Confirmation Full Book1

c CONFIRMATION
co
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
PREFACE
1. GOD'S COVENANT
FAITH AND TRUST based on the Creeds
2. The Trinity.
3. God the Father, Creator
4. God the Son, born man
5. God the Son, who died
6. God the Son, who rose
7. God the Holy Spirit
8. The Holy Catholic Church
9. The Communion of Saints
10. The Forgiveness of Sins
11. Life Everlasting
12. Assurance of Salvation
LOVE AND OBEDIENCE based on the Ten Commandments

13. The only God
14. The Majestic, Holy Name
15. The Holy Day
16. Respect for Authority
17. Respect for Life
18. Respect for Body
19. Honour God-our Money
20. Respect for Word
21. The Basis of it all
22. Loving God and Man
LOVE AND SERVICE

23. The Word of God 2
4. The Lord's Prayer
25. Morning and Evening Prayer
6. Worship in the home
27. Witness
28. Stewardship
29. The Sacraments
30. The Lord's Supper
31. The Holy Communion
32. Confirmation
MEMORY PASSAGES
CONFIRMATION
FOREWORD
It is a great pleasure for us to write the foreword to this book. On several occasions some of us had to
prepare candidates for confirmation without a proper syllabus or handbook. It has usually been a very
difficult task.
The coming of this confirmation manual into our Church at this time, is therefore greatly welcome. It
covers the main themes: God and Man, The Life of Jesus, Repentance and Faith. These have been divided
into sub-themes, with sufficient details and illustrations to enable a candidate to understand the main
points in the teaching of the Christian Faith. Teachers will of course need to read other source books,
particularly Bible commentaries on the passages suggested in the course.
We would like to express our appreciation to the contributors in both the Church of the Province of Kenya
and the Church of the Province of Uganda, for preparing this book.
Uzima and Centenary the Publishers.

PREFACE
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
This book has been written to help you as you prepare for Confirmation. Your pastor or Church teacher
will teach you week by week, and this book is to help you to understand more of what you have been
taught, and to help you to remember it.
If you read page 2 you will see that we start by reminding ourselves of God's Covenant, and the promises
we made at our baptism; after this the lessons are arranged in three sections. First we think about Faith
and Trust, as we learn the meaning of the Apostles' Creed, phrase by phrase. Secondly we think about
Obedience, as we learn the meaning of the Ten Commandments for us today. Thirdly we learn how a
Christian can grow in his Christian life, and serve the Lord. The lessons follow each other in order, So if
you do not, attend every lesson you will miss something important, and find it difficult to follow the
following lessons. So try hard to get to every lesson.
Every lesson in this book follows the same pattern, and you must understand this arrangement before
beginning these lessons. Here is an explanation which will help you to use this book properly.
1. The number and title of the Lesson the very top in large letters.
2. The main part of the lesson these are written at under the title usually you will find Bible
passages relevant to the lesson. So when you go over the lesson at home read these verses again,
and the verse you learnt in the previous lesson.
3. The lesson itself here we have put notes on the most important things you learnt in the
lesson.
Things to learn at home. This will always include Memory verse. Do learn these words, and the
reference before going to the next lesson. There are various other things a candidate should learn
before being confirmed. Some of these will also be given at the end of the lesson, and usually
you will be given three or four weeks to learn each new thing, so that you can really learn it
properly. Finally, we have put down the verses which will be the basis of the main part of the
next lesson. You should read these two or three times before going on to the next lesson. So,
after each lesson, you will have work to do at home. First, go over the lesson you have just had,
with the notes for that lesson. Secondly, prepare yourself for the coming lesson by learning
everything in the section called home work',
SECTION ONE
GOD'S COVENANT
There cannot be a true relationship and fellowship between two people without a covenant. It is
essential to have a covenant so that each of them understand what is expected of him. In a
covenant there are three important aspects. The first is the promise. The third is an act by the
two people as a sign and reminder of the covenant. A wedding is a good example of a covenant
between two people. There is a promise and love, a vow and understanding, and finally the
holding of hands together and the ring as a sign and reminder of the covenant between the
husband and wife.
Throughout the Bible, God makes a covenant with man. He promises to be man's God and man
to be his people. (Gene- sis 17:1-8, Jeremiah 31; 33, Ezekiel 36:28, Revelation 21:3). In the
Old Testament times the sign of this covenant was circumcision (Genesis 17:9-14): this sign set
apart the people of Israel as God's people. Since Christ, Baptism has replaced circumcision as
the sign of the covenant between God and man.
In Baptism God promises to forgive us, save us and protect us in Christ. The water symbolizes
the washing away of sin which s we all need. So God offers to be our God and to make us his
people. When we were baptized either we personally (or, if we were baptized as children, our
parents and godparents on our behalf) promised three things. First that we would renounce
Satan and all forms of evil. Second, we promised to believe God and to rely on him entirely.
And third, we promised to keep and obey his holy teaching all the days of our life. We
therefore entered into a covenant with God at our Baptism.
In Confirmation, God, on his part, confirms his promises to us to be our God, to wash us
spiritually, to forgive our sins and to make us his children. And, on our part, we also confirm
our promises to God, to turn from evil, to trust him and to obey him all our life.
GOD'S COVENANT
Reading Genesis 6:5-7
Aim To remind ourselves of the Covenant relationship which Christians have with God, of his
promises to us, and ours to him.
Other verses John 19:3137 1 John 5:6 1 peter 3:18-22 Genesis 9:8-17 Romans 6:1-5
God saved Noah by an Ark, although God created man to love and save him, it was not long
before mankind had rebelled and turned against God. Following Adam and Eve's rebellion in the
Garden of Eden all men were born not only with the possibility of sin in their lives, but with an
inclination towards sin, So God was deeply grieved at the state of the world and had to send a
flood as judgment on man. But there was one man who trusted and loved God. His name was
Noah, and God told him to build the Ark, a large boat, so that he could be saved with his family.
When God had thus saved them he made a covenant with them; that is, a solemn promise or
agreement, to look after them and be with them. This covenant had a sign, the rainbow, to remind
them of God's promises.
God saves us in Jesus. The Ark is a picture of our baptism. God has given to us a new covenant,
and new promises. These are in the book called the New Covenant or New Testament of the
Bible, and are made to us through Jesus Christ. In Jesus, God made it possible for us to have a
special relationship with himself. Baptism is the visible sign of this Covenant which God offers
us. Those who are baptized truly believing in Jesus enter a covenant with God similar to that
between God and Noah. In baptism we are reminded that we are saved through Jesus' death, by
faith in him. As Noah was able to escape death and live when all else perished, so we are able to
escape death through Jesus' death for us. Through his death and resurrection we are able to have
eternal life, though our body will die. We shall have a new life, and a new body, forever. This is
God's offer and promise to us, shown in baptism. In response we make promises to him: to reject
Satan and all his works, to believe in God and to trust him in ll things, and to obey God's holy
will as long as we live. These are solemn promises, and we need God's help in carrying them out.
If we make these promises sincerely, and trusting in Christ, we enter a covenant with God, and
our baptism is the sign of this.
HOMEWORK
To learn: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy
Spirit be with you all." 2 Corinthians 13:14
To learn: Part of the Apostles Creed. *I believe in God ....of the Virgin Mary'".
To read: John 14:1-31

SECTION TWO
FAITH AND TRUST
A Christian is known by his faith. It is this which distinguishes him from people of other faiths
and people of no faith. He Believes and trusts in God the Father who created us, in God the Son
who redeemed us, and in God the Holy Spirit who strengthens us. In the New Testament,
Christians are called 'believers T people who believe in what God has done for them and are
trusting in Christ alone for their salvation.
From the earliest days Christians have carefully guarded their faith. Paul told Timothy to, Fight
the good fight of the faith' (1 Timothy 6:12) and said of himself, 'I have fought the good fight, I
have finished the race, I have kept the faith' (2 Timothy 4:7). Jude exhorts Christians to contend
for the faith' (Jude 3)- In 1 Corinthians 15:8-6, Paul gives a statement of his profession of faith –
the creed which he handed on to others. Gradually these essential parts of the faith were written
down in summary form and we now have this in what we call the Apostles' Creed. In the lessons
of this section we shall look at that Creed and seek to understand our Christian faith through it.
If we want to be strong Christians it is important that we understand what we do believe. This

strengthens our own faith and also helps us to be ready to answer questions about our beliefs and
our hope (1 Peter 3:15). Yet we must always remember that understanding Christian doctrine is
not enough in itself. Our faith must not just be facts which we learn: but we must also trust facts,
and above all trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior. John clearly tells us that the whole purpose of
Scripture on which our faith is based - is that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God, and that believing you may have life through his name' (John 20:31). For the great Chris-
tian truth is that 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). Thus, as you go through these lessons, make
it your prayer that you may come to a full and living faith in Jesus Christ as your own personal
Saviour so that you may not perish but have eternal life.
The Trinity
Reading John 14:l-31
Aim To learn the truth of the Holy Trinity; God is one, yet three.
Other verses Mathew 28:19--20 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 1 Peter 1:2
The meaning of the word Trinity is one God in three persons. There are many things which we
do not fully understand, which indeed cannot be explained in words, or understood by logic,
and yet which we know to be true. We know they are true because we have experienced them.
Similarly the truth of the Trinity is too great to be grasped by a human mind; we cannot fully
understand it, and yet we know this truth by experience. Before we can really know God, and
can begin to think deeply about him, we must experience his love and power in our own life.
God the Son was active with the Father in creating the world, and also redeemed the world, by
becoming man, by living as a human being, by dying and rising again, at the will of the Father.
Whenever he spoke of his relationship with the Father he showed clearly that it was a unique
one, different from the relationship any other person could have with God the Father. Although
he spoke of 'your Father', and taught us to pray using the words 'Our Father', he spoke of God as
being in a very special way his Father, in complete unity with him. He said, I and my Father are
one', and also that whoever had seen him had seen the Father. So in all that he did and said.
Jesus was one with God the Father, and was revealing the Father's love and redemption.
He was one also with the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was about to leave the earth he promised to
send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, to live in believers. When promising this. he said both
that he would pray the Father to send the Spirit, and also that he, Jesus, would not leave us
alone but would come to us, We see here that in all things the Father and Son work together,
and also that the coming of the Holy Spirit is the coming of Jesus to us. So God, the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit work together for our salvation, and live together in those who believe.
There is only one God, although he has three persons, distinct in nature, yet always one. This is
something beyond the power of man, in his limited knowledge, to understand, yet we know
from the Bible, and from experience that it is true.
Memory verse 2 Corinthians 13:14
Homework
To learn: The heavens are telling the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his
handiwork. Psalm 19:1
To learn: Part of the Apostles Creed:
**I believe in God ... he rose again'",
To read: Genesis 1:1-2:3 Acts 17:22-24

