view sample - Catechism for Kids

A young child’s catechism
on the Apostles’ Creed
Caroline Weerstra
SAMPLE COPY
Faith First Series
Catechism for Kids
Visit our website
www.catechismforkids.com
Published by Common Life Press, Schenectady, New York. 2013.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9898143-0-0
All Bible verses quoted in this workbook are in the New International (NIV)
translation. The Apostles’ Creed is a traditional form used by the Orthodox
Presbyterian Church.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright ©
1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved
worldwide.
Copyright © 2013 by Caroline Weerstra . The owner of this book is authorized to
produce paper copies for non-commercial use. Any other use requires written
permission from the publisher.
Preface
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A creed is what you say to proclaim to others what you believe. The
Apostle’s Creed tells us what the apostles believed, even though the apostles
did not actually write it. When we say the Apostles’ Creed, we are
proclaiming what they believed and what the whole church believes, because
the truth of God never changes.
The Creed begins with the words “I believe.” All of us are saying what
we believe for ourselves. When we speak these words, we declare that we
believe the same thing the apostles believed; that we belong to the same
church of which they were part; that we are Christians like they were ; that
we belong to the same God; that we have the same Savior.
Today when we say, “I believe,” whatever follows is usually not a big
deal. Nothing very remarkable comes from it. But in the times long ago
when people spoke the Apostles’ Creed, the results were far more
significant.
In ancient times just like today, people who did not grow up in the
church believed the gospel and became Christians, and they needed to be
baptized. When people were baptized, they had to proclaim what they now
believed about God. People learned what was most important to talk about
for their baptism, and that is how the Apostles’ Creed got started.
Imagine for a moment that you were one of those early believers.
When you said the Creed and were baptized, you did not know how things
would turn out. On the one hand, when you were baptized you would finally
be allowed to take the Lord’s Supper. (People who were not baptized had to
leave after the sermon before the bread and wine were passed out.) You
were received into a community of people who loved you, prayed for you,
and told you the truth even when it hurt.
But on the other hand, after you were baptized you might lose your
job. If your family did not believe in Christ, they might kick you out for
becoming a Christian. If you had a shop, other people might not buy
anything from you, or they might smash your windows, tear down your sign,
and ruin your merchandise. If you had a house it might be burned down.
Sometimes when the government heard that you had said the Creed, they
might have you arrested and thrown in jail. You even might be killed. You
might be thrown into an arena for bulls or elephants to trample you while
thousands of people—maybe even people you knew—yelled and cheered, as
though it were all good fun.
Saying the Creed and being baptized could be dangerous. It was like
going on an adventure, and you did not know whether you would live or die.
You had to be very sure that you believed in Jesus. You had to love and trust
God with all your heart. You had to be very brave.
When we say the Creed today and mean it, we are standing with all
those people from long ago, saying that we believe in the same things, and
that we trust the same God. Our lives are different from theirs in many
ways. But just like those people from ancient times, we must confess our
faith – to tell what we believe. And whatever happens when we do, we will
find that one thing is the same: God is just as faithful and kind to us as He
was to them.
Ruben Zartman
August 7, 2013
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe
in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.
I believe
in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He descended into hell.
The third day, He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at
the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From there He will come to judge the living
and the dead.
I believe
in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the dead,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
What do you
believe?
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.
There is only one God.
There are three Persons in the Godhead—the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit.
The Father is God.
The Son is God.
The Holy Spirit is God.
There is only one God but three Persons. We call this the Trinity.
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God the Father is the Creator. He is the Maker of heaven and earth.
LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory in the heavens. - Psalm 8:1
Catechism 1
Who made everything?
God made everything.
Who made the sun and the moon?
God made the sun and the moon.
Who made the land and the sea?
God made the land and the sea.
Who made the plants and the animals?
God made the plants and the animals.
Who made you?
God made me.
Why did God make you?
God made me for His glory.
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I believe in Jesus Christ,
His only Son,
our Lord,
Jesus is the Son of God.
Jesus is our Redeemer.
Jesus is God.
Jesus is the Christ, the One sent to save us from our sins.
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