Go to pcusa.org/webelieve/faq to learn more about the We Believe: FAQ (Faithfully Asking Questions) writing team.

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2 Publisher: Joseph D. Small Writers: Jeff Light and Mark Hinds Editor: Michael Harper Designer: Rachael Sinclair Go to pcusa.org/webelieve/faq to learn more about the We Believe: FAQ (Faithfully Asking Questions) writing team. Published especially for use in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), by Congregational Ministries Publishing, a ministry of the General Assembly Mission Council, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Louisville, Kentucky. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations in this publication are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible, 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. In some instances, adaptations have been made to a Scripture or confession to make the language inclusive. Every effort has been made to trace copyrights on the materials included here. If any copyrighted material has nevertheless been included without permission and due acknowledgment, proper credit will be inserted in future versions once notice has been received. Use of Licensed DVDs and Videos Copyright law provides an exemption for the performance or display of a portion of videos, DVDs, and other copyrighted works by instructors or students in face-to-face educational instruction if the following stipulations are met: the video or DVD (or book) is a legal copy; it is shown in an actual classroom (a place devoted to instruction); it is part of the curriculum for the class; only leaders and students may watch, and you are a nonprofit educational institution. This would apply most directly to church school use. To provide additional peace of mind, or if you wish to show videos in a situation not covered by the exemption for performance, you may purchase an Umbrella license from the Motion Picture Licensing Corporation. See more information at mplc.com or call You may also wish to check the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Web site, pcusa.org, for more information about copyrights (Legal Resources Manual) or the U.S. Copyright Office Web site at copyright.gov Congregational Ministries Publishing, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation, Louisville, KY. All rights reserved. Except where permission to photocopy is expressly granted on the material, no part of these materials may be reproduced without permission from the publisher.

3 Fall 2010 Session Guide Session 1. Session 2. Session 3. Session 4. Session 5. Session 6. Session 7. Session 8. Session 9. What Do Christians Believe In? John 11:1 27; Philippians 2:5 11 Is It OK to Have Doubts About God? John 20:24 28; Mark 9:14 29; Luke 15:4 31 Who Can Be Saved? Matthew 20:29 34; Mark 5:1 20; 10:17 27; Luke 8:40 48; John 4:1 30; Acts 16:25 34 How Does God Want Churches to Treat Each Other? John 17:20 26; Romans 12:3 18; 1 Corinthians 1:9 17; Ephesians 4:1 4; 1 Timothy 2:1 6a What Is the Gospel, According to Matthew? Various Passages from Matthew What Is the Gospel, According to Mark? Various Passages from Mark What Is the Gospel, According to Luke? Various Passages from Luke What Is the Gospel, According to John? Various Passages from John How Can God Be Known? Psalm 8; 19; 139:1 18; Isaiah 55:8 11; Matthew 25:31 40; John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 13:11 12; 2 Timothy 3:15 16 Session 10. Does God Love Everyone? Even the Devil? Lamentations 3:22 26; Romans 8:38 39; John 3:16 17 Session 11. Does God Ever Get Angry? Various Passages from Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Leviticus, Jeremiah, Amos, Micah, Zechariah, Matthew, Mark, Hebrews, and Revelation Session 12. How Strong Is God s Power? Luke 15:11 32; Philippians 2:5 11; 1 Corinthians 1:18 25 Session 13. What Does My View of God Have to Do with the Way I Live My Life? Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 5:14 16; Acts 2:42 47; 1 Corinthians 1:3 51; 1 John 4:11

4 Introduction Welcome to We Believe: FAQ (Faithfully Asking Questions) We Believe: FAQ (Faithfully Asking Questions) matches real questions from Presbyterian youth with questions from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Study Catechism. For the school year, the curriculum focuses on the catechism questions that unpack the Apostles Creed. Each session encourages young people to look to Scripture and to our faith tradition in relevant, responsive ways. Intended for younger youth, this quarterly curriculum (available for fall, winter, and spring) is easily adaptable for broadly graded youth programs. Go to pcusa.org/ webelieve to learn more about We Believe curriculum for children and youth. Looking for Teaching Tips? Go to pcusa.org/webelieve to find ideas for teaching and leading young people as they explore their faith and study God s Word. Also, visit openingdoorstodiscipleship.com and check out the available free training courses. Be Good Stewards of God s Creation As you use this curriculum, please strive to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible. It is important to model good stewardship of God s creation for your participants throughout this course. Go to pcusa.org/ environment to learn more about the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) s Environmental Ministries office. Session Components Each session includes the following: Session Question A faith question posed by a young person in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Session Objective A summary of the focus of the session. Catechism Connection One or more questions from the Study Catechism that respond to the session s question. Session Overview A chart that shows the leader at a glance how the session is organized and the array of learning activities the leader can choose from for the session. Spiritual Reflection for Leaders A short devotional to help connect the session with the leader s personal faith journey. Understanding the Scripture, Understanding the Catechism Connection, and Teaching Today s Question Background information to prepare the leader for teaching the session. Encounter Activities to get the session off to a faithful start, including an opportunity for the participants to clarify the session s question and to raise their own questions that relate to the session s question. Explore Learning activities for studying Scripture and catechism questions, as they relate to each session s question. Express Activities in which participants respond to the session s question and Bible study in creative ways, seeking to formulate and express answers to their questions of faith. Exit A faithful way to conclude the session, including a closing prayer. Enhancements Extra ideas that go beyond the learning activities in the session, to help participants continue exploring the questions raised in the session. Enhancements include Family Connections, a downloadable resource with questions for participants to explore with their families. Family Connections can be handed to each participant or ed to each family. Resources Resources to support various learning activities are included with each session. Evaluation/Feedback Please help our We Believe: FAQ Advisory Team evaluate this quarter s curriculum. Please send your comments via to curriculum@pcusa.org.

