WEEK 1: What is Faith?
What is faith?
Faith is choosing to trust God, even when we can’t see the full picture. It means believing He is good, that He loves us, and that His promises are true, no matter how we feel or what’s going on around us.
What did Jesus do when the disciples were panicking in the storm?
Jesus was sleeping peacefully, and then He stood up and calmed the storm with His voice. This teaches us that when we invite Jesus into our fear and stress, He brings peace. He’s not afraid of the storm, and He can calm the storms in our hearts too.
What does Jesus say about forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer?
He says, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” That means we’re asking God to forgive us in the same way we forgive others. If we hold onto bitterness, it blocks the flow of grace.
Name one way God speaks to us.
Through the Bible, through prayer, through other people, through beauty in creation, and through the quiet in our hearts. God doesn’t always speak with a big booming voice, often, He whispers to our hearts.
What are the three parts of a testimony?
● My life before Jesus
● How I met Jesus
● My life now
What does it mean to trust God?
It means putting your heart in God’s hands. It’s saying, “I believe You’ll take care of me, even when I don’t understand what’s happening.” Trusting God is like holding onto His hand in the dark, because you know He won’t let go.
What Bible verse tells us to give our worries to God in prayer?
Philippians 4:6–7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Then it says God’s peace will guard your heart and mind.
What is one thing forgiveness is not?
Forgiveness is not saying what happened was okay. It doesn’t mean you forget or act like you weren’t hurt. It means you give the pain to God and let Him be the judge, so it doesn’t keep hurting you inside.
What is one thing we need to do to really hear Him?
We need to be still. In a noisy world, it’s hard to hear gentle things. If we don’t pause, pray, and make space, we might miss His voice. Listening takes practice and trust.
Why are personal stories powerful when we share our faith?
Because people can argue with ideas, but they can’t argue with your story. Sharing how Jesus changed your life touches hearts and opens people up to His love.
Who was a saint we learned about in Week 1?
We learned about Blessed Chiara Badano, a teenager who had deep faith even while suffering from a painful illness. She trusted God completely, offering her pain to Him with love, and she died with joy in her heart, showing us that faith is real even when life is hard.
What was one real way we can handle stress as Christians?
We can pause and pray. We can worship, breathe, talk to someone, or remember a Scripture. Stress isn’t something we have to carry alone; we can give it to God and ask for His peace instead.
What was the story of St. Maria Goretti about?
Maria was attacked by a boy who tried to hurt her. She forgave him with her last breath and later appeared to him in a dream after he was in prison. Her forgiveness led him to change his life completely. It shows the power of mercy.
Who was the child saint that heard God in Adoration?
We learned about Blessed Imelda Lambertini, who longed to receive the Eucharist and would sit in silence with Jesus for hours. One day, a host appeared above her, and she received her First Communion from heaven. She knew how to listen with her whole heart.
What did we learn from the story of St. Paul?
Before he met Jesus, Paul was hurting Christians. But Jesus appeared to him and changed everything. After that, Paul became one of the boldest preachers of the Gospel. His story reminds us that no one is too far gone, and that God uses our past to help others.
What miracle happened when the bleeding woman touched Jesus’ cloak?
She was instantly healed. She believed that just touching Jesus was enough, and Jesus honored that faith. He told her, “Your faith has made you well.” It showed us that faith brings us close to Jesus and that He responds with love and healing.
Who was the saint who stayed peaceful even during danger or death?
We talked about St. Josephine Bakhita, who was kidnapped and treated horribly as a child. But even through trauma, she found Jesus and forgave those who hurt her. She lived in peace and joy because of her deep trust in God.
Why is forgiveness hard sometimes?
Because we feel like we’re letting someone off the hook. But forgiveness is really about freedom. It sets us free from anger, bitterness, and pain. It doesn’t mean trust is restored, it means your heart is no longer trapped.
What part of the Mass is especially quiet and holy?
Adoration and the Eucharistic Prayer. These are moments when God speaks deeply to our hearts, when Jesus is really present and inviting us to listen in silence.
What does the Catechism say in section 2472?
It says that Christians must be witnesses of the Gospel by the example of their lives and the words of their mouth. That means your life should show people Jesus, and so should the way you talk and act.
What was one thing we said faith is not?
Faith is not pretending everything is fine. It’s not ignoring your problems. It’s not just feelings. Faith is deeper it’s holding onto God in every situation, even the hard ones.
What gift does God give us to replace anxiety?
He gives us peace, real, deep peace that doesn’t depend on our situation. The Holy Spirit helps us stay calm and steady, even when life feels out of control.
Who helps us forgive when we don’t want to?
The Holy Spirit. When we pray and ask God for the strength to forgive, He helps soften our hearts. Jesus knows what it feels like to be hurt, and He walks with us as we learn to forgive.
What’s one reason we might miss God’s voice?
Because we’re too distracted or too busy. Sometimes we expect God to shout, but He speaks in peace. If we don’t slow down and pay attention, we might not notice what He’s trying to say.
What’s one way you can share your faith without using words?
By showing kindness, standing up for what’s right, including someone who feels left out, being joyful, or living with peace. Your actions can reflect Jesus even if you don’t say anything.