. 28:1-10 Question 108. What do we do in Christian worship? We adore and praise God. Acts 2:43-47 & Eph. 5:19-20 WEEK 9 - THE SACRAMENTS Question 109. What does sacrament mean? Sacrament means mystery. It is an outward sign for an inward seal. Question 110. What is a Christian sacrament? A visible sign of God s grace for us in Jesus Christ. Mark 1:9-11 & Mark 14:22-25 Question 111. Who established these sacraments? The Lord Jesus Christ. Matt. 28:19 Question 112. Why did Christ establish these sacraments? To comfort, strengthen and guide God s people toward a faithful life. Question 113. How does a sacrament comfort? The sacrament assures us that God is with us always. Question 114. How does a sacrament strengthen? The Holy Spirit works through the sacrament to build up the Kingdom.

11 Question 115. How does a sacrament guide the faithful? The sacrament demonstrates God s love so that the faithful may follow in that love. Question 116. How many sacraments are there? Two Matt. 28:19 & 1 Cor. 11:23-25 Question 117. What are the two sacraments? Baptism and the Lord s Supper. Matt. 28:19 Question 118. What is baptism? An outward sign that we are children of God. Rom. 6:3, 4 & Gal. 3:27-28 Question 119. What symbol is used in baptism? Water. Rom. 6:3, 4 Question 120. What does the water of baptism symbolize? God s forgiving grace that washes our sin away. Rom. 6:3, 4 & Acts 22:16 Question 121. Who should be Baptized? \ Believers and their children. Acts 2:38, 39, 41 Question 122. In whose name are we baptized? In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Matt. 28:19 Question 123. Why are you baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (the Trinity )? Because of the command Jesus gave to his disciples. Matt. 28:16-20 Question 124. To what does your baptism bind you? To be a true follower of Christ. Rom. 6:3, 4 Question 125. What is the Lord's Supper? The sacrament of bread and wine. 1 Cor. 11:23-26 Question 126. Why is it called the Lord s Supper? Because with it we remember Christ s suffering and death. Matt. 26:26-29 Question 127. Why is the Lord s Supper sometimes called the Eucharist? Eucharist means thanksgiving. It is a meal of thanksgiving for what God has done and continues to do through Christ.

12 Question 128. Why is the Lord s Supper sometimes called communion? It is an act of joining together with Christ and one another. 1 Cor. 10:16 Question 129. What does the bread symbolize? Christ s body, given for us. 1 Cor. 10:16 Question 130. What does the wine symbolize? Christ s blood, poured out for the forgiveness of our sins. 1 Cor. 10:16 Question 131. Who should receive the Lord s Supper? All who believe in Jesus and would like to trust him more. John 6:55-56 Question 132. What is prayer? Communicating with God. Phil. 4:6 Question 133. Why do we pray to God? WEEK 10 - PRAYER Because we were created to live with God. Prayer brings us closer to God and offers guidance. Matt. 6:5-8 Question 134. What do we do when we pray? We adore God, confess our sins, give God thanks, and pray for the needs of others and ourselves. Ps. 63:1, 3 Question 135. What has Christ given us to teach us how to pray? The Lord's Prayer. Matt. 6:9-13 Question 136. What is the Lord's Prayer? Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not in temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Question 137. What do we mean when we pray to God as "Our Father"? As Jesus taught us, we call upon God as a Father who cares for us. Matt. 7:7-11; Matt. 18:1-5 Question 138. When we pray to God as our Father, do we mean that God is male? No. Only creatures who have bodies can be male or female. But God is Spirit and has no body. John 4:24 & Gen. 1:27

13 Question 139. What do we mean when we pray to God "in heaven"? God draws near to us from beyond this world, and hears our prayers. Ps. 14:2 Question 140. What do we ask when we pray "Hallowed be your name"? We pray that God's name will be honored in all the world and everywhere treated as holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16; Lev. 20:26; & Deut. 5:11 Question 141. What do we ask when we pray "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as in heaven"? We ask God to fulfill God's purpose for the whole world. Ps. 103:19 Question 142. What is Heaven? A glorious place where believers will be with God forever. Luke Question 143. Why do we pray "Give us this day our daily bread"? Just as all good things come from God, God cares for us completely. Ex. 16:4 & James 1:17 Question 144. What do we ask when we pray "Forgive us our debts"? We ask God not to hold our sins against us. Ps. 25:18 & Ps. 86:5 Question 145. Why do we continue with "as we forgive our debtors"? Because we are to forgive others, just as God has forgiven us. Col. 3:13 & Matt. 6:14-15 Question 146. What do we ask when we pray "Deliver us from evil"? That God would protect us and keep us from sinning. 1 Cor. 10:12-13 & Ps. 34:4 Question 147. What is hell? Total separation from God. 2 Thess. 1:8-9 Question 148. What does it mean to pray "For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever"? We give ourselves over to God's wise and gracious rule, knowing that God can be trusted to make all things work together for good, now and forever. Phil. 2:9-11 & Jude 1:24-25 Question 149. Why does our prayer end with "Amen"? "Amen" means "so be it" or "let it be so." It expresses our complete confidence in God. 2 Cor. 1:20 & 1 Pet. 5:11 *Revised by the Children and Family Ministry Committee December 2011 **Revised order of Questions and Topic Sections with Teachers November 2012