God the father, creator
Reading Genesis i:l-2:3
To learn: how God, the Creator of all, is also our Father
Other verses Matthew 6:25-33 Romans 1:1920 2 Corinthians 5:19
Creation shows God's love. Words, however true they are, may be disbelieved and rejected by
some people, It is very hard to prove their truth, However, actions can be seen and no-one car
argue against this visible evidence. If God was a God who just spoke to men in words, putting
ideas into their heads, it would be easy for those who say God does not exist to argue that there
is no proof that we can see of his existence. But the proof that God does exist lies in his actions.
God's creation reveals him clearly, even to those who do not really want to believe in him.
God wanted to show his love in creation. There is no way of showing love, except in actions. We
may talk about love, and say that we love someone, but the only way we can prove our love is
by our behavior towards that person. God made a wonderful world and universe, but the highest
of all the things he created was man, for he created man in his own image. This means that he
made man in such a way that mankind could speak to God, get to know him, and become like
him. Man was able to love him, and to choose to follow him, of his own free will. God get to
know him, and become like him. Man was able to love him, and to choose to follow him, of his
own free will. God wanted to have a relationship of love with man, and so he showed that he
loved mankind, and wanted us to love him in return. As well as creating us in his own image,
God showed his love to us in all the other things that had been created. All other parts of God's
creation, great and small, are for man's benefit and enjoyment. Moreover, all was created to be
good. So God showed his love in that all that surrounds us, and all that science is discovering of
God's works, are for our use, and for us to look after.
All that has gone wrong in the world, all evil, illness and death are the direct result of man's
rebelling against God, and rejecting him. Man's fall from a relationship of love with God has had
an awful effect on all nature, as well as on man himself. But God's love does not change. He still
loves and guards the world. In love he planned to redeem and save mankind, and his plan has not
changed. The God who created all things is the same God who sent his Son to live, die, and rise
again, to bring man back into his love.
To all who trust him, God the Creator is still a loving heavenly father
Memory verse Psalm 19:1

Homework
To learn: But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman,
born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law.
Galatians 4:4-5
To learn: Part of the Apostles Creed.
To read: Luke 2:39-52

GOD THE SON - BORN MAN
Reading Luke 2:39-52
Aim To learn how the Son of God lived as a true human being.
Other verses John l: 1-19 Hebrews 2:17, 4:14-16
If you want to understand another person really well, and want him to understand you
completely, the best way to achieve this is to share his life. You have to live as that person lives,
sharing his difficulties and problems, and so entering into the way he thinks and feels. So, as far
as possible, you become like him, seeing things through his eyes. This is exactly what God did
when he wanted to help mankind to understand him. Jesus became an actual human being, just
like us, sharing our life in every way.
Jesus shares with us in:-
1. Political problems and upheavals. Jesus was born at a politically troubled time, and
suffered under political oppression.
2. Poverty. He was born in great poverty, was laid in a manger as a new-born baby, and later
had 'nowhere to lay his head'.
3. Being under the Law. He was brought under the Law of Moses, as a Jew. To a Jew, the
Law meant God's teaching'. It is God's teaching about who he is and how man should serve
him. He was circumcised on the eighth day, and was presented in the Temple like any other
Jewish boy. At the age of twelve he was examined in the Law before being accepted as a
member of the Jewish congregation.
4. Daily work. He was brought up to work as a carpenter with Joseph, but also helped in the
home, helping his mother with her younger children. He shared the problems of youth and
lived victoriously. He understands all the problems of earning a living, of getting food,
clothes, and education.
5. In learning God's word. He knew what it is to worship, and to learn God's word, for he
joined the other children in the village school which was held in the synagogue. When he
went to the temple at the age of twelve his learning amazed the learned men there. He asked
them questions, and answered their questions. He was able to quote passages of the
Scriptures. He knows the problems of learning the Word of God, and of learning how to
follow it, in obedience to God.
So Jesus has shared our life in every way, and understands us completely.
Therefore he is able to help us and lead us in all situations. Also because he became a person like
us, yet lived a perfect life, we can more easily know him, and follow him, as he is our perfect
example as well as our Saviour.
Memory verse: Galatians 4:4-5
Homework
To learn: Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring
us to God
To learn: Part of the Apostles creed.

"He ascended in to Heaven .... And the life everlasting. Amen.
GOD THE SON, WHO DIED
Aim To learn the meaning of Jesus' sufferings and death.
Other verses Deuteronomy 21: 23, 27:26 John 19:32-34 Galatians 3:10-13
In the sufferings and death of Jesus the first thing we are aware of is evil. It is evil that an
innocent man should suffer, and so here we see man's evil in putting to death a perfectly
innocent, and a very good, man. Yet above all, we see God's goodness. God, in his love, was
doing good to people who do not deserve anything good from him, and was doing it at great
cost. So the wickedness of man's sin, and suffering, which is the result of sin, are seen in Christ's
death, but also the love of God is clearly shown.
God's love for us cost him very dearly. God the Son had to give up not only his glory and
majesty to come to earth, but finally had to give his very life, the greatest sacrifice of all. It was
not just the bodily suffering that made his such a terrible death, for worse than that was Jesus'
spiritual suffering. The Old Testament Law stated that any one hanging on a tree' was cursed,
and this was taken very seriously. As Christ hung on the wooden cross, he took on him the curse
of man's sin. All the evil of sin, and the separation from God that sin causes, was accepted by
Jesus in the awful moment of his death, when for the first time he felt himself cut off from God
the Father. He took our sin, and the curse of it. So Christ bore the penalty of sin, which is death.
God's justice in punishing sin had been satisfied, yet it was God himself, in Jesus, who took the
punishment instead of us. Thus God's love is clearly seen.
Jesus' sufferings took place in three stages:
1. He took the insignificance, the weakness, and the problems of mankind on himself. To
become completely like us he left his glory and took a human body, with all its
weaknesses and temptations.
2. He patiently endured being scorned and ill-treated. He was rejected by most of his own
people, including the religious leaders. Even his own family misunderstood him. Only a
few followed him.
3. Finally, he was willing to take the sins of all mankind on himself, and took the
punishment for sin in our place. His first words on the cross were 'Father, forgive.. He
died that sinners might be forgiven and return to God, who loves them.
Homework
To learn: And (Jesus) said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and on the
third day rise again from the dead'. Luke 24:46
To learn: Part of the General Thanksgiving (see page 48)

"Almighty God .... The hope of Glory'".
GOD THE SON, WHO ROSE

Aim To learn how the Son of God overcame death.
Other verses Mark 8:31 John 20:19-29 Acts 2:32, 33
In the history of the world, there have been many great men who have done famous deeds, and
have done much for other people and for the world. But after their death, they have become
merely names in history books. They themselves can no longer do anything.
Jesus' resurrection from the dead makes him different from everyone else who has ever lived,
however great they may have been. Jesus was not an ordinary man, or just a very unusually good
man, he was much more, and so his death was different from any other man's. Jesus was the Son
of God and the Saviour, who gave his life deliberately to give us forgiveness, and he overcame
death and rose again to bring us new life. Had Jesus not risen he could not have given us the
victory over death. But he did rise, winning the victory not only for himself but also for us.
Both the prophets of old and Jesus himself foretold his resurrection. The events recorded in the
New Testament prove that Jesus did rise from the dead. Three days after his death, his grave was
found empty, though it had been well guarded, and the guards had no satisfactory explanation of
how the body had disappeared. The Jewish authorities wanted to disprove the resurrection, but
were unable to do so. Had there been a dead body they would almost certainly have found it, but
no-one ever produced the dead body of Jesus, Instead, Jesus appeared alive, first to the women at
the tomb, who had seen him buried, then to his disciples, and then to five hundred people at one
time. The testimony of so many could not be denied. Moreover, something amazing happened to
the apostles. When Jesus died, they were amazed and frightened, yet when they had seen the
risen Lord, and received hıs promised Spirit they became bold witnesses.
The preaching of the Church from its earliest days has been based on the fact of Jesus'
resurrection, and this is still the central teaching of the Christian faith, the Good News. Jesus has
conquered both sin and death, and is alive for evermore. Because he lives, we can live also.
Memory verse Luke 24:46
Homework
To learn: And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another John l4:16 Counsellor, to be
with you forever.
To learn: Part of the General Thanksgiving. See page 48

“ And we beseech the .... World without end. Amen."
To read: Acts 2:1-47
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

Reading Acts 2:1-47
Aim To learn about the person and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Other verses John 14:25, 15:26, 16:7-1 1 Romans 8:9 Galatians 5:22-25
1 John 2:20 22
The Holy Spirit is our Helper, sent by God. The Christian life is Jesus' life, which we share
through the Holy Spirit living in us. The Holy Spirit is God himself, as is God the Father and
God the Son. The Holy Spirit acts in unity with the Father and the Son, bringing God's love and
life to us. This is what enables the Christian to live a life of victory, a life greater than that
offered by the world, and overcoming the world. For with Jesus' life in us, we have within us his
power and his victory.
The Holy Spirit reminds us of all that Jesus taught. Jesus himself promised that this would be so.
Before ascending to heaven, he promised that he would send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth to
be with us always as our strengthener. As Jesus is the truth, his Spirit will teach us the truth.
Jesus also said that the Spirit would bring to our minds all that Jesus himself had taught. The
Holy Spirit speaks with the power and authority of the Father and the Son, and his message to us
is theirs. So he guides us, and speaks through us to others. When we witness it is the Holy Spirit
who 'convinces the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgement'. It is he who enables people
to believe. Through the Holy Spirit we are born again, and become children of God. So we
cannot be Christians unless we have the Holy Spirit living in us, and there is no true Christian
who does not have God the Spirit in his heart. Only the Holy Spirit can bring Jesus' life to us.
The Holy Spirit is proof that we are children of God. Spirit of God's Son, and his indwelling
makes us sons. It is by the Spirit that we are able to call God Abba', Father. The filling of the
Spirit is seen, and proved, by the results, or 'fruits' of his presence in our lives. Galatians lists these as
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22).
There is no other way in which we can prove to the world that God is in us, and we are his children,
except by the lives we lead. If God is really in us by his Holy Spirit we shall show God's character. This is
our true witness to his salvation.
Memory verse John 14:16
Homework
To learn: The household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the
truth. 1 Timothy 3:15
To learn: Part of the General Thanksgiving. "And we beseech thee....world without end. Amen." (See
page 48)
To read: John 10:1-18

THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH
Reading John 10:1-18
Aim To learn the meaning of 'the Church', how the Church is holy; and the mean ing of
Catholic'.
Other verses Genesis 12:1-3 Exodus 19:1-8 Matthew 8:11 Acts 2:38, 39 Galatians 3:28
Ephesians 5:25-27 1 Peter 2:9-11
The Church. Many people think that the Church means the building where people gather to
worship God. This is of course one meaning of the word 'Church', but it is only a secondary
meaning, of less importance than the primary meaning. The word "Church' really means the
people who are called by God to worship and serve him. In the Old Testament the Church was
the nation of Israel, called by God. Today the Church of God is the whole body of people who
have faith in Jesus, those who have heard his call and have followed him.
Christ called all such people his flock', and called himself the Good Shepherd. He said also that
the Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep' (John 10:11). Jesus gave his life for all his
flock. He is constantly seeking others that they might be added to that flock.
The Church is Holy. The Church is holy because Jesus loves it, and, the Bible says, 'gave himself
up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the
word'.
The Church is holy, because it is cleansed by Jesus. To enter the true Church, the flock of Jesus,
we have to confess our sins, and repent of them, and to accept Jesus' forgiveness and cleansing.
As a sign of all this, we are baptised. In addition, Jesus calls his people to live holy lives. God
our Father is holy, and we as his children are called to follow him and be holy.
The Church is Catholic `Catholic' means Ùniversal'. There is only one Church of God; all those
who are called by him and follow him are members of his Church. Therefore all who trust
Christ, wherever they are in the world belong to that one Church. All those who have lived in
ages past, in the faith of Christ, and who are now with him in heaven belong also to the Church,
though in a different way from those still alive on earth. They are part of the Church
Triumphant'. The Good Shepherd gave his life for all mankind, not for people of any particular
nation or race. When Jesus called himself by that title, he said also that there were other sheep,
apart from the people of Israel to whom he was talking, and that he would call them, and there
would be one fold, or flock, and one Shepherd. He also prophesied that people would come
from east and west to take their places in the Kingdom of Heaven. Paul made clear that there
was no difference between any nations in Christ; all people who are in him are one.
Homework
To learn: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints
and members of the household of God. Ephesians 2: 19
To learn: Part of the Nicene Creed. “I believe
in one God .... of all that is seen and unseen".
To read: Acts 2:37-47 Ephesians 2:1 1-22
THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS

Reading Acts 2:37-47 Ephesians 2:11-22
Aim To examine the meaning of the Communion of Saints.
Other verses Acts 2:1-13, 2:36 Romans 12:13 1 Corinthians 10:16 2 Corinthians 9:7 Ephesians
4:1-6 1 Timothy 2:1, 2.
Because there is one Holy Spirit, there is also one Body of Christ, his Church. It is by the
activity of the Holy are called into the Church, and the Holy Spirit Other verses 13 Spirit that
people works in all who are members of the Church. It is the Holy Spirit dwelling in all
Christians who brings about fellowship, or communion. The day of Pentecost is often called the
birthday of the Church', for on that day the Holy Spirit came suddenly upon the disciples in
Jerusalem enabling them to preach the Good News of Jesus in power. Part of the reason that
God gave the disciples the ability,
Through the power of the Spirit, to speak in different languages on the day of Pentecost was to
show that the Gospel is the same to all men, and that in the Christian Church there is unity,
through the Spirit.
When Jesus calls us to follow him, he does not want us to travel alone. He has planned that we
should join in fellowship with other Christians, in order to help each other and strengthen each
other.
Those who were saved on the Day of Pentecost continued to share in four very important things,
which we must also share, and preserve:
1. The Apostles' teaching It is important that we study the Bible both individually and in
groups, finding out all we can about our salvation.
2. Fellowship we can build each other up in the faith by sharing together what God has done
for us.
3. Breaking of Bread the service of Holy Communion is one of special meaning, for it
reminds us particularly of Christ's death for us.
4. Prayer we ought to pray for each other as well as for ourselves: for other Christians that
they might live in love and honour God in their lives, and for those who do not know
Christ that they may believe.
In addition, the early Christians often joined in fellowship meals, ending perhaps in a service.
They also shared their possessions, helping the poor among them. They showed real concern for
their fellow Christians, not only those close to them, but also those of other countries. One of
Paul's first journeys as a leader of the Church was to take famine relief' to the Christians in
Jerusalem, money collected by Christians elsewhere. Memory verse Ephesians 2:19
Homework
To learn by heart: Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus
for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38
Also learn: Part of the Nicene Creed. y believe in one Lord, he suffered, died and was buried".
THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS
Aim To learn how we may obtain the forgiveness of our sins.
Other verses Matthew 26:28 John 6:37 Hebrews 9:22
In lesson 5 we learnt that the Son of God died for us; he shed his blood to bring us forgiveness
of sin, and to reunite us with God. But sometimes people believe this in a general sense, and are
baptised without understanding or accepting that Jesus died that they personally might have
forgiveness. Perhaps they do not accept their need for God's forgiveness, or perhaps they do not
realise what they have to do in order to receive it. We can all learn from the example of the
woman who came to Jesus one day when he was eating in a Pharisee's house.
The woman was a sinner, and was known by everyone n her village to be one. She herself did
not try to hide this fact, but accepted her sin and her need for forgiveness. Moreover, she knew
that Jesus was the only one who could forgive her. So she plucked up courage to go to him in
Simon's house. She came humbly to Jesus, and showed her sorrow, her repentance and her love
in her actions. She fell at Jesus' feet, weeping, wiping her tears from his feet with her hair and
anointing his feet with perfume. Jesus compared her with Simon the Pharisee, who had shown
him no respect or love, because he did not feel any need of forgiveness. He did not accept that
he was a sinner, and that he needed Jesus' help. But the woman knew she was a sinner, and she
repented, turning to Jesus for forgiveness. Because she knew he forgave her, she loved him,
and then showed her love by her actions.
Jesus is the same today. If we come humbly to him, really sorry for our sins and believing in
him, he will forgive all our sins, completely removing them. He himself has promised that no-
one who comes to him will be cast out. He will refuse no-one who comes humbly and
sincerely, but will welcome all who come into God's love.
Each of us and accept God's forgiveness and love, we shall find that we love him in return, for
all he has done for us, and will want to show our love. Let us not be like Simon the Pharisee, too
proud to admit that we need Jesus to forgive us. Each of us needs to take this step for ourselves.
Memory verse Acts 2:38
Homework
To learn: The dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
I Corinthians 15:52
To learn: Part of the Nicene Creed.
“On the Third Day .... And his Kingdom will have no end".
To read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-58
LIFE EVERLASTING
Reading 1 Corinthians 15:1-58
Aim To learn what is the hope of all Christians.
Other verses John 12:24 Romans 6:23, 8:32 1 Corinthians 13:12 Philippians 3:20-21
Hebrews 9:27
Some people outside the Christian Faith believe and teach that death is the final end of man, and
That there is nothing beyond it, therefore we simply have to accept it, with no fear, but also with
no hope. But the Christian faith is very different. We believe that man was created, body and
soul, not to die, but to live forever, and death is the result of sin. Death entered the world after
Adam and Eve had sinned. Although those who believe in Jesus know that they must die
physically, they also know that one day death will be completely overcome. Not only will all
who believe in Christ be given new bodies which will never die, but death itself will be
abolished. There will be no more death.
We have proof of the hope of new life from the dead in the fact that Jesus rose from the dead.
For us he died on the cross, to remove our sin, and it was for us also that he rose from the dead.
We are to share his resurrection. Jesus himself prophesied that his death was to be like the
planting of a grain of wheat which, if not plan ted, remains a single grain, but if planted brings
harvest of many grains. Christ died, was buried, and rose again, but he did not rise only to have
victory for himself; he was but the first fruits' of a great harvest, a great multitude of those who
would rise to new life because of what he accomplished.
The resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come', in which we say we believe
when we say the creed, are great realities to Christian people. Although death is followed,. as
we have seen, by judgement, it is a judgement we need not fear as Christians, for if we believe
in Christ we know he bore the penalty for our sins, and we approach God forgiven through his
Son.
Paul took up the picture of planting a seed in answer to people who asked what kind of body we
would receive in the world to Come. We cannot know now, was Paul's answer, but we do know
that it will be a much better body, just as when we plant a seed from it we do not get just
another seed, but a whole beautiful plant, quite unlike the small seed we put in the earth. So,
although those who know Christ see something of his eternal life now, on earth, we look
forward to the fullness of it when we shall receive our full inheritance as God's sons, when we
see him face to face, clothed in our new body.
Homework
To learn: He who began a good work in. you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus
Christ. Philippians 1:6
To learn: Part of the Nicene Creed. I believe in the Holy Spirit. ..And the life of the world to
come, Amen.'
To read: Romans 8:28-39
ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
Reading Romans 8:28-29
Aim To learn how we can have assurance of our salvation.
Other verses Acts 2:23, 16:14 1 Corinthians 3:15 Ephesians 2: 8-9 2 Peter 2:7
Whoever believes on Jesus as his Saviour can be sure of his Salvation because he is relying not
on his own weak self, but on the God who is almighty.
God the Father knew him and chose him to be made like his forgiveness of his sin in
accordance with God's eternal plan. Son, from eternity. God the Son gave himself on the cross
for the God the Holy Spirit opened his heart to receive the Word of Life.
Even the faith that a man has is not something from within himself, it is a gift from God. Even
the works that he does for God when he has accepted salvation are not his own doing: it was
God who planned them and gave him the strength and the ability to carry them out. The
Christian therefore has nothing at all about which he can praise himself and no cause to trust in
himself. His salvation, from start to finish, is the gift of God the Holy Trinity, in his grace and
power.
But the New Testament warns us that a Christian must work out' his salvation every day. He
must continue to trust God and to obey him. He must continue to love his Saviour, and show his
love in practical ways, in good deeds. If he does not continue and grow in God's grace in these
ways, he will begin to lose his faith, to have doubts about its reality. He will lose his assurance
of salvation, and so grieve God's Holy Spirit, who has sealed him with the mark of salvation.
For although all the good works that a Christian may do as well as his own salvation depend
entirely on God, yet nevertheless it is up to each child of God to co-operate with his Father. The
Christian must have the desire to serve God, and be willing to be obedient and faithful. He must
also persevere, completing with God's help and power, the tasks God gives him to do.
The Bible teaches that each person who trusts Christ has salvation, and will finally have a place
in heaven but it makes clear also that some will have a great reward' in heaven. Others will be
there, by God's grace, but cannot expect to hear the words well done, good and faithful servant.'
If a Christian makes no attempt to grow in his Christian life, and even plays with sin he cannot
expect to know the fullness of God's presence within him, and is bound to lose his full
assurance of salvation as he is not 'working out' that salvation.
Memory verse Philippians l:6
Homework
To learn: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with
all your mind. Matthew 22:37
To learn: The first and second commandments (see page 49 and 50).
To read: Exodus 19:1-20:6

