Catechism & New Member Classes
We offer new member classes for anyone interested in learning more about what it means to be a part of the body of Christ at Bethesda Mennonite Church. We also offer a Catechism class geared towards high school youth wanting to follow Christ and be a part of the church.
Edmodo login
This year, the high school Catechism class is going high tech! Youth can now go deeper in their faith from anywhere, anytime, through the use of this online classroom. Edmodo.com is an online classroom that allows youth and parents
access to materials, assignments, a calendar, discussions and so much more!
access to materials, assignments, a calendar, discussions and so much more!
Catechism in a nut shell
Part 1: God's Story
We begin our Catechism class by asking "What is your story?" The youth usually respond by telling their story starting at their birth. But their stories really begin at the beginning - as a part of God's creation if they choose God's story to be a part of theirs. By choosing to follow Jesus, they become a part of God's story - past, present and future.
The first section of Catechism is centered around understanding God's story as we read it in the Bible. With the help of Michelle Hershberger's book God's Story, Our Story we learn about God's story of salvation throughout history. Youth have an opportunity to make a commitment to Christ and join the body of Christ - the church -through baptism.
The first section of Catechism is centered around understanding God's story as we read it in the Bible. With the help of Michelle Hershberger's book God's Story, Our Story we learn about God's story of salvation throughout history. Youth have an opportunity to make a commitment to Christ and join the body of Christ - the church -through baptism.
PART 2: OUR STORY
During the middle section of Catechism we work on writing our stories - our testimonies. The youth share their faith stories and commitments to Christ and the church on the Sunday of their baptism. Following baptism, the church community welcomes the new members to the body of Christ with a social event. Then we begin the conversation about what does it mean to be a disciple of Christ? Just like a tree, our faith needs watering to grow, so we talk about the various disciplines to help them grow individually and corporately as a part of the church community.
Part 3: Their Story
The final section of our Catechism class focuses outward. The last words that Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 28:18-20a were: "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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." We end our focused year of faith development on learning how to help build disciples.
Building Disciples:
Throughout our lives we have the opportunity to meet and build relationships with many different people. Maybe it is someone on your sports team, a friend on Facebook or even a family member. As Christ-followers, Jesus calls us to share the good news! So in the last section of our Catechism class we learn to share our love for Jesus with others using a resource called 3 Story by Youth Specialties.
Building Disciples:
Throughout our lives we have the opportunity to meet and build relationships with many different people. Maybe it is someone on your sports team, a friend on Facebook or even a family member. As Christ-followers, Jesus calls us to share the good news! So in the last section of our Catechism class we learn to share our love for Jesus with others using a resource called 3 Story by Youth Specialties.
This resource reminds us of the importance of our life stories connecting with God's story through Jesus Christ and our stories connecting with other's stories. Just like three circles intertwined, when we (circle 1) have a relationship with God through Jesus (circle 2) and with others (circle 3), we have the opportunity to help others connect to God. By sharing our personal faith experiences with those we have a relationship with, we give them a glimpse into who God is and why God cares about them. Over time, this can be the beginning of a relationship between them and God. And as they grow closer to God, you grow closer to God too.
As we continue to grow in our relationship with God, our lives begin to reflect the light of Christ. During this section we also discern together as a class what it looks like to follow Jesus. How do our decisions and actions reflect the spirit of Christ so that others will see Christ in us and yearn for a relationship with Jesus too?
As we continue to grow in our relationship with God, our lives begin to reflect the light of Christ. During this section we also discern together as a class what it looks like to follow Jesus. How do our decisions and actions reflect the spirit of Christ so that others will see Christ in us and yearn for a relationship with Jesus too?