To Be a Christian: The Anglican Catechism in a Year

Today is day 93 and we are on the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed. Today we are on the fourteenth line: “The Holy Catholic Church”. 93. How does Holy Scripture teach you to view the Church? Holy Scripture teaches me to view the Church as God’s family, as the Body and bride of Christ, and as the temple where God in Christ dwells by his Spirit. (Isaiah 54:5–8; Hosea 2:16–20; Matthew 12:46–50; 1...

Today is day 92 and we are on the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed. Today we are on the fourteenth line: “The Holy Catholic Church”. 92. What is the Church? The Church is the whole community of faithful Christians in heaven and on earth, called and formed by God into one people. The Church on earth gathers to worship God in Word and Sacrament, to serve God and neighbor, and to proclaim the Gos...

Today is day 91 and we are on the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed. Today we are on the thirteenth line: “I believe in the Holy Spirit”. 91. Why does the Holy Spirit give such gifts? The Holy Spirit equips and empowers believers with gifts for service in the worship of Jesus Christ, for the building up of his Church, and for witness and mission to the world. (Exodus 31:1–11; Luke 9:1–6; 1 Cori...

Today is day 90 and we are on the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed. Today we are on the thirteenth line: “I believe in the Holy Spirit”. 90. What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Among the many gifts of the Holy Spirit named in the New Testament are faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, other languages (“tongues”), the interpretation of other languages, and words of wisd...

Today is day 89 and we are on the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed. Today we are on the thirteenth line: “I believe in the Holy Spirit”. 89. What is the fruit of the Holy Spirit? The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the very character of Jesus developing in us through the work of the Holy Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:...

Today is day 88 and we are on the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed. Today we are on the thirteenth line: “I believe in the Holy Spirit”. 88. How do you receive the Holy Spirit? The Scriptures teach that, by repenting and being baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, I am forgiven my sins and I receive the Holy Spirit, who gives me new birth in Christ and frees me from the power of sin. (Luke 11:...

Today is day 87 and we are on the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed. Today we are on the thirteenth line: “I believe in the Holy Spirit”. 87. How does the Holy Spirit strengthen you for life in Christ? The Holy Spirit bears witness that I am a child of God, stirs my heart continually to worship and to pray, and inspires me to holiness and good works in Christ. ( Job 27:2–4; Matthew 10:19–20; Jo...

Today is day 86 and we are on the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed. Today we are on the thirteenth line: “I believe in the Holy Spirit”. 86. What are the particular ministries of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit imparts life to every living thing in creation, reveals God’s Word to his people, and calls sinners to a new life of faith in the saving and life-giving work of Jesus. The Holy Spirit...

Today is day 85 and we are on the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed. Today we are on the thirteenth line: “I believe in the Holy Spirit”. 85. What principal names does the New Testament give to the Holy Spirit? Jesus names the Holy Spirit “Paraclete” (“the one alongside”), which signifies Comforter, Guide, Counselor, Advocate, and Helper. Other descriptions for the Holy Spirit are “Spirit of Go...

Today is day 84 and we are on the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed. Today we are on the thirteenth line: “I believe in the Holy Spirit”. 84. Who is the Holy Spirit? God the Holy Spirit is the third Person in the one Being of the Holy Trinity, coequal and coeternal with God the Father and God the Son, and equally worthy of our honor and worship. (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30; Matthew 3:16–17; 28:1...

Today is day 83 and we are concluding the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the twelfth line: “He will come again to judge the living and the dead”. 83. How does the Church exercise its authority to judge? The authority Christ gave to his Church to judge is most often exercised by declaring God’s forgiveness in absolution. However, a priest, acti...

Today is day 82 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the twelfth line: “He will come again to judge the living and the dead”. 82. How do you rightly live in the fear of God? With the help of the Holy Spirit, I examine my conscience according to the Word of God. Particularly useful are the Ten Commandments and the Ser...

In this bonus podcast for day 82, we are reading Matthew 5-7 - the Sermon on the Mount. The entire sermon is prescribed for Question 82 but is too long for a normal daily episode.

Today is day 81 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the twelfth line: “He will come again to judge the living and the dead”. 81. What does Scripture mean when it tells you to fear God? It means that I should live mindful of his presence, walking in humility as his creature, resisting sin, obeying his commandments, a...

Today is day 80 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the twelfth line: “He will come again to judge the living and the dead”. 80. Should you be afraid of God’s judgment? The unrepentant should fear God’s judgment, for “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness” (Romans 1:18). But if I am in Chr...

Today is day 79 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the twelfth line: “He will come again to judge the living and the dead”. 79. How should you understand Jesus’ future judgment? All people, whether living or dead, will be judged by Jesus Christ. Those apart from Christ will receive eternal rejection and punishment...

Today is day 78 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the twelfth line: “He will come again to judge the living and the dead”. 78. How should you live in anticipation of Jesus’ return? I should anticipate with joy the return of Jesus my Savior and be ready to stand before him. His promise to return encourages me to be...

Today is day 77 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the twelfth line: “He will come again to judge the living and the dead” and studying question 77. 77. Can we know when Jesus will return? No. We cannot know when Jesus will return. Jesus patiently waits for many to repent and trust in him for new life; then he will...

Today is day 76 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the twelfth line: “He will come again to judge the living and the dead” and studying question 76. 76. What does the Creed mean when it says, “He will come again”? Jesus promised that he would return (Luke 21:27–28). His coming in victory with great glory and power...

Today is day 75 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the eleventh line: “and is seated at the right hand of the Father” and studying question 75. 75. What does Jesus’ heavenly ministry mean for your life today? I can rely on Jesus always to be present with me by the Holy Spirit as he promised, and I should always loo...

Today is day 74 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the eleventh line: “and is seated at the right hand of the Father” and studying question 74. 74. What does Jesus do for you as he sits at the Father’s right hand? Because Jesus intercedes for us as our great high priest, I may now boldly approach the Father and off...

Today is day 73 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the eleventh line: “and is seated at the right hand of the Father” and studying question 73. 73. What does it mean for Jesus to sit at God the Father’s right hand? The throne on the king’s right hand was traditionally the seat of one appointed to exercise the king’...

Today is day 72 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the tenth line: “He ascended into Heaven” and studying question 72. 72. What resulted from the ascension? Jesus ascended into heaven so that, through him, his Father might send us the gift of the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, Christians together are united...

Today is day 71 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the tenth line: “He ascended into Heaven” and studying question 71. 71. How should you understand Jesus’ ascension into heaven? Jesus was taken up out of human sight and returned in his humanity to the glory he had shared with the Father before his incarnation. The...

Today is day 70 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the ninth line: “On the third day He rose again” and studying question 70. 70. What kind of earthly life did Jesus have after he rose from the dead? Following his resurrection, Jesus spent forty days visiting and teaching his followers. He appeared to his disciples...