Sin
True or False. Sin is not just the big seven deadly sins. Sin can be any, little time we choose impatience, comfort, pride, and glory over love.
True.
As humans, we need healthy community to hold ourselves accountable to love better, admit our mistakes, and go through joys and sorrows together. The church is one kind of family that does this!
True
Who is our Lord and Savior?
Jesus
Discipleship is all about knowing our gifts, which are from God, and being willing to use them for God’s glory rather than for our own glory. Name two gifts YOU PERSONALLY have that you can offer the world.
leadership, teaching, listening, humor, inclusiveness, empathy, etc.
Presbyterians have a unique governmental system. In particular, every church has a church council of nominated church members called “elders” that make up something called the ___?
Session.
Other than “God tells us not to,” name one reason we should turn from sin.
Sin hurts our relationships, gets us into bad habits, God’s grace to US is meant to be passed on to all, etc.
In the church, what is the name of those rituals meant to be special signs of God’s Grace in our lives?
Sacraments. (Bonus, do you know how many there are in the Presbyterian Church?)
True or False. Because Jesus fulfilled the loving purpose of the Old Testament Scriptures, now anyone who believes in the power of love (evidenced in their actual behavior) is promised to share in eternal life with God.
True.
True or False. Service should be just as much about getting to know different people and remembering that we need help too as much as it should be about lending a hand.
True.
Presbyterianism has its roots in the 16th Century Protestant Reformation. At that time, what were religious leaders “reforming” against?
Corruption and authoritarianism in the Catholic Church. They were proposing God's Grace and more individualized thought.
True or False. While it is important to be mindful of where we are missing the mark of love individually, there isn’t really a place in the church to be honest about our shortcomings together.
False, Confession and Forgiveness.
Name one Old Testament story that connects with baptism and one Old Testament story that connects with the Eucharist.
Flood, Creation; Passover
True or False. We have to remind ourselves to see God as a person, specifically as a man, even if it’s your preference to view God in a different way.
FALSE. God at God's core is Love, and Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are only ways to describe ASPECTS of God rather than what God actually looks like!
Explain this First Corinthians verse from the Apostle Paul in the context of the church: “The eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 In fact, it is just the opposite. God has put together all the parts of the body. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy.”
Everyone has a purpose in this world, and we need to be in respectful fellowship with each other to be the best society we can be.
What is the name of the book that guides the PC(USA) in everything from our theology, to how we govern our churches?
The Book of Order
Turning from sin keeps with the Old Testament idea of "covenant." Because God is faithful to us and has designed us for good, we should be loving towards Him and everyone in return. What are two ways that you feel like God/the universe has blessed you, and one Bible story about God being faithful to his people?
Food security, good education, healthy friendships, stable families, talents and passions, able bodies and minds, and so much more!
Bible stories of blessings include the Exodus, Manna from heaven; Laws in the wilderness; Kings, Judges, and Prophets to guide the Israelite people; the gift of Jesus; and much more.
Can you name three ways that YOU BELIEVE prayer could be helpful either for yourself or for the world?
Building gratitude, letting go of resentment, releasing emotional weights, feeling like you have someone who cares about you, developing dependence on God, advocating for those who need love and healing, etc.
If God is our Creator in heaven, how do we know that God truly understands what’s good for us and truly understands when pain happens?
Jesus; he experienced human life!
Discipleship means choosing love even when it's very challenging. What is one place YOU find love to be hard (patience, forgiveness, being kind to family), and can you name one Bible story in which someone followed God when it was hard?
Yours is a personal answer.
Bible examples include Moses, Paul, Steven, and more.
True or False. SCAPC is a member church of the PCA, the Presbyterian Church of America, a Protestant Church focused on God’s Grace that goes back to Reformer John Calvin.
False, SCAPC is a part of PC(USA).
PCA split off as another branch because of their more conservatives beliefs.
True or False. The question in Confirmation "Do you renounce sin" is also asked in baptism?
True - In baptism your parents answered for you with their intention to raise you in the church and now you answer for yourself as you become a member!
Many formal church prayers we hear in worship services have a formal structure. Name one ingredient in most church prayers?
Address, what do you want to accomplish, a sign-off, etc.
Name the three “persons” of the Trinity, and name one unique quality/aspect/ability of God described by each of those three persons.
Father (Creator, planner), Son (understander, Redeemer, shower of what a human life is), Holy Spirit (inspirer, comforter, advocate, SUSTAINER, moral compass).
"Will you be Christ's ________ _________, obeying his word and showing his love?"
faithful disciple
Catholics and Eastern Orthodox believers are Christian but they are not Protestant because they didn't come out of the Reformation. Can you name three other PROTESTANT denominations?
Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, Anglican, Episcopal, Nondenominational, Evangelical, etc.