5 Family Connections Find time to explore these questions as a family after each session. Session 1 What do Christians believe? What is the difference between believing about something or someone and believing in something or someone? Session 8 What is the gospel, according to John? What are some of the titles and names given to Jesus? Why are questions important in our faith? Session 2 Have you ever had doubts about your faith? If so, when? Do you think it s OK or not OK to have questions about God? Why? Do you think it s OK or not OK to have doubts about God? Why? If Jesus sat down next to you on a bus, what one question would you ask him? Session 3 What exactly do people mean when they ask whether other people have been saved? Who can be saved? How do we know who is saved? Will people who know nothing about God or Jesus go to heaven? Session 4 What beliefs about God do all Christians share? Is it more important to pay attention to what beliefs unite Christians or to figure out how Christians differ in their beliefs? Is it important to connect with other followers of Jesus Christ in our community? Why or why not? Session 5 What is the gospel (good news) according to Matthew? What is the kingdom (reign) of God like? What is a parable? Session 6 What is the gospel, according to Mark? What are things we might be called to give up to follow Jesus? How does Jesus continue to surprise and challenge each of us? Session 9 How can God be known by observing the natural world? How can God be known through the testimony of Scripture? If Jesus Christ is God with us, what do we know about God? Session 10 Does God s love have limits? Can I do anything that would turn God s love for me into hate? Would a loving God send people to hell for any reason? Session 11 Do you think God ever gets angry? Why or why not? If you do think God gets angry sometimes, what kinds of things make God angry? Do you get angry about the same things that God gets angry about? Why or why not? Session 12 What one word would you use to describe God s power? Is there anything that God can t do? How strong is God s love? How do you measure God s love? How would you respond if someone asked you, How strong is God s power? Session 13 How do your beliefs about God shape who you are and how you act toward others? How has your belief in God affected your actions in the past few days? How do we know how God expects us to act? Session 7 What is the gospel, according to Luke? Is the good news really good news if it is limited to just some people? How do our church and each member share the good news? 2010 Congregational Ministries Publishing, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation. Permission to reproduce this page is granted to purchasers of this material. Resource

6 Up Next Winter Session 1. Who Is Jesus Christ? Matthew 1:18 23; John 1:1 5, 14; Hebrews 1:1 4 Session 2. Is Jesus the Son of God or the Son of Man? Various verses from Mark 11, 14, and 15; Luke 2, 22, and 23; John 11 Session 3. Why Did Jesus Have to Die? Various verses from Mark 8, 10, 11, 14, and 15; John 10 and 11 Session 4. Why Did It Take Jesus Three Days to Rise from the Dead? Matthew 12:38 40; 16:21; 27:62 66; Mark 14:55 58; Luke 24:1 9; 2:44 49; John 16:16 24; Acts 10:40; 1 Corinthians 15:3 4 Session 5. How Did People Recognize the Resurrected Jesus? Matthew 28:1 10; Luke 24:13 35; John 20:24 29 Session 6. Where Did the Holy Spirit Come From? Genesis 1:1 3; John 14:8 17; Acts 2:1 21; Romans 8:15 16 Session 7. How Was the Holy Spirit with Jesus? Luke 3:21 4:30 Session 8. Is the Holy Spirit with Our Church? Acts 2:1 3; 1 Corinthians 12:1 13 Session 9. Is the Holy Spirit with Me? Psalm 139:1 18; 1 Corinthians 6:12 20; Galatians 5:1, Session 10. How Is the Church the Body of Christ? Romans 12:4 5; 1 Corinthians 10:16 17; 12:12 26; Ephesians 4:11 16; 5:23, Session 11. What Does It Mean to Be a Community of Faithful People? Ephesians 1:1 14; 4:1 7, 11 32; Hebrews 12:1 2 Session 12. What Does It Mean to Be Holy? Leviticus 11:24 45; 1 Corinthians 1:26 31; Colossians 3:12 17; 1 Peter 1:14 16; 3:11 Session 13. How Are Churches Connected? John 15:1 12 FAQ Winter $39.95 To order go to pcusa.org/webelieve/faq or call Presbyterian Distribution Service at