This Week: The Apostles' Creed- Article One
Background Info: (Taken from Colaborate Leader Guide)
Though we don’t know the names of everyone who contributed to the creation of the Apostles’ Creed and
we can’t really pinpoint one specific date on which it was written, there’s no question of its purpose: to
lay out a clear set of statements about what it means to be a Christian. The three articles of the Apostles’
Creed are specifically intended to define the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in ways that leave no doubts
about the nature of the God we follow.
For the writers of the Apostles’ Creed, the second article was probably the easiest of the three to
compose—Jesus’ physical presence on earth left less guesswork. But in some ways, it’s the hardest to get
our heads around. That’s because it explicitly points to us.
Of the three creeds embraced by most of the Christian church, only the Apostles’ Creed uses “I”
statements. This Creed declares our faith in Jesus as Lord and Son of God. In his explanation of this
article, Martin Luther states that these titles point to Jesus as Redeemer, to our need for redemption--
this article isn’tjust about Jesus, it’s about our need for Jesus. Our sin is more than the bad things we do
or the good things we don’t do; our sin relates to our overall human condition. Even if we tried, we could
never totally remove sin from our lives. Recognizing our sin is not a form of weakness, but an opportunity
to confess all that Christ has done for each of us. Christ’s life, death, and resurrection hold meaning not
only for what they tell us about him but for what they mean to us. They are signs of God’s great love. This
article is our reminder that sin and death do not have the final word and that even in our worst moments,
we are not defined by our failings. We are defined by our faith in a Redeemer who was willing to go to
death and come back for each of us.
Background Info: (Taken from Colaborate Leader Guide)
Though we don’t know the names of everyone who contributed to the creation of the Apostles’ Creed and
we can’t really pinpoint one specific date on which it was written, there’s no question of its purpose: to
lay out a clear set of statements about what it means to be a Christian. The three articles of the Apostles’
Creed are specifically intended to define the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in ways that leave no doubts
about the nature of the God we follow.
For the writers of the Apostles’ Creed, the second article was probably the easiest of the three to
compose—Jesus’ physical presence on earth left less guesswork. But in some ways, it’s the hardest to get
our heads around. That’s because it explicitly points to us.
Of the three creeds embraced by most of the Christian church, only the Apostles’ Creed uses “I”
statements. This Creed declares our faith in Jesus as Lord and Son of God. In his explanation of this
article, Martin Luther states that these titles point to Jesus as Redeemer, to our need for redemption--
this article isn’tjust about Jesus, it’s about our need for Jesus. Our sin is more than the bad things we do
or the good things we don’t do; our sin relates to our overall human condition. Even if we tried, we could
never totally remove sin from our lives. Recognizing our sin is not a form of weakness, but an opportunity
to confess all that Christ has done for each of us. Christ’s life, death, and resurrection hold meaning not
only for what they tell us about him but for what they mean to us. They are signs of God’s great love. This
article is our reminder that sin and death do not have the final word and that even in our worst moments,
we are not defined by our failings. We are defined by our faith in a Redeemer who was willing to go to
death and come back for each of us.
Share a high from the past week.
Share a low from the past week.
Parents/Guardians be sure to share as well!
Share a low from the past week.
Parents/Guardians be sure to share as well!
Luke 23:39-46 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into[c] your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
The Death of Jesus44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into[c] your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
The Death of Jesus44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.
If this passage were the only information you had about Jesus, what assumptions would you make about him?
What does it tell you about Jesus' death that he was hanging next to criminals? What do the criminals think about Jesus?
What does it tell you about Jesus' death that he was hanging next to criminals? What do the criminals think about Jesus?
God, we thank you for your son Jesus Christ. We pray that his life will be relevant in our lives in how we see the world around us. Amen.
End your time together with the following blessing, marking the cross of Christ on your forehead as a reminder of your baptism. Parents/Guardians be sure to have your child mark your forehead as well!
(Name), you are a Child of God!
(Name), you are a Child of God!
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