This is the great thing about a catechism; it has us examining questions we might assume we have answered. In this lesson we talk about faith. Faith is a subject familiar in the Christian community, but do we always fully understand what faith is? That's what we get to explore in this video. We will look at Hebrews 11 as a guide. I would also encourage you to read Galatians 2:15-21 I also made a video talking about different kinds of faith. https://youtu.be/Gam2J-NHnE8 Here is the new city catechism website with commentaries by Johnathan Edwards and John Yates. The Edwards commentary also hints at the fact that faith is hard to define.

The Bible is a story and filled with heroes and Bartimaeus is one of mine. He is blind. He is a beggar. He is an outcast. Probably thought to be under a curse (see John 9:2-3 ). He is unnamed: Mark calls him “Batrimaeus,” in Luke the name is implied (by translator section heading), but Matthew leaves him unnamed. So what is special about Bartimaeus? Nothing really- - except he is a blind man who hears that Jesus was near, and saw Jesus for who he was (prior to being healed).

Are all people, just as they were lost through Adam, saved through Christ? No, only those who are elected by God and united to Christ by faith. I have a struggle with this because of how people in my life have represented the idea of election. God chooses some people and others he disregards. AND those who he has chosen, well it's me and anyone who agrees with my view. And these are people I love, brothers and sisters of mine in the faith, we just go at it differently. I think there is a mystery here and I try to live in the tension of not knowing everything. Electing choice to save some, and to allow others to remain in their sin. We cannot understand perfectly God's electing work, nor is it our place to know. It is not our place to know who is saved and who is not. So it is difficult, not because of how the bible teaches it, but because of how people have represented it. The Bible challenges our thinking and it teaches things that are difficult for us to understand. But we, in our youth ministry, don't shy away from those challenges. So I invite you into that process with me Matthew 22:3 Luke 14:15–24 Ephesians 1:5-12 Romans 11:11

Romans 8:18-22 We see that sin affects all of creation. The Gospel is personal - We see this in other Catechism questions and other videos. Is Jesus Fully God and Fully Man? The Gospel is also public - not just for the individual but for all of creation so it is corporate. We are not just concerned with ourselves we are concerned for our neighbors. Christ doesn’t only redeem us and make us new, but he is making all things new. Revelation 21:5 “Behold” “Look” “Don't miss this” God is doing something (and we often miss it). God is transforming people, society, and the cosmos. We see a pattern in the Bible of creation, fall, redemption. We see this in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. When he comes his body, is the same (scars, they recognize him, he eats fish), and yet also glorified (he teleports, goes through walls, is not recognized). Col 1:19-20 - 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. Thank you for being a part of this community.

Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven? Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God will remember our sins no more. This is the 25th Question in the New City Catechism. We heave been teaching through these questions in our youth ministry. 2 Corinthians 5:17- 21 Jeremiah 31:31-34 Romans 10:9

In this lesson we explore the question, Why was it necessary for Christ, the Redeemer, to die? This is the 24th question in the New City Catechism and it will take us into Colossians 1:21-22. I would also suggest Hebrews 12:2; Genesis 3

Is Jesus fully God and fully man? We are asking this as we study the 21st question in the New City Catechism. The catechism is asking, “What sort of Redeemer is needed to bring us back to God?” And as we answer this question we will learn about the uniqueness of the person Jesus in history. There is truly no one like him and I am stoked we get to talk about it. Memory verse “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given.” Isaiah 9:6 Notice that the child is born but the son is given. The Son has always existed

Who is the Redeemer? The only redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 2:4-5 There is one God and there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. This is going to contradict the pluralistic ideas of today. Pluralism is the idea that many truth is found in many answers/ways rather than one. And example of religious pluralism is that there are many ways to God. Or there are many ideas about God that (even though they contradict) are equal and valid when it comes to truth about God. So here is what we have to say about the good news of Jesus Christ. Salvation comes through faith in him ,he has payed the penalty for us and made communion with God possible once again. According to scripture this is the only way. We also take a look at Matthew 18:21-30.

Will God allow our disobedience and idolatry to go unpunished? Is there any way to escape punishment and be brought back into God’s favor? These two questions help us to see that the Gospel has two parts: The Cross and the Empty tomb. Death and New Life. We have to embrace, and declare, and live out both parts of this gospel so that the life of God will be present with us and our community and ultimately this world. I chose to combine these two questions because teaching through this once a week I felt like leaving you with question 18 may just bum you out. So parents, leaders, if you are teaching through this, combining these two questions is something to consider. Memory verses for these questions: Question 18 - Ephesians 5:5–6 Question 19 - Isaiah 53:10–11 Also look up Romans 6, 2 Corinthians 5:21, and pretty much the rest of the Bible.

What is idolatry? Idolatry is idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator. This is the 17th question in the New City Catechism and it teaches us a lot about our culture today. What we learn is that worship is transformational and idolatry also has a transformational effect on us as people. Memory verse for this question is Romans 1:21 and 25, but I would suggest memorizing more. You can re-read all of Romans 1:18-32. Remember that this was written in the first century as Paul reflects on the idolatry of the ancient world.