CATECHISM MEMORIZATION
CATECHISM MEMORIZATION
Teaching the fundamental foundations of our faith in question & answer format
Question 1: What is our only hope in life and in death?
Answer: That we are not our own, but belong to Christ.
Scripture: Romans 14: 7 – 8
7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
Question 2: What / Who is God?
Answer: God is the Creator, Sustainer, Authority, and Redeemer of all things. All things were created by Him and for Him.
Scripture: Genesis 1: 1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Question 3: What is the Trinity?
Answer: The Trinity is the nature of God. God exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And all three persons are fully God, and God is one.
Scripture: Deuteronomy 6: 4
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Question 4: Who is Jesus Christ?
Answer: Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who came down from heaven and became a human, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and voluntarily died on the cross, to pay for the sins of mankind. He rose from the grave three days later, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, until the time comes for Him to return and judge the earth, both the living and the dead.
Abbreviated answer: Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who became a man, to die for the sins of the world. He rose from the grave, went back to heaven, and will one day return to judge the earth.
Scripture:
- John 1: 1 – 2
- John 1: 14
- Matthew 1: 24 – 25
- 2 Corinthians 5: 21
- John 3: 16
- John 10: 18
- Luke 24: 5 – 6
- Acts 1: 9 – 11
- 1 Peter 3: 21 – 22
- Acts 10: 42
Question 5: Who / What Is The Holy Spirit?
Answer: The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He is coeternal with the Father and the Son, the giver of spiritual gifts, and the Presence and Power of God in the life of every Christian.
Scripture: Genesis 1: 1 – 2, Acts 5: 3 – 4, Romans 8: 9, 1 Corinthians 12: 4
Question 6: Why did God create humans?
Answer: God made mankind in His image; He created them male and female, equal and distinct, to reflect Him and bring Him glory.
Scripture: Genesis 1: 27
Question 7: How can mankind give God glory?
Answer: By loving, trusting, enjoying, worshiping, and obeying Him and all His commands.
Scripture: Psalm 73: 25 – 26
Question: 8: What does the Law of God require?
Answer: To love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. I cannot do this on my own, but by His grace, I can.
Scripture: Matthew 22: 37 – 40
Question: 9: Does obeying God’s Law make me righteous?
Answer: No. My righteousness comes through faith in Christ. I belong to Him, and His righteousness belongs to me. I obey God’s Law out of love for God.
Scripture: Romans 3: 21 – 24, Romans 4: 23 – 25
Question 10: What are the 10 commandments?
Answer: The laws God gave to Israel through Moses. These laws taught them how to worship God, and how to relate to one another, and they still apply to the people of God today.
Scripture: Exodus 20: 1 – 17
Question 11: What is the first commandment?
Answer: I shall have no other gods before or besides God. I cannot do this on my own, but by God’s grace I can.
Scripture: Exodus 20: 3 – 6
Question 12: What is the second commandment?
Answer: I shall not make for myself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or the waters below. I shall not bow down to them, or worship them. I cannot do this on my own, but by God’s grace I can.
Scripture: Exodus 20: 4 – 6
Question 13: What is the third commandment?
Answer: I shall not misuse the name of the Lord my God. I cannot do this on my own, but by God’s grace I can.
Scripture: Exodus 20: 7
Question 14: What is the fourth commandment?
Answer: I shall remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. For six days I shall labor and do my work, but the Sabbath day should be set apart for the Lord my God. I cannot do this on my own, but by God’s grace I can.
Scripture: Exodus 20: 8 – 11
Question 15: What is the fifth commandment?
Answer: I shall honor my father and mother, that it might go well with me in the land I live. I cannot do this on my own, but by God’s grace I can.
Scripture: Exodus 20: 12
Question 16: What is the sixth commandment?
Answer: I shall not murder, with my hand, or in my heart. I cannot do this on my own, but by God’s grace I can.
Scripture: Exodus 20: 13, Matthew 5: 21 – 22
Question 17: What is the seventh commandment?
Answer: I shall not commit adultery, with my hands, or in my heart. I cannot do this on my own, but by God’s grace I can.
Scripture: Exodus 20: 14, Matthew 5: 27 – 28
Question 18: What is the eighth commandment?