SECTION THREE
LOVE AND OBEDIENCE
Some people think that they are able to keep the Ten Commandments and thereby achieve their
salvation. Such people have not fully understood the meaning of these commandments. Someone
may say, I have never committed murder or adultery'. But as soon as he realizes that, before God,
anger is murder and coveting is adultery
(Matthew 5:21-30), then he must accept that he has not fully kept these two commandments.
Failure to keep any one commandment means failure to keep the whole law: 'cursed be everyone
who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law and do them' (Galatians 3:10).
Therefore, we are all guilty because we have not kept all things written in God's law. The only
way to be saved is (as we have learnt from our previous lessons) to repent and trust in Jesus
Christ.
What then is the purpose and meaning of the Ten Commandments for us today?
1. They help us to realize our helplessness before God. Examine yourself in the light of
these commandments and see your sins. Then repent and put your life right with God.
2. They help us to please God. For, while we have to rely entirely on Jesus, the
commandments do provide a way for us to check our lives so that we may shape them
more and more in line with God's will.
At the Holy Communion service, after each commandment, we say, 'Lord, have mercy on us
and help us to keep this law': at the end of them all, we say, 'Lord, have mercy on us, and write
all these laws in our hearts.' We acknowledge that we have not kept God's laws and so ask for
his mercy and forgiveness: and we acknowledge that we should seek to keep them and so ask
for his help to do so. May this be our prayer as we learn the meaning of these commandments.
THE ONLY GOD
Reading Exodus 19:1-20
Aim: To learn the meaning of the first and second commandments.
Other verses: Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Isaiah 40:18-26 John 4:23-24 Romans 1:18-32
After leaving Egypt, where they had become slaves, and had suffered under severe oppression,
the people of Israel were led out by Moses, through God's power. They started to travel towards
the Promised Land. After about three months they arrived at Mount Sinai, and camped in the
wilderness beside the mountain. Moses, at God's summons, climbed the mountain. The mountain
top was then covered with cloud and smoke and thundering was heard. The whole mountain
shook. In the cloud, God spoke to Moses, giving him the Ten Commandments, written by God
himself on stone slabs.
The First Commandment God is to be put first, above all people, all things, all other interests.
We are to have no gods, other than him. In Egypt the people of Israel had started to worship
Egyptian gods, and in Canaan they would be tempted to worship the Canaanite gods. God's first
law was made clear to them, and to us also. There is only one true God, and we must worship
him alone. This does not mean just singing his praises in church, but putting him first in our life,
loving him above all else.
The Second Commandment If God is to be first in our life, and is to be worshipped, we must
not only worship him alone, but must also worship him as he really is. The people were told not
to make any image or idol to which they might bow down in worship. An idol can be an attempt
to make a picture of God in some way, or it can be something that we put in place of God. Any
attempt to make an image, a carving or picture of God, must fail, and make God less wonderful
than he really is. He is so great, beautiful and powerful that there is no way of making any kind
of image that would really show what he is like. Moreover he is everywhere, by the Holy Spirit,
and cannot be limited in any Therefore, any idol must be misleading, and take us away way.
From the reality of God. Nowadays, not many people make such images. But remember that
anything that we love more than we love God has taken his rightful place, and has become to us
thus many people follow the idols of wealth, success, popularity, land, education and so on. All
of these things are popularity, good if we accept them as gifts from God and use them for him,
but become idols if they take first place in our life.
Memory verse Matthew 22:37
Homework
To learn: Let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28
To learn: The third commandment (see page 50).
To read: 1 Samuel 15:1-24

THE MAJESTIC, HOLY NAME
Reading 1 Samuel 15:1-24
Aim To learn the meaning of the third commandment.
Other verses Matthew 5:33-37, 23:16-22 James 4:13-17, 5:12.
Names remind us of people. For example, if someone mentions the President, immediately we
begin to think of him: we remember his appearance, his voice, and especially the things he has
the third commandment done, and his character and his acts. Teaches us to treat the name of
God with respect, and not to use it wrongly or without meaning.
God once told King Saul to attack the Amalekites, and to destroy everything they had. Saul
went, attacked them, and won the battle. But he did not obey the command to destroy all their
goods, but instead kept the best things for himself. Yet when he met the prophet Samuel, he told
him that he had obeyed God's word. Samuel then asked him what was the meaning of the sound
of cows and sheep which he heard. Saul began to make excuses, saying that it was the people,
and not he himself who had done it, and that he had intended the animals to be a sacrifice to
God.
Samuel told Saul that it was more important to obey God than just to worship him. To name
God's name, to talk of him, and sing his praises, and yet to disobey him, is to take his name in
vain. Because King Saul did this, God said that he was no longer able to be king, as he was not
worthy to lead God's people.
How can we take God's name in vain? By doing as Saul did, by pretending to love God and to
obey him, but really going our own way. If we say that we are Christians and join in worship,
yet have no place for Christ in our hearts we are taking God's name in vain. If we say that God
has led us to do something, but what we really mean is that we have decided that we want to do
it, we are taking God's name in vain. Moreover, many people use God's name thoughtlessly as
an oath, or swear something in the name of God. All these are ways of talking the holy name of
God in vain.
God is holy, and his name should remind people of him and of us character, We should be
careful only to use it in ways which Wil lead people to him and to his glory. The Bible warns us
that God ‘will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.’
Memory verse Hebrews 12:28
Homework
To learn: Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:2
To learn: The fourth commandment (see page 50).
To read: Mark 2:23-3:5
THE HOLY DAY
Reading Mark 2:23-3:5
Aim To learn the meaning for us of the fourth commandment.
Other verses Genesis 2:14 Matthew 12:12 Luke 4:16-30 John 20: 19, 26 Acts 20:7
1 Corinthians l6:2 Revelation l:8
Jesus and his disciples were once walking through the fields on the Sabbath, and when they felt
hungry they ate some of the grains of wheat. The Pharisees rebuked them for breaking the fourth
commandment. Jesus reminded them how King David, the great leader of Israel and man of God,
had once eaten food that only the priests were allowed to eat. He was not a priest, and vet
because there was good reason, he ate the food, and this was not a sin. Jesus went on to explaın
that it was the same with the Sabbath. The Holy Day, the Day of Rest, was given to man for his
good, and not to enslave him.
Jesus was also rebuked for healing people on the Sabbath, and taught that the Sabbath was a day
for doing good. The Pharisees had so blinded themselves with laws that they could not see that
showing love and compassion could never be wrong, We are to keep the Sabbath holy but to use
it for doing good, and not to become slaves to laws about it.
The Sabbath is an important day for us as Christians:
1. It is a holy day; that is, a day for worshipping God. It is the only day on which we do not
have other things to do and so have plenty of time to think of God and to pray to him.
2. It is a day when we can rest from our usual tasks. After his great work of creation, God rested
on the seventh day, establishing it as a day of rest. It should be for us a day which is different
from the others, when we forget the matters that have concerned or even worried us the rest
of the week.
3. It is a day for doing good, as Jesus did. It is a day when we can help other people spiritually,
but also in other ways. We may visit sick people, or lonely people, or do small things to help
others. But we should leave completely our ordinary daily work.
In the Old Testament the Sabbath was our Saturday, but Christians, guided by the Holy Spirit,
began to keep Sunday as their Sabbath or special day, as Sunday was the day when Jesus rose
from the dead. The meaning of Sabbath is merely to rest. The first Christians began to meet on
Sunday to remember our Lord's resurrection, and so began to call it the Lord's Day'. Later it
became accepted as the day of rest, the Sabbath. It is a day we especially give to the Lord, to
worship him and to do his will.
Memory verse Colossians 3:2
Homework
To lean: Live as servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. I Peter 2:17
To learn: The fifth commandment (see page 50).
RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY
Aim To learn the meaning of the fifth commandment for us today.
Other verses John 19:26-27 Acts 5:29 Romans 13:1-4 Colossians e3:20-4 :1 1 Peter 2:13-17
We cannot live without having to obey other people; a child must learn at an early age to obey
his parents; at school we have to obey our teachers; and all adults have to keep the laws laid
down by the government. There must be laws, and there must be obedience to them otherwise
there would be chaos, and we would live in danger.
But over and above this common-sense reason for laws and obedience to them, the Bible teaches
clearly that obedience is the duty of the Christian; obedience to parents, and to those in authority
over us, in our jobs, in the government, and even in the Church. We are to respect authority, for
God has told us to.
When Jesus was twelve years old, he went to the Temple in Jerusalem with his parents for a
festival. After they had left for home, he stayed behind with the teachers, asking them questions
and answering their questions. All who heard him were amazed at his knowledge and
understanding. He was greater in every way than his parents, and they were unable to understand
him, And yet he returned to Nazareth with them, and the Bible says he was obedient to them, He
lived at home and obeyed his parents, and stayed there for another eighteen years, until he was
thirty years old.
Even then he did not forget his parents: even in his agony of suffering on the cross, he thought of
Mary his mother, and entrusted her to the care of his friend John. Joseph was now, presumably,
dead).
So, as Jesus' followers, it is our duty to love and respect our parents even if we are better
educated than they. But remember that it is not only our parents we are bound to obey, but our
teachers, employers and government. Only if they ever command us to do things that are clearly
wrong and against the teachings of the Bible should we disobey them. As the apostles told the
leaders of the Jews, we have to obey God rather than men, but we have to be very sure that we
really are obeying God, and not just doing what we like.
Obeying God is not always easy; it was obedience to the Father that took Jesus to the cross.
Obeying God today must mean that we are willing to suffer for him.
Memory verse 1 Peter 2:17

