My confirmation class sits before...
Illustration
My confirmation class sits before me: restless, inquisitive, likable seventh graders. We're studying the worship service. And I ask them, "What is a creed? Every Sunday morning we speak the words of the Apostles' Creed. What does this word 'creed' mean?"
A tentative hand goes up. And then another. They have the right answer. A creed is a statement of belief. The word comes to us from the Latin word "credo." This Latin word means "I believe."
In our creeds we encapsulate that which is most important in our past spiritual histories. In the Christian church, our creedal statements have always focused supremely in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through the centuries we affirm our faith in the great deliverance he wrought as he freed us from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
For the Hebrew nation, the Exodus event was always the heart of their creedal affirmations. Through the centuries they affirmed their faith in God's great deliverance as he freed them from Egyptian slavery and brought them into a land "flowing with milk and honey."
Each of their three great festivals -- Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles -- focused supremely on this Exodus event, through which God proved his love by touching their lives so intimately and powerfully.
"Ask now of the days that are past ..." Magic words leading to creedal reflections.
A tentative hand goes up. And then another. They have the right answer. A creed is a statement of belief. The word comes to us from the Latin word "credo." This Latin word means "I believe."
In our creeds we encapsulate that which is most important in our past spiritual histories. In the Christian church, our creedal statements have always focused supremely in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through the centuries we affirm our faith in the great deliverance he wrought as he freed us from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
For the Hebrew nation, the Exodus event was always the heart of their creedal affirmations. Through the centuries they affirmed their faith in God's great deliverance as he freed them from Egyptian slavery and brought them into a land "flowing with milk and honey."
Each of their three great festivals -- Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles -- focused supremely on this Exodus event, through which God proved his love by touching their lives so intimately and powerfully.
"Ask now of the days that are past ..." Magic words leading to creedal reflections.
