Session 8. Will You Devote Yourself to the Church’s Teaching? 

Will you devote yourself to the church’s teaching… 

Trinity

Creed

Devote J71 

What do Presbyterians believe? The word “believe” is closely associated with “to love” or “to hold dear.”

We state what we believe when we say The Apostles’ Creed J72-73. It is also an Affirmation of Faith. 

Work on learning The Apostles’ Creed. 

J72-73 Find the symbol that best matches the phrases in The Apostles’ Creed. With a pencil draw a line from the symbol to the phrase. You’ll notice that several phrases do not have symbols. And, the eye of God and the lily are used twice.

The Apostles’ Creed was developed over 600 years and finalized in the 8^th century. Early Christians used scripture to recite what God had done. 2 Timothy 1:9-10 is one. (Hebrews 11 is another.)

Discuss 2 Timothy 1:9-10

- What word or phrase from these verses grabs your attention? 

- On J74-75 paraphrase this scripture so that it says what you believe/love about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, faith, the church’s teaching.

Discuss Hebrews 12:1-2  A cloud of witnesses… who have run this race.

- What words of encouragement did you hear?

- Why might the people who first heard this Scripture have needed words of encouragement?

- Why do we need encouragement?

The phrase “the communion of saints” in the Apostles’ Creed refers to the relationships among Christians past, present, and future. Hebrews 12 describes this communion as a “cloud of witnesses.” The cloud refers to those who have gone before us as our encouragers in the faith (both great forebears like Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and those who are great only for us—parents, teachers, mentors, church family).

Think of a symbol for yourself, as you are no doubt a “saint,” an encourager for someone else. Create that symbol on J78.  J79 Pray this prayer… now and in the future. It will always be in your Journal.

**Note: The church is big on symbols!