Catechism Memorization for April 21

Middle School Memory Work:

Q1. What is prayer?

A. Prayer is calling upon God in petition and praise.

Q2. Why must we pray?

A. Because God gives His grace and Holy Spirit only to those who ask.

Q3. How should we call on God in prayer?

A. We should pray in reverence, submission, and faith.

Q4. In whose name are we to come to God?

A. We may come to God in prayer only in the name of Jesus our Savior.

Q5. For what may we pray?

A. We may pray for all we need for body and soul, as Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer.

Catechism Memorization for April 14

Middle School Memory Work:

Q1. What law has God given us for our daily lives?

A. He has given us the Ten Commandments.

Q2. Why must we try to keep this law?

A. Because God has rescued us from the slavery of sin through Jesus Christ.

Q3. Which laws are found on the first table?

1. You shall have no other gods.

2. You shall not make an idol.

3. You shall not misuse God’s name.

4. You must keep the Sabbath day holy.

Q4. Which laws are found on the second table?

5. Honor your father and your mother.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not give false testimony.

10. You shall not covet.

Q5. How does God want us to keep His law?

A. We must keep His law with love in our hearts for Him and for our neighbors.

High School Memory Work:

Q1. Why does God forbid all covetousness?

A. God forbids this sin, so that no desire contrary to his will may arise in our hearts. (James 1:14, 15)

Q2. But can those who are converted to God keep these commandments perfectly?

A. No, even the holiest men in this life have only a small beginning of this obedience. Yet they desire to live according to all God’s commandments. (Romans 7:21, 22)

Q3. Why, then, must this law be so strictly preached?

A. God will have his law strictly preached, so that we may learn to know our sinfulness better, may daily seek forgiveness in Christ, and may continually ask for the grace and help of his Holy Spirit. (Galatians 3:19; James 2:12)

Catechism Memorization for April 7

Middle School Memory Work:

Q1. What fruit does a saving faith in Jesus produce?

A. Saving faith produces good works.

Q2. How can we know which works are good in God’s sight?

A. God approves works which are done in faith and in obedience to His law.

Q3. What is God’s law?

A. God’s law is His rule for our lives, briefly stated in the Ten Commandments.

Q4. Can we keep that law perfectly?

A. No, every day we still find sin in our lives.

Q5. What must we do when we see such sin in us?

A. We must again turn to God and ask to be forgiven for Jesus’ sake.

High School Memory Work:

Q1. What does God forbid in the sixth commandment?

A. God forbids not only murder but also the roots of murder, such as envy, hatred and desire of revenge. (Matthew 5:21, 22)

Q2. How does God restrain killing in this present world?

A. God has instituted government and given it authority to punish evildoers and to promote the welfare of those who do good.

Q3. What does the seventh commandment require?

A. That since my body and soul are temples of the Holy Spirit, I must keep both pure. Therefore God forbids all unclean acts, gestures, words, thoughts and desires. (Hebrews 13:4)

Q4. Why does God mention only adultery here?

A. Adultery is the most grievous form of this sin, by which marriage as the symbol of Christ’s union with his church is destroyed. (Ephesians 5:32)

Q5. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?

A. Here God forbids all deceit and robbery, by which we try to take our neighbor’s goods for ourselves. (Deuteronomy 25:13, 16)

Q6. Against what does the ninth commandment warn?

A. It warns not only against false witness but also against all lies, slander and backbiting as the proper works of the devil. (John 8:44)

Catechism Memory for March 24

Middle School Memory:

Q1. What is true conversion?

A. Conversion is turning away from our sin and turning to God and His will.

Q2. Who works that conversion in us?

A. The Holy Spirit works conversion by showing us our sins and showing us Jesus as our Savior.

Q3. Of how many parts does true conversion consist?

A. Of two parts: repentance and faith.

Q4. What is true repentance?

A. Repentance is sorrow for and fleeing from sin.

Q5. How does faith work in conversion?

A. By faith we ask for Christ’s forgiveness and accept His promises.

Q6. How often does conversion take place?

A. True conversion happens only once, but it shows itself in daily turning back to God and His will.

High School Memory:

Q1. What does God require in the fourth commandment?

That I, especially on the Lord’s Day, diligently attend church to learn his word, to use the sacraments, to call upon him publicly, and to give Christian alms. (Hebrews 10:24, 25)

Q2. For what purpose are we to observe the Lord’s Day?

Here we must learn to rest from all our evil works, to let the Holy Spirit work in us, and so begin the heavenly life on earth. (Hebrews 4:11)

Q3. What does God require in the fifth commandment?

That I show honor, love and faithfulness to my parents and everyone whom God places in authority over me. (Romans 13:1)

Q4. Why does God require this of me?

God requires this of me because He is pleased so to govern me and to preserve order and decency in this world. (1 Timothy 2:1, 2)

Catechism Memory for March 17

Middle School Memory:

Q1. What should we who believe in Jesus as our Savior do?

A. We should show our thankfulness to Him in every part of our lives.

Q2. How can we show this thankfulness?

A. We can show this thankfulness in our thoughts and words and deeds.

Q3. Why is such thankfulness necessary for us?

A. Thankfulness brings glory to God who sent Jesus to save us.

Q4. What other blessing does much thankfulness give?

A. It shows us that we have a true and saving faith in Jesus.

Q5. Can other people also be blessed by our thankful lives?

A. Yes, by our words and deeds we may lead others to seek Jesus as their Savior.

High School Memory:

1. What does God require in the first commandment?

That as much as I love my soul’s salvation, I flee all idolatry and superstition, and so acknowledge, trust and honor God as the only God. (1 Corinthians 8:4-6)

2. What does God require in the second commandment?

That we make no image of God, but worship him only as he has taught us in his word. (Acts 17:29)

3. What does God require in the third commandment?

That instead of profaning or abusing the name of God, we always call upon him reverently, so that he may be rightly confessed, worshiped and praised in our words and deeds. (Psalm 19:14)

4. Does God, then, forbid the use of oaths?

No. When oaths are used in the courts or elsewhere to confirm the truth to God’s glory, he honors such a witness. This is clearly taught in the Old and New Testaments. (Romans 1:9)