GROW Guide | August 15
Renewing Worship | Creed/Confession of Faith
Connecting Questions
Did you ever have to memorize an oath, like the Pledge of Allegiance, the Scout’s Oath, etc.? Can you still recite it?
Did you grow up in a faith tradition that recited a Creed during worship? Which one? Can quote it now (no shame if you can’t)? How did the practice of reciting the same words each week make you feel?
Context
This week we continue our series Renewing Worship by looking at the practice of speaking the words of a creed in unison during the worship service. We often preface this by saying, “Let us now confess our faith in the words of...” The word confess is translating the Greek word homologeo, and it means “to agree to a thing, allow, admit, confess, concede, grant” It is not the same thing as confession and forgiveness, where we admit our guilt. Rather, it is the act of proclaiming something to be true.
It is important to note the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed are not found in the Bible. In fact, they did not exist until the 4th century. The word creed comes from the Latin word credo, which means “I believe in...” or “I trust in...” The creeds were created in order to bring unity to the early church that was debating key theological concepts, most specifically regarding the identity and divinity of Jesus.
Look at the Book
Read Romans 10:9-17.
according to verse 9, what leads to salvation?
Read verses 12-13 again.
Paul states that there is no distinction between Jew and Greek.
verse 13 is a quotation from Joel 2:28-32. Read that passage. What point do you think Paul is trying to make about Jews and Gentiles?
Try to restate verses 14-17 in your own words. What is Paul saying about the power of proclaiming the message of Jesus?
Look up the Apostles’ Creed. You can find it (and some resources around it) at https://www.stevethomason.net/theology/luthers-small-catechism/#creed. What parts of this confession are comfortable for you to proclaim, what parts might raise questions for you?
Taking it Home
Reciting the Apostles’ Creed in worship is a wonderful practice that helps the entire congregation find unity. The repetition helps the words sink deeply into our memory (many people with dementia or Alzheimer’s are still able to remember the creed because it is so deeply embedded through muscle memory). However, the Creeds can also become stale in the rote recitation. Brainstorm ways that we might keep the Creeds and Confessions fresh in our lives and in worship.
The practice of confessing our faith only begins in worship. How might you confess and proclaim your faith throughout the course of your every day life in such a way that people might hear and see the Good News of Jesus?