To Be a Christian: The Anglican Catechism in a Year

Today is day 19 and we are in the section Concerning the Creeds on question 19. 19. What is the purpose of the creeds? The purpose of the creeds is to declare and safeguard for all generations essential truths about God, the Church, and the world, as revealed in Holy Scripture. (Deuteronomy 7:9–11; Psalm 145:4–13; John 20:30–31; 2 Timothy 1:13–14; Hebrews 2:1–4) Our prayer today is The Collect for...

Today is day 18 and we are beginning the section Concerning the Creeds with question 18. 18. What is a creed? A creed is a statement of faith. The word “creed” comes from the Latin credo, which means “I believe.” (Deuteronomy 11:18–23; 26:1–11; John 20:24–29; 1 John 5:9–12) Our prayer today is The Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany found on page 603 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If yo...

In this special bonus podcast, we are reading Part 2: Believing in Christ found on page 29 of To Be a Christian.

Today is day 17 and we are concluding the section on Salvation with question 17. 17. By what means will God transform you into the image of Jesus Christ? The first Christians “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). Following this pattern, I will be transformed within the life of the Church through reading Scripture an...

Today is day 16 and we are continuing the section on Salvation with question 16. 16. What does God desire to accomplish in your life in Christ? God desires to free me from captivity to sin and transform me into the image of Jesus Christ, by the power of his Holy Spirit. (Exodus 33:18–23; 34:29–35; Psalm 27:4, 7–14; Matthew 17:1–9; Romans 6:5–11; 2 Corinthians 3:12–18) Our prayer today is the Secon...

Today is day 15 and we are continuing the section on Salvation with question 15. 15. What does God grant in your new life in Christ? God grants me reconciliation with him (2 Corinthians 5:17–19), forgiveness of my sins (Colossians 1:13–14), union with him in Christ (Romans 6:3–5), adoption into his family (Galatians 4:4–7), citizenship in his kingdom (Ephesians 2:19–21; Philippians 3:20), new life...

Today is day 14 and we are continuing the section on Salvation with question 14. 14. What should you do as the sign of your repentance and faith? After receiving instruction in the faith, I should be baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, thus joining his Body, the Church. If I have already been baptized, I should confess my sins, seek the guidance of a minister, affirm the prom...

Today is day 13 and we are continuing the section on Salvation with question 13. 13. How can you repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ? With God’s help, I can acknowledge and turn from my sins, receive the gift of God’s grace in Jesus Christ, and embrace the new life he freely gives me. [One way to do this is by sincerely praying in the way described in the “Turning to Christ” section on page...

Today is day 12 and we are continuing the section on Salvation with question 12. 12. What does it mean for you to have faith? To have faith means that I believe the Gospel is the truth: that Jesus died for my sins, rose from the dead, and rules over my life. Therefore, I entrust myself to him as my Savior, and I obey him as my Lord. (Psalm 40:1–10; Proverbs 3:5–8; John 1:9–13; Romans 10:9–10; Hebr...

Today is day 11 and we are continuing the section on Salvation with question 11. 11. What does it mean for you to repent? To repent means that I have a change of heart, turning from sin- fully serving myself to serving God as I follow Jesus Christ. I need God’s help to make this change. (Psalm 51:16–17; Isaiah 57:15–19; Acts 3:19–21; 1 John 2:1–2) Our prayer today is the Collect for Ash Wednesday...

Today is day 10 and we are continuing the section on Salvation with question 10. 10. How should you respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ? As soon as I receive and believe the Gospel, I should repent of my sins, put faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, and prepare to be baptized. “Now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2; see also Psalm 32; Isaiah 55:6–7; Acts 2:37–39) Our prayer t...

Today is day 9 and we are continuing the section on Salvation with question 9. 9. Is there any other way of salvation? No. The apostle Peter said of Jesus, “There is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the only one who can save me and reconcile me to God. (Psalm 2; Isaiah 42:1–4; John 14:5–6; 1 Timothy 2:5–6) Our prayer today is the Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter found on page...