Homework
To learn: Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you.
Ephesians 4:31
To learn: The sixth commandment (see page 50).
To read: Genesis 4:1-16
RESPECT FOR LIFE
Aim To learn the meaning of the sixth commandment for us today.
Other verses Hebrews 11:41 John 3:11-16 Matthew 5:21-26
Adam and Eve had two sons, one called Cain who was a farmer and the other called Abel who
was a shepherd. Both brought an offering to God from their work, but Abel's offering was better
than that of Cain because he gave it in faith and justice whilst Cain's was given in a wrong way.
So God accepted Abel and his sacrifice and did not accept Cain or his sacrifice. Immediately
Cain was jealous of his brother, got in a temper and killed him in the fields. Because of this Cain
was condemned by God to be a refugee without a place to live in the world and he went out from
God without coming to terms with him at all.
Cain broke the sixth commandment when he killed his brother. The people of old said, 'a person
who kills someone shall face judgement' and Jesus explained the meaning of this to his listeners.
The evil of this sin is not only that the blood of a human being is spilt, but also that God is
despised and cursed because man is not just an animal but has been made in the image of God.
So we can understand the great value of the life of men.
But Jesus further explained the meaning of this commandment by teaching that killing is not just
an action, but a person is able to kill another by his thoughts or words. If we get in a temper with
another, then we should be brought to judgement: the person who insults his brother is liable to
be brought to the council: if we swear against our brother then we are liable to the hell of fire.
Jesus said that if our brother has something against us, we must not bring our offerings to God.
First of all it is essential to come to agreement with our brother and put all the accusations right,
and then we can be free to have fellowship with God. If we do not do this we have committed the
same sin as Cain.
Moreover Jesus is himself the greatest example for us. John said that he gave his life for us and
therefore it is important that we should give up our lives for the brethren. This means that instead
of hating others we should love them in the same way as Jesus loved us - even to the extent of
dying for us on the Cross. Instead of destroying the lives of others with our temper, we ought to
help them in their lives. Instead of leaving them poor in spirit and body we must give our
energies in all ways Possible to help them to understand and to accept eternal life and everything
else which helps towards a good life
Memory verse Ephesians 4:31
Homework
To learn: Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God. You
are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians
6:19-20
To learn: The seventh commandment (see page 50) .
To read: Genesis 39:1-23
RESPECT FOR BODY
Aim To learn the meaning of the seventh commandment for us today.
Other verses 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 2 Timothy 2:22 1 Corinthians 10:13
Joseph had been taken to Egypt as a slave when he was a young man. Yet even as a slave, Joseph
continued to love and trust God, the God about whom he had learned from his father, Jacob.
Because he trusted God and followed him, God blessed Joseph in all that he did. His master in
Egypt was an important officer in the army. He noticed that all that Joseph did turned out well,
because God was with him, and so he began to trust Joseph and to promote him. No doubt,
Joseph, as a man of God, was honest and reliable in his work. Soon Joseph held a very important
job; he was in charge of the whole household of Potiphar, his master, who trusted him
completely. It must have been a relief for him to know that he had a servant who was completely
honest.
But now came Joseph's greatest test. Probably, as an army officer, Potiphar was often away from
home. His wife, the Bible tells us, began to desire Joseph, and to ask him to lie with her. She
tempted him to sin. Yet Joseph refused saying that his master trusted him, and also that to lie
with her would be a sin against God. Finally she became angry with him, and by telling lies
about him, had him put into prison. Even then the young man of God did not give up following
and obeying God.
The temptation to sexual sin is very strong. It was strong for Joseph also, and yet he resisted.
Potiphar's wife was willing to in but he would not. Joseph knew that to listen to her would not
only lead to sin against another man, her husband, but also and even more important, lead to sin
against God.
If we are Christians, our bodies do not any longer belong to us, but to G God, for he has bought
us with the precious blood of his Son. The Holy Spirit lives in us, in our bodies as well as our
hearts. The Bible is quite clear that if we break the seventh commandment, by committing any
kind of sexual sin, we sin against God, and against his Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Jesus taught us that even our thoughts must be pure, and that to think lustful thoughts is sin. Sin
begins in our thoughts.
The temptation may be strong, as it was for Joseph, but God Promises that he will never tempt us
beyond what we can bear. He will help us to keep our lives pure, as he helped the young man
Joseph, if we love him and live close to him as Joseph did.
Memory verse 1 Corinthians 6: 19,20
Homework
To learn: Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labour, doing honest work with his
hands, so that he may be
To learn: The eighth commandment (see page 50)-
To read: Joshua 7:2-26

HONOUR GOD-OUR MONEY
Reading Joshua 7:1-26
Aim To learn the meaning of the eighth commandment for us today.
Other verses Malachi 3:6-10 2 Corinthians 8:17 Matthew 6:24-34
The story of Achan contains a serious warning. Achan did not think that anyone knew he had
stolen cloth and silver and gold.. The people of Israel had been told to destroy Jericho, and not to
take any of the wealth of the city, but to give all that they found to the treasury of the Lord.
Achan saw beautiful things and he desired them; sin always starts in the mind, with thinking
about temptation. He hid the things under his tent, thinking that no one could know. But God
knew. Any sin we commit is a sin against God. We may think that no-one else is affected, but
whether that is so or not, God knows, and is concerned. When we steal, we are taking things that
belong to other people. In this case the things stolen had been dedicated to God. So Achan was
stealing from God himself, though perhaps he did not think of that way.
We also may steal from God, though we may not realize we doing so. God has given us so
much, and we should give to him i thanks for his goodness. In the Old Testament the people of
God were commanded to give a tenth of all they received to God and bring thank offerings also.
We do not have to keep this rule but it is a good guide as to how much to give. All Christians
should decide how much they are going to give God, and then give it joy fully and faithfully.
The Prophet Malachi said to the people of old, Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But
you say, 'How are we robbing thee?" In your tithes and offerings." He went on to say that if they
brought their full amount of gifts to the Lord he would open the windows of heaven' and pour
out great blessing. If we are not giving God what is his due, we cannot receive his full blessing.
But there is more to stealing than just taking money which is not ours. We can steal from man
and from God in various ways. We can take for ourselves the glory that belongs to God alone.
We can praise ourselves instead of God, or instead of giving the thanks to others. We can steal
time, by not working as we should. All these are forms of stealing, and all are sins against God
as well as against man. If no-one else knows, God does.
Moreover, the story of Achan teaches us that if one person sin against God, his sin somehow
affects the whole people of God. Sin spoils our witness, and that of the whole church. Also
unless we confess our sin, and obtain forgiveness, it may bring suffering not just for ourselves,
but for others.
Homework
To learn: Let everyone speak the truth, Ephesians 4:25
To learn: The ninth commandment (see page 50).
To read: 1 Kings 21:1-16.

RESPECT FOR WORD
Reading I Kings 21:1-16
Aim To learn the meaning of the ninth commandment for us today.
Other verses. Genesis 20:1-8 James 1:26, 3:6-12 1 Peter 3:15 Colossians 3:16
Ahab wanted very much to possess the farm of Naboth but Naboth refused to sell it to him even
though he was the king- for it was his family's inheritance. Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, falsely
stated that Naboth had cursed God and the king and persuaded people to give this false
accusation against him in the court. So Naboth was condemned and killed. Then Ahab took his
farm. His covetousness was only satisfied through lying
But the ninth commandment tells us: Do not bear false witness against your neighbor'. This is
most important when we have to be witnesses in court – but not only then. For the tongue is
extremely powerful: we can use it for blessing and for cursing, for speaking the truth and for
telling lies, for helping and even for slander. So we must be very careful how we use our tongue.
Sometimes people hear rumors and by using their tongues the rumors are spread even further.
We must be careful that we do not use our tongues which were created by God – for spreading
rumors.
Sometimes people slander others, by saying things which are simply not true about their
characters or actions. In this way many have been brought down, even though they have not
done what was said about them. We must be careful that we do not bring down someone with
slander.
Sometimes people hide the truth or are afraid of speaking the truth. Silence may be as bad as
saying an untruth.
Some people only state part of the truth and hide the other part. One person who did this was
Abraham he said part of the truth about his wife 'she is my relation' but he hid the other part of
the truth 'she is my wife'. Because this important part was not said the king thought that he could
take her to be his wife.
Some people say that they will do something but never do it, some say that they will come at a
certain time but are always late - all of this is untruth which is forbidden us by this
commandment.
Instead of using our tongue hike this, we must seek to use it for truthfulness, praising God in all
our words. We especially need to remember that it is our duty to use our tongues as witnesses
for Christ -always ready to answer every man with gentleness and reverence'.
Memory verse Ephesians 4:25

Homework
To learn: It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
To learn: The tenth commandment (see page 49).
To read: 2 Samuel 1l:2-27 Mark 7:20-23
THE BASIS OF IT ALL
Reading 2 Samuel 11:2-27 Mark 7:20-23
Aim To learn the meaning of the tenth commandment for us today .
Other verses Luke 3:14 Philippians 4:11 James l:14, 15
Jewish tradition said that any one eating from plates which had not washed would defile' himself
before God. Jesus clearly showed his disciples that it is not things from outside which go into a
person and make him unclean in God's eyes. No, it is the things which are in his heart - his
character, his personality which defile a man.
The very first of these is bad thoughts. This was the problem which David had. From his palace
the king saw a woman bathing, and she was very beautiful. He enquired about her and
discovered that her husband was a man named Uriah, who was an officer in the army. Despite
the fact that he knew she was a married woman, David to ok her as though she were his own
wife, and she conceived a child by him.
The king then tried to hide what he had done. He had Uriah recalled from the army to make it
appear as though the baby was his son, but Uriah, because he had taken an oath concerning the
war did not sleep with his wife. David's plan had failed and he knew that his sin must be
discovered. He then ordered the other officers to send Uriah to a dangerous position in the battle
and to with draw, leaving him alone. Thus he hoped that the man would he killed in battle. This
plan succeeded, and Uriah died. David did not then hesitate to marry Bathsheba, Uriah's widow.
David's bad thoughts had led him to lust, to adultery, to lies the same with Achan of whom we
read, and to murder. It was the he coveted, he took, he hid.' It was the same with Ahab who
coveted the vineyard belonging to Naboth and this made him angry and led to his wife telling
lies and to the murder of Naboth.
All of our actions begin with thoughts. They are at the very basis of all that we do. So, the last
commandment says: Do not covet'. For coveting is wanting something very badly, and that leads
to all sorts of other sins. It is so bad that Paul calls it idolatry'. Therefore, above all, we need to
control our thoughts so that we do not covet, and if we control our thoughts then our actions will
also be controlled.
Yet Jesus reminds us that we can only do this if we have a 'new heart', and this is what he gives
us as we repent and trust in him. This is the basis of all true Christian living.
Homework
To learn: When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:4
To learn: Jesus' summary of the law (see page 50).
To read: Matthew 22:34-40
LOVING GOD AND MAN
Reading Matthew 22:34-40
Aim To learn how we can fulfil our duty and keep all the comman dments by loving God and
man.
Other verses John 14:15 1 John 4:8, 5:3 Mark 12:28-34
Having studied all the Ten Commandments, you might want to ask which is the most important.
Jesus himself was asked this, so let us look at his answer.
Jesus said that the first, and the greatest, commandment, is to love the Lord our God, and he
added that we should love him with everything we have, our mind, our heart, our soul, and our
strength. If we do this, we shall keep the first four commandments, for we shall not want to have
other gods, we shall not want to worship anything else, we shall not take God's holy name in
vain, nor shall we despise his holy day.
Jesus went on to say that a man may keep all the other commandments simply by loving his
neighbor, as much as he loves himself. Each of us cares for himself and is concerned for his own
well-being. Jesus said that others should be as important to us as we are to ourselves. When
Jesus had taught this great fact, the man who asked which commandments were greatest went on
to ask: Who is my neighbor?" He may have thought that Jesus meant by neighbor' someone of
his family, his village, his friends, or of his tribe. But to explain what he meant, Jesus told the
story of the man we call the Good Samaritan'. In this story, the man who acted as neighbor to the
injured man was not a person of his own religion, or his own tribe, but of another nation whom
the Jews regarded as their enemies. So our neighbor is not only Someone near to us, or of our
own religion T nation, but anyone at all.
If we love other people as we love ourselves, we shall not want to rebel against those who are in
authority over us, we shall not want to cause pain or trouble by committing adultery, or by
desiring our neighbor’s wife. We shall not steal from others in any way, by damaging their good
name, or by no giving them what is their due, nor shall we covet their goods. So if we love our
neighbor we shall keep all the last six commandments.
The New Testament teaches that God is love. As Christians we should be like our loving
heavenly Father, and show his love in our everyday lives.
Memory verse Colossians 3 :4
Homework
To learn: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching for reproof, for
correction, and for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16
To learn: Jesus' summary of the law (see page 50).
To read: Luke 24:13-27 Acts 17:10-12

SECTION FOUR
LIFE AND SERVICE
In the first section of these lessons we learned of God's covenant his love to us in wanting to
forgive and cleanse us, to be our God and us his people, Our response to that love 1S to turn
from sin, to trust in him alone and to seek to obey him. The second section concentrated on the
Christian faith; what it means, and how we can have forgiveness of sins through trust in Christ
as Saviour and so have the power of the Holy Spirit in our life day by day. The third section
dealt with our obedience to God's commandments and helped us to see the sort of lives we ought
to be living as Christians.
But we cannot hope to live this way if we trust in our own efforts. Just as our salvation depends
on our trust in Christ, so our daily Christian life depends on Christ - on us abiding in him and he
in us (John l5:1-5).
In order to help us to abide in Christ, God has provided his 'means of grace' - the Bible, prayer,
worship, the sacraments, Christian fellowship so that we can know him better and know his
strength in our lives. Just as food and drink help our physical bodies to grow so these things help
us grow spiritually. Just as without those things our physical bodies would waste away, so
without use of these 'means of grace' we shall waste away spiritually.
The lessons of our final section, then, are concerned with helping us 'to grow in the grace and in
the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ' (2 Peter 3 :18). And this must also involve
our service to the church and to the world in which we live. Each of us has a duty to use the gifts
given to us for the benefit of others. Our time, our money, our possessions, our abilities are to be
dedicated to him and to be used in his service. So that as we pray at the end of the Holy
Communion service - we offer and present unto the Lord ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a
reasonable, holy and living sacrifice'. Thus, as we go through these final lessons, let us pray that
we may grow more like Jesus and serve him better.
THE WORD OF GOD
Reading Luke 24:13-27 Acts 17:10-12
Aim To learn the importance of reading God's word, and how we may learn from it.
Other verses Matthew 7:24-27 Hebrews 4:12 2 Peter l:15-21
In the Bible God reveals himself, and his loving purpose for us. In the Old Testament we read
of how God first revealed himself to mankind, and how his plan for our redemption was begun.
There are in the books of the Old Testament many helpful stories, and especially stories of great
men of God in past ages from whose example we may learn much. In the New Testament we see
revealed the outworking of God's perfect plan for our salvation, in Jesus Christ. Of course, when
Jesus was on earth, only the Old Testament had been written, and he himself accepted this as the
inspired Word of God, teaching from it and using it in his preaching. You will remember how he
explained from it that the Messiah had to suffer, to be put to death, and to rise again. So the Old
Testament, if we read it with understanding, reveals much about the work of Christ and ab out
his way to eternal life.
It was especially after his resurrection that Jesus made clear the teaching of the Old Testament
about himself, as he met the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, discussing all that had
happened over the previous days, and especially the rumour that Jesus had risen from the dead.
He explained from the Old Testament Scriptures how all that happened had been foretold, and
was in God's purpose. He had previously tried to teach the disciples these truths in order to
prepare them for his death and resurrection, but they had failed to understand. Now, however,
they began to understand and to believe, and they said later, did not our hearts burn within us ...
when he opened to us the Scriptures'.
So. In the whole Bible we can find all that we need to know for salvation and eternal life. Let us
try to read it with understanding, and above all, when we read the Bible (which should be
regularly) let us ask God that his Holy Spirit may make the meaning clear to us, and may help us
to accept God's word in our lives. It was God who caused the holy Scriptures to be written, for
our help and instruction, and only he can truly make the message clear and meaningful to us
Memory verse 2 Timothy 3:16
Homework
To learn: Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything with prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
To learn: The Confession (see page 51).
To read: Matthew 6:5-18

THE LORD'S PRAYER
Reading Matthew 6:5-18 on
Aim To learn the meaning of the Lord's Prayer for us.
Other verses Exodus 32:7-13 Matthew 6:33, 7:1-11 2 Thessalonians 3:10 1 Timothy 1:15
This prayer, which Jesus taught, falls into two parts: the first concerns God, his fatherhood and
his glory; the second concerns the needs of his children. We must start all prayer, as we do this
onc, with an awareness of God, and a concern for his glory. We start by thinking of God, not of
ourselves or of other men. This way we get our attitudes and thoughts in proper perspective.
In our prayers we ask:-
1. That people may honour God's name, and worship him.
2. That they may obey him as their King, in their thoughts, deeds and words.
3. That rulers of the nations may use their authority in such a way that God is honoured in their
nations, and his rule and authority extend through governments and countries.
4. That people on earth may joyfully do God's will, as do all his servants in heaven.
In the second part of this prayer, which we may regard as a pattern for prayer, Jesus told us to
bring to God the Father our needs and the needs of others. We can do so confidently because he
is our Father, who delights to give to his children gifts which are better than we 'desire or
deserve'. But the Bible teaches that we ought to be prepared to work hard and to earn money
honestly to buy food for ourselves and our families. If anyone does not do this, he cannot pray to
God expecting food. He helps us to fulfill these commands, and also provides for those really in
need. As we pray we are also humbly to admit our sins and failures, and to ask for forgiveness,
but we cannot truly expect God to go forgiving us if we are not prepared to behave like him, and
forgive others. God's children should be like their Father. We pray moreover that we may be
defended against all attacks of the devil, the evil one, for we are unable to withstand him in Our
own strength. We must in our hearts want to turn from Satan. We then end our prayer, as we
began, with praise as we think of God.
Memory verse Philippians 4:6
Homework
To learn: Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. Matthew 26:41
To read: Matthew 26:36-46 Luke 22:39-46

MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER
Reading Matthew 26:34-46 Luke 22:39-46
Aim To learn how we can make good use of times of prayer.
Other verses Matthew 9:35, 6:6 Luke 6:12, 11:9-11 Philippians 4:6-7 1 John 3:21-22
Jesus regularly spent time in prayer, both alone and with others. He prayed with his disciples, in
the synagogue, and spent many hours of prayer alone with his Father in heaven. We need to pray
with others, in services, and in groups such as prayer meetings, but above all perhaps, we need
to learn how to pray alone, when there is no-one to help us. We should get into the habit of
praying by ourselves daily, morning and evening.
Let us look at the way in which Jesus prayed at the hour of his great need, in the garden of
Gethsemane. First we notice that although he wanted the disciples to pray, he finally went off by
himself alone. He asked all the disciples to pray, but took aside Peter, James and John to watch
and pray with him, but in the end he left even them, and went on alone to talk with God. So we
need to meet with others, but we need also to know how to pray alone to God our Father.
Second, let us look at Jesus' prayer. He opened his heart fully to God, telling his father his
inmost feelings and fears. He knew the dreadful ordeal which he would have to face; his trial
and crucifixion, and prayed that if it were God's will this cup might pass from him. But although
he dreaded what he would face, his final prayer was that God's will would be done, So in our
prayers, let us be honest with God, let us tell him our inmost thoughts, our needs, and our fears,
as well as our joys. Having done so, though, let us learn to pray sincerely that God's will be
done.
Now let us look at the result of Jesus' prayer. At first Jesus was greatly troubled because of the
conflict within himself. Having prayed, however, he was at peace, and the Bible says that an
angel appeared from heaven to strengthen him. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, they fell.
back from him, overcome With awe, wonder and respect. All throughout his trial and his
persecutions Jesus remained calm and peaceful, and was the master of the situation. He had
God's strength and peace.
So, when we pray in faith we are given God's calm and peace, and are given his strength to face
whatever happens to us, and not just to face it, but to face it joyfully. So prayer is the path to
power and peace for the Christian.
Memory verse
Homework
To learn: God is Spirit and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:24
To learn The Confession (see page 51).
To read Psalm 95.
WORSHIP IN THE HOME
Reading Psalm 95
Aim To leam how we can worship God in our homes.
Other verses Exodus 17:7 Numbers 20:13 Luke 4:14-30 John 4:23-24
Hebrews 10:25
Throughout his life it was Jesus' custom to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and to join
in the worship. Whether he was at home or travelling elsewhere he always went to join the other
Jews in prayer, in singing psalms, in hearing passages read from God's word and in listening to,
or sometimes himself giving, explanations of the passage read. If it was important to Jesus to
join others in worship, it should surely be important to us as well. We should not neglect to join
together in weekly worship with other Christians.
But we should also learn to worship God in our homes with our families day by day, and not to
keep our worship just for Sunday services. Our pattern of service in Morning or Evening Prayer
follows the Jewish pattern of service in several respects, So is quite similar to the type of service
Jesus knew. From this Services we can learn a lot about how to worship God, whether in church
or at home.
In our service of Morning Prayer we say the ninety-fifth psalm (We call it the Venite' from the
old Latin version which started with the word Venite', meaning "O come'). If we examine this
psalm we shall see the principles on which our services are based, and the principles on which to
base worship at home.
1. Confession. In the psalm we say that we kneel before the Lord our Maker. So we start our
worship by kneeling in humility to confess our sins to our Creator God.
2. Praise a Thanksgiving. This psalm reminds us that we should come to God with
thanksgiving and with songs of praise. So in our worship we sing psalms, and hymns which
lift our hearts in praise to the God who made us and cares for us and upholds us in love. We
say Thank you'.
3. Teaching. The psalm says that God's people should listen to his voice, and should not harden
their hearts against it. So we should listen humbly to God's word and try to find out what
God is saying to us. We must then try in his strength to do it.
4. Witness. We are told in verse three to proclaim how great God is. In our services we do this
in the Creed, as well as in hymns.
5. Prayer. We are told to pray for ourselves but also for the needs of others. We need to pray
regularly for others.
Memory verse John 11:24
Homework
To learn: Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my
Father who is in heaven. To read: Matthew 10:32
To read: Mark 1:14-18 Acts 8:1-8
WITNESS
Reading Mark l:14-18 Acts 8:1-18
Aim To learn how it should be the purpose of each Christian to witness to his Lord.
Other verses John 4:29, 9:11, 17:25 1 Peter 2:9
From the time he first called them, Jesus asked his disciples to share in his work of
spreading the Good News. Ever since then, the Church has grown by the witness of every
Christian, not just through the work of preachers and evangelists. The disciples spent time
with Jesus learning from him, and also were sent out to preach, to teach, and to heal. (The
word disciple comes from the Latin word meaning a pupil, and the word apostle comes from
the Greek, and means someone sent out to do a job. We are to be both disciples and
apostles).
Jesus called his followers fishers of men'. Peter, James and John had earned their living by
fishing and knew what hard work it was, and how, even with skill and patience, sometimes
they caught only a few fish. So in our task as fishers of men' for God, we need skill and we
need patience. There are two main methods of fishing; with nets, hoping to catch many fish
at once; and with a line, catching one fish at a time. So there is room for two kinds of
evangelism, both of which we find in the New Testament. Sometimes the apostles preached
to large crowds, but sometimes they spoke to one or two people only.
The disciples received the Holy Spirit, and began to preach in Jerusalem. Soon, however, a
severe persecution broke out in that city, and the Christians were scattered, without leaders.
They went to many different places, and wherever they went, they witnessed to Jesus. Thus
the persecution helped to spread the Word of God. So we, whether we are persecuted or not,
must each be prepared to help to spread the Gospel. But we cannot do so without the power
of the Holy Spirit.
Our aim is to witness to Jesus, and to glorify him alone. In the Bible we read that our
witness should show:
1. What we were like before we met Jesus (John 4:29).
2. How we met Jesus (John 9:11).
3. How we learnt who Jesus really is (John 9:17).
4. What change Jesus has made in our life (John 9:15).
Memory verse Matthew 10:32
Homework
To learn: As each has received a gift, employ it for one another as good stewards of God's
varied grace. 1 Peter 4:10
To learn: The Gloria (see page 51).
To read: Matthew 25: 14-30

STEWARDSHIP
Reading Matthew 25: 14-30
To learn how each Christian is to be a steward of God's gifts.
Other verses Genesis 14:1-20 Leviticus 27:30, 32 1 Corinthians 9:7-11, 16:2

2 Corinthians 8:1-6, 9:7
When Jesus died for us on the cross, he bought us for himself with his precious blood, as the
New Testament tells us. Therefore we no longer belong to ourselves, but to him. That is
what we mean when we say that he redeemed us. Therefore, we and all we have, truly
belong to God, for it is given to us to look after and to use for him.
Jesus told a parable about a rich man who went on a journey, after giving his servants money
to use in his absence. He gave each one a different amount, according to the man's ability.
When he returned from his travels, he demanded to know how the money had been spent, -
and how much profit it had gained. Those who had used it well, and made more money,
were commended by their master.
So God has given to us gifts, which vary from person to person. These gifts include our
wealth and homes, as well as our different abilities and talents. We are to use them in the
service of God, who has entrusted them to us. The work of God today is the same as Jesus
did when on earth. earth. There are three particular tasks:
To preach the Gospel.
To build up the Church.
To help those in need.
May we be faithful in using all our gifts to serve God in these ways.
The Jews were commanded in the Old Testament to give a tenth of all they got to God.
Abraham was the first to do this, and he was followed by Jacob. Later the giving of this tithe
became a part of the Law. Abraham started the custom when he returned from a successful
battle, and in thanks gave God a tenth of all he had: Jacob promised God that if God would
keep his promise to be with him and help him, he, Jacob, would give a tenth of all he got to
God. This promise he kept. Not only were the Jews commanded to give but were to give
joyfully, out of a sense of gratitude to God who had been so good to them. In addition to the
giving of the tithe, they also gave generously for special projects, like the building of the
Temple. We have God's full salvation revealed to us in a way they never had. How much
more joy fully we ought to give, both regularly and for special purposes

Homework
To learn: They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking
of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42
THE SACRAMENTS
Reading Matthew 26:20-29, 28:18-20
To learn the importance of the Sacraments given to us by our Lord.
Other verses Joshua 8:35 2 Chronicles 20:13 Joel 2:16 John 3:5 Romans 6:3-11 1
Corinthians 10:16. 11:26
Our Lord Jesus gave us two signs of his covenant with which we call sacraments. The first,
Baptism, is a sign of becoming part of God's family, his Church. The second, Holy
Communion, is one of the means of growing in this family, in its new life. The sacraments
have two parts the outward, and the inward. Both must be there if the sacrament is to have
real meaning and value.
In baptism the outward sign is the water, which is either poured on the person, or in which
he is immersed. This is the outward sign of being received into the body of the Church of
God. It symbolizes washing, and also is a sign of death and resurrection. So it symbolizes
the fact that we enter the Church through God's cleansing and forgiveness, and that as Jesus
died and rose that we might have his life, so we enter the new life of his family, putting to
death our old, sinful life. But the outward sign is meaningless without the inward part of
baptism, which is belief, we are to believe in Christ's death for us, and accept his new life for
ourselves in faith.
In Holy Communion, (or the Lord's Supper, as it is sometimes called), the outward sign is
the bread and wine which Jesus used as symbols of his body and blood. We remember how
he gave himself up to death for our salvation. The inward part of this sacrament is receiving
the grace of God to live out his salvation in our daily lives. God offers us his Son, the true
Bread of life, who is able to forgive us and to unite us with God. Our part is to accept, with
grate full thanks, and to proclaim the gospel to others in this service. Every time we share in
the Communion service we proclaim in visual form, the death of Jesus, that others also
might come to believe in him.
There are other important services that some people refer to as sacraments; confirmation,
marriage, ordination, penance (or confession of sins), and prayer for the sick. These are part
of the Christian life found in the New Testament, but they are not of equal status or
importance with Baptism and Communion, for these are the only two sacraments actually
commanded by Christ.
Homework
To learn: Revise the Memory verses you have learned.
To learn: Revise the passages you have learned from pages 47 30 To read: Reading Aim
The service of Confirmation.
To read: Prepare yourself for this service by thought and prayer.
THE LORD'S SUPPER

Reading Mark 14:12-26
To learn more of the meaning of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
Luke 24:35 Acts 2:46, 20:7 1 Corinthians l0:21, 11:28
As God commanded the people of Israel to keep the feast of the Passover to commemorate their salvation
from Egypt, so Jesus gave us this sacrament to be a memorial of his salvation given to us by his death and
resurrection.
The Passover, the Jews' feast, was very important to the Jews, and had been kept since their escape from
Egypt as a memorial of how the angel of death had passed over the houses of Israelites, when he saw the
blood of the lamb on their door-posts. In every home where the Passover lamb was eaten, the head of the
house took unleavened bread and said. This is the bread of suffering, which our fathers ate in the land of
Egypt'. Also, it was the custom at this feast for a cup of wine to be drunk, shared by all, in thanks for
God's salvation. At this last Passover that Jesus had, he used these customs but changed them to give
them a new meaning to go with his new covenant. He took the unleavened bread, broke it and handed it
round, saying "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this as a memorial to me''. He later took the
cup of wine, and again, used new words as he passed it around, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my
blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me". Or, as Matthew recorded it, he took a
cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying: Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood
of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'. So Jesus made this Last Supper
equivalent to the Jewish feast of the Passover.
Paul tells us four things about the Holy Communion, or service of the Lord's Supper. It is:-
1. A memorial of the death of Jesus.
2. It is communion, or fellowship, with Jesus and with his people.
3. It is proclaiming his death until he comes again.
4. It is a service of thanks to God.
He also warns us that as it is such an important and meaningful service, we should be very careful not to
partake in it thoughtlessly or carelessly.
Homework
To learn: Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 1 Corinthians l1:28 To
learn:
To read: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
THE HOLY COMMUNION