Answer: I shall not steal. I cannot do this on my own, but by God’s grace I can.
Scripture: Exodus 20: 15
Question 19: What is the ninth commandment?
Answer: I shall not lie about my neighbor. I cannot do this on my own, but by God’s grace I can.
Scripture: Exodus 20: 16
Question 20: What is the tenth commandment?
Answer: I shall not covet anything belonging to my neighbor. I cannot do this on my own, but by God’s grace I can.
Scripture: Exodus 20: 17
Question 21: What is the Bible?
Answer: The Bible is God’s Word to mankind. There are 66 books, written by 40 different authors who were inspired by the Holy Spirit when they wrote them. The Bible teaches us who God is, who we are, and how we can have relationship with God. It is worthy of being read, worthy of being trusted, and worthy of being obeyed; it is the Word of God.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3: 16 – 17
Question 22: What is Prayer?
Answer: Prayer is communion with God. Through prayer we speak to God, hear from God, and draw near to God; it is a great act of faith.
Scripture: James 5: 13 – 16
Question 23: What is the Church?
Answer: The Church is the people of God. The Church is made up of those who have put their faith in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, have been born again, are filled with the Holy Spirit, and live to please God. Those who belong to Christ, belong to the Church.
Scripture: John 3: 3, 3: 16, Romans 8: 9, 2 Corinthians 5: 15
Question 24: What is Communion?
Answer: Communion is a sacrament that symbolizes our union with Christ, and His Church. The bread symbolizes His Body, the wine / juice symbolizes His blood, and when we receive these elements as a Church, we celebrate the Gospel.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10: 16 – 17, 1 Corinthians 11: 23 – 26
Question 25: What is Baptism?
Answer: Baptism is a sacrament that symbolizes our spiritual birth. Our sins have been washed away, and we are united to Christ and His Church, through faith in Him.
Scripture: Matthew 28: 19 – 20, Acts 2: 38
Question 26: What is Worship?
Answer: Any action or attitude that points to the greatness or worthiness of God.
Scripture: John 4: 24, Romans 12: 1
Question 27: Why Should Christians Gather Weekly?
Answer: We gather each week to worship God, grow in grace, encourage one another, and see the “lost” find Christ.
Scripture: Hebrews 10: 24 – 25
Question 28: What are Spiritual Gifts?
Answer: Spiritual gifts are abilities God has given to each Christian to strengthen the Church. Every Christian has a gift, and when every Christian uses their gift, the Church grows in maturity.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12: 4 – 7
Question 29: What are tithes / offerings?
Answer: Tithes and offerings are ways to worship God with our money. When we give, it shows we trust that God is our Provider. Our giving should never be under compulsion; it is always out of gratitude, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9: 7, 1 Timothy 6: 17 – 19
Question 30: What is the Gospel?
Answer: The Gospel is the Good News that our sins can be forgiven, and we can have eternal life through faith in Christ.
Scripture: John 3: 16
Question 31: What is Regeneration?
Answer: Regeneration is your spiritual birth. God takes you from being spiritually dead, and separated from Him, to spiritually alive, and united to Him.
Scripture: John 3: 3, Ephesians 2: 1 – 5
Question 32: What is Justification?
Answer: Justification is the act of God forgiving your sins and declaring you righteous; your sin is placed on Christ, and His righteousness is placed on you.
Scripture: Romans 3: 21 – 24, 28
Question 33: What is Sanctification?
Answer: Sanctification is the process of becoming more like Christ in how we think, what we desire, and how we live.
Scripture: 1 Peter 1: 14 – 16, Colossians 3: 1 – 10
Question 34: What is Salvation?
Answer: Salvation is deliverance; through faith in Christ, God frees us from the penalty, presence, and power of sin.
Scripture: Acts 4: 12, 1 Philippians. 2: 12 – 13, 1 Thessalonians 5: 9
Question 35: What is Glorification?
Answer: Glorification is when Christ returns and completely frees us from the effects of sin. Our minds, bodies, and souls will be perfected, and we will be with Christ forever.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15: 12 – 58, 1 Thessalonians 4: 13 – 18
Question 36: What is the Second Coming / Advent?
