What Is Being a Christian All About?
| Session | Focus | Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| 1. How Faith Begins | The Holy Spirit creates faith in my heart by the gospel. | Acts 16:6-15; Q&A 43 |
| 2. Signs and Seals of Grace | Sacraments are signs and seals that assure us we are saved. | Exodus 12; Q&A 44 and 45 |
| 3. A Promise from God | My baptism tells me that Christ's sacrifice is for me personally. | Acts 2:36-43; 8:26-38; 9:1-20; 10:23-36, 44-48; 16:13-15, 22-24; Q&A 46 and 47 |
| 4. Remembering the Cross | The Lord's Supper brings the blessings of Christ's sacrifice on the cross to me personally. | Luke 22:7-23; Q&A 48 and 49 |
| 5. Our New Life | I show my thanks to God for salvation by living a new life of service to Christ. | John 13:1-17; Q&A 50 and 51 |
| 6. Making Our New Life Real | My new life becomes real as I turn away from sin and think and act in ways that show love for God and for others. | Luke 19:1-10; Q&A 51 and 52 |
Dear Family Text
For the next six weeks we’ll continue to explore the Bible and use the book Q&A: A Summary of Biblical Teachings as we ask the question “What Is Being a Christian All About?” As we answer that question, we’ll look at the meaning of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Session 1: How Faith Begins, the story of Lydia (Acts 16:6-15)
Session 2: Signs and Seals of Grace, the Passover (Exodus 12)
Session 3: A Promise from God, Baptisms in Acts (Various passages from Acts)
Session 4: Remembering the Cross, the Last Supper (Luke 22:7-23)
Session 5: Our New Life, Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet (John 13:1-17)
Session 6: Making Our New Life Real, Jesus Meets Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)
Pass It On
Here are some ideas for how you might engage your son or daughter in a faith discussion during the next six weeks:
- Session 1 (this week): Share a story or two of a time in your life when you especially felt God leading you forward.
- Session 2: Share about a day you’ll always remember—your child’s birth or adoption. Get out pictures, videos, and mementos from that day as you express how blessed you and your family are because of his or her life.
- Session 3: If your child has been baptized, talk about that day and explain what it meant for you as a par- ent to bring your son or daughter before the church to be baptized. If your child has not been baptized, talk about the possibility and how it could happen.
- Session 4: Get a special loaf of bread for dinner. As you eat, talk about what age you were when you first participated in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Was there anything specific you needed to do or say before you participated? What was “special” or “holy” about the experience?
- Sessions 5 and 6: Brainstorm some ways your family might join together in an act of service. Decide on an idea and schedule it sometime in the next month.