Reading 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
To learn how we keep the Lord's Supper in our service of Holy Communion
Other verses Instead of these, read the Service of Holy Communion in the Prayer Book.
The Service of Holy Communion falls into three parts.
1. Spiritual preparation.
Before coming to the Lord's Table to receive communion, every person intending to take part should put
right anything that he knows to be wrong in his life, and in his relationships with other people. After the
opening prayers, we read the Ten Commandments, or our Lord's summary of them. This is an opportunity
for each person to examine his life in the light of God's Law. In our response we pray that we may, with
all our heart, obey God Still as part of our preparation for the actual communion, we hear God's word
read, in the Epistle and Gospel, and we reflect on it during the sermon. Thus our faith in our God is built
up, in response to hearing God's word, we declare our faith in him as we join in the Creed. Notice, this is
a longer Creed than the one in Morning and Evening Prayer. It is called the Nicene Creed. Part of our
worship is to show our love for God and our concern for other people, and so, as an act of loving worship,
we make our offerings to God. We also pray for other people, for those in need, for the government, and
for the whole Church of God throughout the world.
2. The actual communion
The actual communion starts with a call to confess our sins. When we have all done so, the Minister
taking the service declares God's forgiveness, and reads various verses from Scriptures which speak
clearly of God's love and of the truth of his forgiveness. Thus our hearts are comforted and strengthened
as we hear God's promises to us. We are then called to lift up our hearts in thanks and praise to God.
There follows the prayer of consecration in which the bread and wine are put aside for this special
purpose. In this prayer we use the actual words Christ used at the last supper and are thus clearly
reminded of his death and his forgiveness. Each person receiving communion then kneels to accept the
bread and wine and we hear words reminding us that they are symbols or signs of Jesus' body and blood
given for us.
3. We then thank God for all He has done for us.
After the closıng prayers of praise, we hear a prayer pronouncing God's blessing and peace on repentant
sinners. We leave the service at peace with God and man.
Memory verse 1 Corinthians ll:28
Homework
To learn: Grow in the grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3 :
To read 1 timothy 6:11-16
CONFIRMATION
Readings 1 Timothy 6:1 1-16
Aim To learn about the service of Confirmation.
Other verses Genesis 48:14-16 Numbers 8:10, 27:15-23 Luke 4:40 Acts 6:1-6 8:14-17, 19:1-7
Those who are to be confirmed should now have worked through all the lessons in this book; the
purpose of this last lesson is to prepare us for the actual service of Confirmation.
First, each must ask himself, 'Am I truly prepared to accept the promises made on my behalf at
baptism; do I wish to continue in the faith of Jesus, and am I prepared to witness publically to the fact
that I am?"
The Confirmation service has two parts:
1. Those to be confirmed, confirm their promises to God. If they were baptized as infants they now
accept what was done for them and make the promises themselves, and if they were baptized as older
people they confirm that they wish to continue in the Christian life, walking with the Lord. So in the
service, after prayers, readings and some explanation those to be confirmed stand in front of the
congregation, and answer publicly the questions put to them by the Bishop. The promise to reject the
Devil and to renounce sin, to trust in God and in His salvation through Christ, and to live in
obedience to God's will and commandments. So they confirm their acceptance of Christ and promise
to follow him only.
2. Those to be confirmed have God's promises to them mad anew and confirmed in this service.
Christians are unable to keep their promise to follow God and to walk in a holy wa without the help
of God the Holy Spirit. So in this service the Bishop lays hands on those to be confirmed, and pravs
that the Holy Spirit may enable them to grow daily in his power and keep them throughout their ife.
Laying on of hands has always been a sign both of God's blessing and of setting people apart to serve
him. We find this custom in both Old and New Testaments. So God's promises are set out in this
service; his offer of new life in Christ, of forgiveness, and of the power of the Holy Spirit; his
promise of eternal life with him. God never changes, his promises are always sure, yet we need to be
reminded of them as we are in this service of Confirmation.
Homework
To learn: Go back over all you have learnt and revise it. Especially go through the Memory verses.
To read: Read through the service of Confirmation and try to understand it. Prepare yourself for the
service, by thought and prayer.
Memory passages
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
Holy be your Name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as in heaven,
Give us today our daily bread,
Forgive us our sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not bring us to the test but deliver us from evil,
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours
Now and forever. Amen.
The Apostles' Creed

(To be learnt during lessons 1 to 4)
I believe in God, the Father Almighty
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord
He was conceived by the power of the
Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and was buried.
He went to the spirits of the dead.
On the third day he rose again
He ascended into heaven,
And is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church,
The communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The General Thanksgiving
(to be learnt during lesson 5 to 7)
Almighty God, Father of all mercies,

We thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving
kindness to us and to all men.
We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life.
But above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for
the means of grace and for the hope of glory.
And we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly
thankful. And that we show forth thy praise. Not only with our lips, but in our lives: by giving up
ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Spirit by all honour and glory, world
without end. Amen.
The Nicene Creed

(to be learnt during lessons 8 to 11)
I believe in one God, he suffered, died and was buried.

the Father, the Almighty, On the third day he rose again
maker of heaven and earth, in fulfilment of the Scriptures:
of all that is seen and unseen. he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God, He will come again in glory
eternally begotten of the Father, to judge the living and the dead,
God from God, Light from Light, and his kingdom will have no end.
true God from true God.
begotten, not made, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
one in Being with the Father. the giver of life
Through him all things were made. who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is
For us men and for our salvation worshipped and glorified.
he came down from heaven: He has spoken through the prophets.
by the power of the Holy Spirit I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
he was born of the virgin Mary. I acknowledge one baptism
and became man. for the forgiveness of sins.
For our sake he was Crucified I look for the resurrection of the dead,
under Pontius Pilate; and the life of the world to come. Amen
The Ten Commandments.
(to be learnt during lessons 12 to 20)
1. God spoke all these words. He said, I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods but
me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol or an image of any Creature in heaven, or on the earth, or
in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to any idol, nor worship it, because I am the
Lord your God, and I am a jealous God. To those who hate me I bring punishment on their
children to the third and fourth generation, But to those who love me and keep my commandment
I show my constant love to thousands of generations.
3. You shall not dishonour the Name of the Lord your God, for I will punish anyone who misuses
my Name.
4. Remember the Lord's Day and keep it holy. You shall do all your work in six days, but the
seventh day is a day of rest, dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day you shall not work,
neither you, nor your family, your servants, your animals, nor anyone who lives with you. In six
days the Lord made heaven, earth, the seas and everything in them, but on the seventh day he
rested. That is why the Lord blessed the day of rest and made it holy.
5. Honour your father and your mother, So that your life may be long in the land that the Lord your
God has given you.
6. You shall not kill.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not accuse any man falsely.
10. You shall not look with envious desire at his wife, or his servants, or his ox, or his donkey, or at
anything else that he owns.
Jesus' Summary of the Law.

(To be learnt during lessons 21 and 22)
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first
commandment.
The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.
The Confession
Almighty God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Creator and Judge,
We confess that we have sinned against you
in many ways
by thought, word and deed,
deserving your anger and displeasure.
When we remember our sins we are sorry and
deeply ashamed.
They are more than we can bear.
Have mercy, Father,
and forgive us for the sake of your Son,
Jesus Christ.
Strengthen us;
that we may serve and please you in a new life
lived to your honour and glory,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Gloria
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
Almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks.
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father;
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Confirmation Full Book1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Confirmation Full Book1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

c CONFIRMATION

LOVE AND OBEDIENCE based on the Ten Commandments

LOVE AND SERVICE

Uzima and Centenary the Publishers.

To read: John 14:1-31

If we want to be strong Christians it is important that we understand what we do believe. This

Reading John 14:l-31

Other verses Mathew 28:19--20 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 1 Peter 1:2

Memory verse 2 Corinthians 13:14

To learn: Part of the Apostles Creed:

**I believe in God ... he rose again'",

To read: Genesis 1:1-2:3 Acts 17:22-24

To learn: how God, the Creator of all, is also our Father

Other verses Matthew 6:25-33 Romans 1:1920 2 Corinthians 5:19

Memory verse Psalm 19:1

To learn: Part of the Apostles Creed.

To read: Luke 2:39-52

Reading Luke 2:39-52

Other verses John l: 1-19 Hebrews 2:17, 4:14-16

Jesus shares with us in:-

Memory verse: Galatians 4:4-5

To learn: Part of the Apostles creed.

GOD THE SON, WHO DIED

Reading Luke 23:32-56

Aim To learn the meaning of Jesus' sufferings and death.

To learn: Part of the General Thanksgiving (see page 48)

To read: Luke 24:1-53

GOD THE SON, WHO ROSE

Aim To learn how the Son of God overcame death.

Other verses Mark 8:31 John 20:19-29 Acts 2:32, 33

Memory verse Luke 24:46

To learn: Part of the General Thanksgiving. See page 48

To read: Acts 2:1-47

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

Memory verse John 14:16

To read: John 10:1-18

To read: Acts 2:37-47 Ephesians 2:1 1-22

THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS

Aim To examine the meaning of the Communion of Saints.

To read: Luke 7:36-50

THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

Reading Luke 7:36-50

Aim To learn how we may obtain the forgiveness of our sins.

Other verses Matthew 26:28 John 6:37 Hebrews 9:22

To read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-58

Aim To learn what is the hope of all Christians.

Aim To learn how we can have assurance of our salvation.

To read: Exodus 19:1-20:6

Aim: To learn the meaning of the first and second commandments.

Memory verse Matthew 22:37

To learn: The third commandment (see page 50).

To read: 1 Samuel 15:1-24

Reading 1 Samuel 15:1-24

Aim To learn the meaning of the third commandment.

Other verses Matthew 5:33-37, 23:16-22 James 4:13-17, 5:12.

Memory verse Hebrews 12:28

Reading Mark 2:23-3:5

Aim To learn the meaning for us of the fourth commandment.

1 Corinthians l6:2 Revelation l:8

The Sabbath is an important day for us as Christians:

Reading Luke 2:40-52

Aim To learn the meaning of the fifth commandment for us today.

Memory verse 1 Peter 2:17