To Be a Christian: The Anglican Catechism in a Year

Today is day 143 and we are studying The Sacrament of Ordination. 143. What is the work of bishops? Bishops represent and serve Christ and the Church as chief pastors, catechists, and missionaries in the tradition of the apostles. They are to confirm and ordain, and to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church. (Isaiah 61:1–11; John 20:19–23; 21:15–19; Acts 20:17–35; 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Ti...

Today is day 142 and we are studying The Sacrament of Ordination. 142. What are the three ordained ministries in the Anglican Church? The three orders are bishops, priests, and deacons, which we have received from Scripture and the historic Church. (Acts 6:1–7; 1 Timothy 3:1; 5:17–22; 2 Timothy 4:5; Titus 1:5; Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Trallians 2.1–3; 3.1–2 We will conclude today with Pr...

Today is day 141 and we are studying The Sacrament of Ordination. 141. What grace does God give in ordination? In ordination, God conveys the gift of the Holy Spirit for the office and work of the order being conferred. (Numbers 27:12–23; Ephesians 4:7–16; 2 Timothy 1:6–7) We will conclude today with the Second Ember Day Prayer on page 634 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to...

Today is day 140 and we are studying The Sacrament of Ordination. 140. What is ordination? Ordination is the laying on of the bishop’s hands with prayer, which confirms the gifts and calling of the candidates, consecrates them, and grants them authority to serve Christ and his Church in the office to which they have been called. (Isaiah 6:1–8; Luke 9:1; Acts 6:1–7; 13:1–3; 1 Timothy 3:1–13; 4:14;...

Today is day 139 and we are studying The Sacrament of Confirmation. 139. What is the work of all Christians? All Christians are to bear witness to Christ in their lives; to care for the poor, strangers, widows, and orphans; and, according to their gifts, to serve Christ in the world and in the Church. (Zechariah 7:9–10; Psalms 1; 15; Micah 6:6–8; Colossians 3:1–17; James 1:27; 1 Peter 4:8–11) We w...

Today is day 138 and we are studying The Sacrament of Confirmation. 138. What grace does God give you in confirmation? In confirmation, I am further empowered and gifted by the Holy Spirit for daily growth in wisdom, courage, and humility before God in every aspect of my life and work. (Psalms 37:3–31; 71:17–18; Isaiah 11:2–5; Acts 19:6; Jude 3, 17–25; “Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation,”...

Today is day 137 and we are studying The Sacrament of Confirmation. 137. What is confirmation? Confirmation is the laying on of the bishop’s hands with prayer for strengthening by the Holy Spirit, following a period of catechetical formation. In confirmation, I make a mature confession of faith, publicly renewing the vows and promises made at my Baptism. (Deuteronomy 6:4–25; Psalm 119:33–40; Acts...

Today is day 136 and we are studying The Sacrament of Holy Communion. 136. What is expected of you after partaking in Holy Communion? I should continue to grow in holiness, avoiding sin, showing love and forgiveness to all, and serving others in gratitude. (Leviticus 20:26; 1 Corinthians 10:14–32; 1 Peter 4:1–11) We will conclude today with Prayer 105. After Receiving Communion on page 676 of the...

Today is day 135 and we are studying The Sacrament of Holy Communion. 135. What is required of you when you come to receive Holy Communion? I am to examine myself: Do I truly repent of my sins and intend to lead a new life in Christ? Do I have a living faith in God’s mercy through Christ and remember his atoning death with a thankful heart? And have I shown love and forgiveness to all people? (Lev...

Today is day 134 and we are studying The Sacrament of Holy Communion. 134. What benefits do you receive through partaking of this sacrament? As my body is nourished by the bread and wine, my soul is strengthened by the Body and Blood of Christ. I receive God’s forgiveness, and I am renewed in the love and unity of the Body of Christ, the Church. (1662 Catechism; Psalms 28:6–9; 104:14–15; Jeremiah...

Today is day 133 and we are studying The Sacrament of Holy Communion. 133. What is the inward gift signified? The inward gift signified is the Body and Blood of Christ, which are truly taken and received in the Lord’s Supper by faith. (Deuteronomy 8:1–20; Psalm 78:17–29; John 6:52–56; 1 Corinthians 10:1–4, 16–18) We will conclude today with Prayer 104. Before Receiving Communion found on page 676...

Today is day 132 and we are studying The Sacrament of Holy Communion. 132. What is the outward and visible sign in Holy Communion? The visible sign is bread and wine, which Christ commands us to receive. (1 Corinthians 11:23–26) We will conclude today with The Collect for Maundy Thursday found on page 561 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian,...

