Community & Kingdom Living: Q&A

(These questions/answers are from Section 7 of the AC Catechism: Community & Kingdom Living. For the rest of Section 7, please read the previous post or purchase the AC Catechism here.)

(Q. 111) What do you call the redeemed community of Christ?

The church.

1 Cor. 1:2: To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours …

(Q. 112) What are some metaphors for the church?

The body of Christ, the bride of Christ and the household of God.

Eph. 1:22-23: And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

See also 1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 2:19; 4:12; 5:25-27; Col. 1:18, 24; 1 Tim 3:15; Rev. 19:7.

(Q. 113) Who are members of the church?

All those who confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, are born of the Spirit, and seek to love and obey the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

1 Cor. 12:12-14: For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

(Q. 114) What does it mean to be a member of the church?

To be united and accountable to a local, ordered assembly of believers.

Heb. 10:24-25: And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

(Q. 115) How do we live as members of Christ’s church?

By loving one another as brothers and sisters in the faith.

1 Peter 1:22: Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart …

See also Rom. 12:10; Eph. 4:25; Heb. 13:1; 1 John 4:7.

(Q. 116) What did Jesus commission his church to do?

To make disciples of all nations who worship and obey him.

Matt. 28:18-20: And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

See also Mark 12:30; John 4:24; 1 Peter 2:9.

(Q. 117) What are the two ordinances Jesus gave the church?

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Acts 2:41-42: So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

See also Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-24.

(Q. 118) What is baptism?

Baptism is immersion with water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for those who profess personal faith in Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:38: And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. …”

See also Matt. 3:16; 28:19-20; Acts 2:36-38; 8:35-36; 16:29-34.

(Q. 119)What does baptism symbolize?

Union with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection.

Rom. 6:3-5: Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

See also 1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21; Heb. 9:14; 10:22.

(Q. 120) What is the Lord’s Supper?

The breaking of bread and drinking of wine in remembrance of the sufferings and death of Christ until he returns.

1 Cor. 11:26: For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

See also Matt. 26:20-30; Luke 22:19-20; John 6:35-71; Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 11:20-25.

(Q. 121) What does the bread represent?

The body of Christ, broken for our sins.

Matt. 26:26: Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

(Q. 122) What does the wine represent?

The blood of Christ, poured out for our salvation.

Matt. 26:27-28: And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. …”

(Q. 123) Who should be baptized and partake of the Lord’s Supper?

All who have truly repented of their sins, believed in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and are willing to do what he teaches.

Acts 16:31-33: And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

See also Acts 2:37-38; 8:36-38; 10:44-48.

(Q. 124) What is the church devoted to?

The apostles’ teaching, the fellowship of the saints, the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42: And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

See also Rom. 12:12; 1 Tim. 4:16; 2 Tim. 1:13; 1 John 1:6-7.

(Q. 125) What is the apostles’ teaching?

The New Testament commands for belief and behavior in the household of God.

1 Tim. 3:14-15: I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

See also Rom. 1:5; 16:17, 26; 1 Cor. 5:9-11; 2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6; 1 Cor. 11:2; 1 Tim. 6:3; 2 Tim. 3:10; Titus 1:9.

(Q. 126) What is fellowship?

Sacrificial love for one another.

Rom. 12:10: Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

See also John 13:34-35; 1 Thess. 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 1:3.

(Q. 127) What is prayer?

Pouring out my heart in conversation with God.

Lam. 2:19: “Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street.”

See also Ps. 18; 62:5-8; 142:1-2; Rom. 8:26; Phil. 4:6-7; Acts 16:25.

(Q. 128) To whom should you pray?

God, our Heavenly Father.

Matt. 6:9: Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. …”

(Q. 129) In whose name do you ask God to hear and answer your prayers?

In the name of Jesus Christ, his Son.

John 14:13-14: “… Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. …”

(Q. 130) Does God answer all prayer?

Yes, according to his wisdom and good pleasure.

1 John 5:14-15: And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

(Q. 131) What pattern has Jesus given to guide the church in prayer?

The Lord’s Prayer.

Luke 11:1: Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

(Q. 132) What is the Lord’s Prayer?

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

See Matt. 6:9-13; 1 Chron. 29:11.

(Q. 133) What is your aim as a Christian?

To glorify God as a citizen of his kingdom here on earth.

Phil. 3:20-21: But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

(Q. 134) How can you glorify God?

By loving him and doing what he commands.

1 John 5:2: By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

See also 1 Sam. 15:22; John 14:15; Rom. 12:1-2.

(Q. 135) How can you live as a citizen of his kingdom?

By persevering as his chosen possession in this suffering world, eager to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with my God.

Mic. 6:8: He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

See also Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 3:2-4; 2 Peter 3:10-14; 1 Peter 2:9; Titus 2:11-14.

(Q. 136) How do you persevere in the face of suffering?

By clinging to the promises of God and patiently waiting for my blessed hope.

James 5:8: You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

See also Mark 10:29-30; John 15:20; 16:33; Acts 5:41; Rom. 5:3-5; 8:17, 36; 2 Cor. 4:7-18; Phil. 1:6; 3:10; 2 Tim. 3:12; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 4:12; Rev. 2:3.