Chapter 1 Part 2 What to Believe Adult Catechism Class Study Guide

1) What do we need to learn in Catechism ? 2) To Know Christ

a) The first aspect of an authentic knowledge of Christ is to know him as the Significant Other. i) A significant other is a person of decisive importance in ones life. He or she is a model, a guide, an inspiration, someone we follow, someone we count on, someone we admire and tend to emulate. One may even dedicate or sacrifice his or her life to a significant other whose lifestyle, principles, and values are highly influential. No one is without a significant other in his or her life. In fact, many tragedies result from a bad selection of a phony or an unworthy person as a significant other. ii) To know Christ as the significant other means that we consciously and deliberately select him as our significant other, over and above anyone else. i. Archbishop Demetrios

3) We seek a Constanta) Isaac Asimov the Science Fiction Writer said. i) The only constant is change... (1) The only constant is change, continuing change, inevitable change that is the dominant factor in society today. b) As created human beings we believe that there is a constant and it is not Change but God 4) We must be reminded that God is Changeless, Timeless and Eternal,
a) We are promised by Him that His Nature may be imparted to us, and that by His Grace can remain unhurt by Death, We may have eternal life

i) This was the comfort the saints had when facing martyrdom! 5) John not only is committed to show the eternity of God but also to show that Jesus is the "Christ the Ruler of Kings, II (Rev 1:5). 6) We need to learn:.
a)

The Word of God: A woman called out to Jesus, Blessed is the mother that bore
you." Jesus answered, Rather blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it

b) The power of faith: Faith can never be exercised by proxy: You must actively
develop it yourself.

i) All things are possible to him that Believes" (Mat 17:20; 21:22; Mk 9:23; 11:2225). c)

Rejection of Christ: there has been ONE SACRIFICE for Sin. There will Never be another. Whoever will not avail himself of what Christ has done for him on the Cross may as well make up his mind to say Goodbye to God Forever, and go his own way, and suffer for his own sin (27 -31).
his only begotton Son, that we may have lifeResurrection, because it demonstrates the divinity of our Jesus but also it shows us our own immortality.

d) The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus: For God so loved the World that he gave

e)

His Second Coming: They shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great
glory (Lk 21:27). Lets not ignore that Christ was among us as our saviour but will return as our Judge.

f)

Heavenly Teachings in the Gospel of Matthew: basic themes of the bible, such as:
i) Secret Motives of Life (6: 1-18. See also Lk 12: 1-12).

ii) Alms, Prayer, Fasting. + more g) Worldly~Mindedness (James Chap. 4): i) The desire to get that which belongs to others. This has been the cause of most wars. ii) Reason for Unanswered Prayer: because they are for the gratification of our worldly pleasures (v. 3). iii) Double~ Mindedness (v. 4-10). An expansion of Jesus statement that a person cannot serve God and Mammon (Mat 6: 24) and similar to J ohnl s warning against Love of the World (1 In 2:15~17). h) The "BE" series? One of the best kept secret in Christianity is that it offers solace, understanding, and motivation to overcome every difficult moment in ones life. i) ii) iii) iv) Be Obedient (Genesis 12~25) Be Holy (Leviticus) Be Strong (Joshua) Be Available (Judges) Be Committed (Ruth & Esther) Be Determined (Nehemiah) (1) Plus many more.

i) The power of prayer: It is imperative for anyone interested in pursuing Christianity and to follow Jesus that they must learn the power and necessity of praying.