Today is day 131 and we are studying The Sacrament of Holy Communion. 131. Why did Christ institute the sacrament of Holy Communion? He instituted it for the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of his atoning death, and to convey the benefits of that sacrifice to us. (Exodus 24:1–10; Psalm 23:5–6; Luke 22:17–20; John 6:25–51; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17) We will conclude today with The Collect for M...

Today is day 130 and we are studying The Sacrament of Baptism. 130. What signs of the Holy Spirit’s work should you hope and pray to see as a result of your Baptism? I should hope and pray that the Holy Spirit, who indwells me, will help me to be an active member of my Christian community, participate in worship, continually repent and return to God, proclaim the faith, love and serve God and my n...

Today is day 129 and we are studying The Sacrament of Baptism. 129. Why is it appropriate to baptize infants? Because it is a sign of God’s promise that they are embraced in the covenant community of Christ’s Church. Those who in faith and repentance present infants to be baptized vow to raise them in the knowledge and fear of the Lord, with the expectation that they will one day profess full Chri...

Today is day 128 and we are studying The Sacrament of Baptism. 128. What is required of you when you come to be baptized? Two things are required: repentance, in which I turn away from sin; and faith, in which I turn to Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord and trust the promises that God makes to me in this sacrament. (Psalm 51:3–6, 13–17; Mark 1:14–15; Acts 2:37–38) We will conclude today with The...

Today is day 127 and we are studying The Sacrament of Baptism. 127. What is the inward and spiritual grace given in Baptism? The inward and spiritual grace is death to sin and new birth to righteousness, through union with Christ in his death and resurrection. I am born a sinner by nature, separated from God. But in Baptism, through faith in Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, I am made a memb...

Today is day 126 and we are studying The Sacrament of Baptism. 126. What is the outward and visible sign in Baptism? The outward and visible sign is water, in which candidates are baptized “in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Book of Common Prayer 2019; see also Genesis 9:8–17; Matthew 28:19–20; 1 Peter 3:18–22) We will conclude today with Paragraph One of the Bapt...

Today is day 125 and we are studying The Sacraments. 125. How do these differ from the sacraments of the Gospel? They were not ordained by Christ as necessary to salvation, but arose from the practices of the apostles and the Early Church, or were blessed by God in Scripture. God clearly uses them as means of grace. (Articles of Religion, 25) We will conclude today with Third Prayer for Mission in...

Today is day 124 and we are studying The Sacraments. 124. Are there other sacraments? Other rites and institutions commonly called sacraments include confirmation (2 Timothy 1:6–7; Hebrews 6:1–2), ordination (Numbers 8:9–14; 27:18–23; 1 Timothy 4:14), marriage (Genesis 2:18–24; Matthew 19:4–6; John 2:1–11), absolution (John 20:21–23; Acts 2:37–41), and the anointing of the sick (James 5:14). These...

Today is day 123 and we are studying The Sacraments. 123. What sacraments were ordained by Christ? The two sacraments ordained by Christ that are “generally necessary to salvation” (1662 Catechism)are Baptism and Holy Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper or the Holy Eucharist). These are sometimes called “sacraments of the Gospel.” (Articles of Religion, 25; see also Matthew 28:19–20; Luke 22:...

Today is day 122 and we are studying The Sacraments. 122. How should you receive the sacraments? I should receive the sacraments by faith in Christ, with repentance and thanksgiving. Faith in Christ is necessary to receive the grace of the sacraments, and obedience to Christ is necessary for the benefits of the sacraments to bear fruit in my life. (Mark 16:16; John 6:52–58; Acts 2:38–47; 1 Corinth...

Today is day 121 and we are studying The Sacraments. 121. What is a sacrament? A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. God gives us the sign as a means by which we receive that grace and as a tangible assurance that we do in fact receive it. (Genesis 17:1–21; John 6:53–58; Romans 2:25–29; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1662 Catechism) We will conclude today with The Coll...

Today is day 120 and we are on the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed. Today we are on the eighteenth line: “And the Life Everlasting”. 120. How should you live in light of this promise of unending life? I should live in joyful expectation of the fullness of my transformation, soul and body, into the likeness of Christ. In the midst of suffering or in the face of hostility and persecution, I am...

Today is day 119 and we are on the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed. Today we are on the eighteenth line: “And the Life Everlasting”. 119. What do you know about the unending resurrected life of believers? I know that it will be an eternal life of joyful fellowship with our triune God, together with all his saints and angels, singing his praises and serving him in the renewed creation. ( John...