Answer: The second coming / advent is when Jesus returns to the earth a second time. No one knows the day or hour of His return. There will be joy and rewards for those who belong to Him through faith, and judgment and wrath for those who reject Him. For the Christian, this will be a most glorious day!
Scripture: Mark 13: 32 – 34, John 14: 1 – 4, Acts 1: 11
Question 37: What is the Sin?
Answer: Sin is any action, attitude, or thought that violates God’s Law or God’s nature. All have sinned, and all need forgiveness for their sins.
Scripture: Romans 3: 10 – 12, 23 – 25
Question 38: What is the Perseverance of the Saints?
Answer: The perseverance of the saints is the proof that someone truly has been born again. Those who have truly put their faith in Christ will remain trusting in Christ until the end of their lives.
Scripture: Matthew 10: 22, John 6: 38 – 40, 10: 27 – 29, Hebrews 3: 14
Question 39: What is Heaven?
Answer: The future place where God will dwell with His people. There will be a new heaven and a new earth, with no more sickness, pain, or disease, and those who belong to Christ will enjoy Him and their brothers and sisters in Christ, for eternity.
Scripture: John 14: 2 – 3, Romans 8: 18 – 21, Revelation 21: 1 – 5
Question 40: What is Hell?
Answer: The place of eternal punishment and suffering for all who reject or do not belong to Christ.
Scripture: Matthew 25: 30, 46, Revelation 20: 11 – 15
Question 41: What is God’s Omniscience?
Answer: God’s Omniscience means that God is all – knowing. There is nothing that God needs to learn, or does not know.
Scripture: Psalm 139: 1 – 2, 4, 16, Isaiah 46: 9 – 10, Matthew 6: 8, 10: 30
Question 42: What is God’s Omnipotence?
Answer: God’s Omnipotence means that God is all – powerful. God is in control of all things; nothing is beyond God’s ability, or is impossible for Him.
Scripture: Genesis 18: 14, Jeremiah 32: 27, Matthew 19: 26, Luke 1: 27
Question 43: What is God’s Omnipresence?
Answer: God’s Omnipresence means God is at all places, at all times. There is no place where God is not present.
Scripture: 1 Kings 8: 27, Psalm 139: 7 – 10, Jeremiah 23: 23 – 24
Question 44: What is God’s Immutability?
Answer: God’s immutability means God is unchanging in His character, plans, and purposes.
Scripture: Hebrews 13: 8
Question 45: What is God’s Eternality?
Answer: God’s eternality means that God is the uncreated, Creator. God has no beginning, and no end. God always has, and always will be, God.
Scripture: Genesis 1: 1, Psalm 90: 2
Question 46: What is God’s Holiness?
Answer: God’s holiness means that God is absolutely pure, perfect, and blameless forever. He is set apart from all of creation, and no sin lives in Him.
Scripture: Leviticus 11: 44, Isaiah 6: 3
Question 47: What is God’s Righteousness?
Answer: God’s righteousness means that God is morally “right” in everything He does, everything He says, and everything He is; He is upright and just in all His ways.
Scripture: Psalm 145: 17
Question 48: What is God’s Grace?
Answer: God’s grace means God is overwhelmingly kind, good, and generous to all of His creation. All of God’s goodness towards creation is out of His grace, for He owes no one anything.
Scripture: Psalm 145: 8, Ephesians 2: 6 – 9
Question 49: What is God’s Transcendence?
Answer: God’s transcendence means that God is exalted above and beyond all of creation; He is higher and greater than we could ever understand.
Scripture: Isaiah 40: 12 – 14, Romans 11: 33 – 35
Question 50: What is God’s Immanence?
Answer: God’s Immanence means that God is near and present with His creation; He is not a distant God, He is God with us.
Scripture: Deuteronomy 31: 6, James 4: 8
Question 51: What is God’s Mercy?
Answer: God’s mercy means that God does not treat us as our sins deserve; He is slow to anger, and abounding in love.
Scripture: Psalm 103: 8 – 12, Ephesians 2: 4 – 5
Question 52: What is God’s Love?
Answer: God’s love is the essence of who God is. God freely gives of Himself to His creation, not because He has to, but because He wants to.
Scripture: John 3: 16, 1 John 4: 8