Today is day 8 and we are continuing the section on Salvation with question 8. 8. Who is Jesus Christ? Jesus is the eternal Son of God, the Savior of the world. Fully divine, he took on our human nature, died on the Cross for our sins, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now rules as Lord and King over all creation. (Numbers 21:4–9; Psalm 110; John 3:13–15; Philippians 2:5–11; Colossians...

Today is day 7 and we are continuing the section on Salvation with question 7. 7. Why does God save you? Because he loves me, God saves me from sin and judgment, so that I may love and serve him for his glory. (Psalm 98; Isaiah 42:5–9; John 3:17; Romans 5:8–10; 2 Corinthians 5:18–21; Ephesians 1:3–14) Our prayer today is the Collect from the Second Sunday of Christmas found on page 601 of the Book...

Today is day 6 and we are continuing the section on Salvation with question 6. 6. How does God save you? God forgives my sins and reconciles me to himself through his Son, Jesus Christ, whom he has given to the world as an undeserved gift of love. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16; see also Psalm 34...

Today is day 5 and we are continuing the section on Salvation with question 5. 4. Can you save yourself from the way of sin and death? No. I have no power to save myself, for sin has corrupted my conscience, confused my mind, and captured my will. Only God can save me. (Psalm 33:13–19; Isaiah 43:8–13; John 3:1–8; Ephesians 2:1–9) Our daily collect comes from the Seventh Sunday of Epiphany found on...

Today is day 4 and we are continuing the section on Salvation with question 4. 4. What is the way of death? The way of death is a life without God’s love and Holy Spirit, a life controlled by things that cannot bring me eternal joy, leading only to darkness, misery, and eternal condemnation. (Genesis 2:16–17; Deuteronomy 28:15–19; Proverbs 14:12; John 8:34; Romans 1:24–25) Our daily collect comes...

Today is day 3. We are continuing through the section on Salvation with question 3. 3. How does sin affect you? Sin alienates me from God, my neighbor, God’s good creation, and myself. Apart from Christ, I am hopeless, guilty, lost, helpless, and walking in the way of death. (Genesis 3:14–19; Psalm 38; Isaiah 53:6; 59:1–2; Romans 6:20–23)Our daily collect comes from Proper 14 found on page 618 of...

Today is day 2 and we are continuing the section on Salvation. 2. What is the Gospel? The Gospel is the good news that God loves the world and offers salvation from sin through his Son, Jesus Christ. (Psalm 103:1–13; Isaiah 53:4–5; John 3:16–17; 1 Corinthians 15:1–5) Our daily prayer comes from the introduction to the Solemn Collects in the Good Friday liturgy on page 566 of the Book of Common Pra...

In this bonus episode of To Be a Christian: The Anglican Catechism in a Year, we are reading the preface which explores the sources of Anglican doctrine and the need for catechesis in our lives today.

In today's bonus podcast, we are reading J.I. Packer's introduction to the catechism.

Today is day 1 of To Be a Christian: The Anglican Catechism in a Year. This is a special bonus and we are reading Part 1: Beginning with Christ.

In today's bonus podcast we are reading about the reasons the appointed scripture readings are chosen.

Today is day 1 and we are beginning the section on Salvation. 1. What is the human condition? Though created good and made for fellowship with our Creator, humanity has been cut off from God by self-centered rebellion against him, leading to lawless living, guilt, shame, death, and the fear of judgment. This is the state of sin. (Genesis 3:1–13; Psalm 14:1–3; Matthew 15:10–20; Romans 1:18–23; 3:9–...

Today is day 365 and we are studying the section on Justification and Sanctification: Living in Forgiveness and Healing. 368. What marks a life of sanctification? God calls me to a life marked by gratitude and joy. In gratitude for God’s grace in Jesus, I die daily to the desires of my fallen nature. In the joy of knowing that I will become like Jesus, I live each day in service to him. (Luke 9:23...