Family Worship Guide #31 | Apostles Creed
Family Worship
This weekly guide is meant to help you as you lead your family in worship. We recommend that you visit restorationhcn.org/family-worship for an overview of how to do family worship. The idea is to keep your family in the Word. Keep it simple and interactive. It doesn’t have to last long. 15 Minutes is just fine for young ones. You might take longer for older kids. Be sure to give them the opportunity to ask questions and grow in faith and knowledge. Shoot for 3-5 times weekly, though every day is ideal!
1. Learn Catechism #31
Q: What do we believe by true faith?
A: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell (grave). The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (universal) church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Note: There is a verse and reading(s) in the New City Catechism app. You may consider using the reading (They are usually from key figures in church history or are from recent theologians) as a helpful tool in family worship. They are quite good.
The catechism answer for this week is the Apostles’ Creed. We don’t know how old it is, but we know it was used very early. We also know that creeds like this were used even before some New Testament books (see 1 Cor. 15.). For most of Christian history this creed has been the baseline of Christian theology. You can’t deny the content of this creed and be a biblical Christian. Notably, cults such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, Oneness Pentecostals, Mormons, etc. cannot affirm the Trinitarian elements of the creed. It is a unifying and clarifying thing for Christians to affirm the Apostles’ Creed.
Here are a few notes on the creed for clarification:
“Suffered under Pontius Pilate” anchors the proclamation of the gospel in a historical account.
“He descended into hell” is not in the earliest versions of the creed. It is likely a reference to descending to the place of the dead (the grave) but has been translated as “hell.” Whether Jesus descended just to the grave or to hell is not critical. However, we need to affirm that Jesus paid our sin debt on the cross (Colossians 2:13-14). If Jesus went to hell it was to take a victory lap. He didn’t suffer in Hell, because He paid our sin debt on the cross.
“The holy catholic church” is not a reference to the Roman Catholic church. “Catholic” means “universal.” The creed is affirming that God has one church, though it is diverse in location.
“The communion of saints” is not a reference to praying to deceased saints but rather to saints (all Christians) communing together in Christ.
Download the New City Catechism App (FREE)
2. Read/Study Scripture
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. -Jude 3
Why do we need to contend for the faith? What does “contend” mean?
If our faith was “once for all” delivered to the saints (us), then does it change?
Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
-Isaiah 44:6
How does God describe himself in this verse?
God says that He is the only true God. How should we respond to other religions?
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. -Luke 1:35
Who is the angel speaking to in this verse? Who is Jesus’ mother?
Who is Jesus’ Father?
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. -Romans 10:9-10
What does it mean that Jesus is Lord?
Why is it so important to believe that Jesus rose from the dead?
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:19-20
How do we make disciples?
Why does Jesus want us to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
3. Pray Together
We recommend praying as a family for some of the following items. Also, be sure to let your kids offer up requests. Try to have different people pray.
People you are evangelizing
Family
Church
Governing authorities
4. Sing Together
Here are a few songs that fit the theme of atonement:
