Ashford #1 Home Group
Catechism with memory verse and seven Bible readings

By John D. Legg, Low Row, Swaledale 1962, amended 2009. Used with permission.


The first text after each answer is a “memory verse”, e.g. John 10:35.

Seven Bible reading passages follow.


l. What is the Bible?

The Bible is God's message to us all.

  • John 10:35

  • Deut. 18:9-16; 18:17-22

  • Psalm 119:97-99, 103-105; 127-130

  • Prov. 3:1-6

  • 2 Pet. 1:16-21


2. Why did God give us the Bible?

God gave us the Bible to teach us how to be saved.

  • 2 Timothy 3:15

  • Psalm 19:7-11

  • Isa. 55:8-11

  • John 5:31-40

  • Acts 20:17-21; 25-32

  • 1 Tim 4:11-16

  • 2 Tim 3:10-17


3. What is God like?

We cannot see God, but we know that he is holy and loving.

  • 1 John 1:5

  • Deut. 4:10-18

  • 1 Tim 6:13-16

  • Isa. 6:1-7

  • Exodus 34:1-7

  • Psalm 103:8-14

  • 1 John 4:7-16


4. How many gods do we worship?

We worship one God in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

  • Matthew 3:17

  • Mt. 3:13-17; 28:18-20

  • 1 Cor. 8:4-6; 12:3-6

  • 2 Cor. 13:11-14

  • 1 Pet. 1:1-2

  • Rev 1:4-5


5. Do things happen by chance?

No. God planned everything before he made the world.

  • Genesis 50:20

  • Gen. 45. 1-8; 50:5-21

  • Isa. 46:8-13; 48:12-15

  • Eph. 1:3-6

  • 2 Thess. 2:13-15

  • 2 Tim. 1:8-10


6. What was man made like?

God made man like himself, to serve him and be with him for ever.

  • Genesis 1:27

  • Gen. 1:24-27; 28-31; 2:15-20; 21-25; 9:1-7

  • Psalm 8

  • James 3:7-12


7. Did man stay good and happy?

No. Adam sinned and death entered the world.

  • Romans 5:12

  • Gen. 3:1-7; 8-13; 17-24; 5:1-8 ...

  • Psalm 90:1-10

  • Rom. 5. 12-15

  • 1 Cor. 15:20-26


8. Why do we sin?

We sin because we have sinful hearts.

  • Jeremiah 17:9

  • Gen 8:20-22

  • Psalm 51:1-6

  • Jer. 17:5-10

  • Mark 7:14-23

  • Eph 2:1-5

  • Heb. 3:7-12

  • Eze. 36:2-27


9. Why does God still give us good gifts?

God shows kindness to all men, because he wants to bring them back to himself.

  • Romans 2:4

  • Gen. 9:7-17

  • Psalm 36:5-9; 145:1-9; 10-17

  • Matt 5:43-48

  • Acts 14:14-18

  • Rom. 2:1-5


10. Where did salvation come from?

God chose a people for himself and made plan to save them through Jesus Christ.

  • 1 Tim 1:15

  • Gen 3:14-15; 12:1-3

  • Mt 1:18-25

  • John 6:35-40

  • Eph 1:1-6

  • 2 Thess 2: 13-17

  • 2 Tim 1:8-12


11. Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ is the Son of God who became man and so is both God and man.

  • John 1 :14

  • John 1: 1-9; 5:16-23; 10:22-33

  • Mt. 16: 13-17

  • 1 Tim. 2: 1-7

  • Heb. 2:10-18

  • Rev. 1:12-18


12. How did Jesus Christ save his people?

He died to take the punishment for their sins.

  • 1 Peter 2:24

  • Psalm 22:1, 14-18

  • Is. 53:4-9

  • Mt. 20:20-28

  • John 10: 11-18

  • 1 Pet. 3:13-18

  • Heb 9:11-15

  • 1 John 1:7-22


13. What is conversion?

Conversion is turning to God in repentance and faith.

  • Acts 3:19

  • Is. 55:1-7

  • Eze. 33:7-11

  • Mt. 18:1-5

  • Acts 3:17-23; 20:17-21; 26:17-20

  • 1 Thess. 1:4-10


14. What is repentance?

Repentance is a change of mind leading to a changed life.

  • Luke 13:3

  • Joel 2:12-14

  • Jonah 3:1-10

  • Luke 3:7-14; 13:1-9; 15:11-20; 20-24

  • Mt. 21:28-32


15. What is Faith in Christ?

Faith in Christ is trusting him alone to save us.

  • John 3:36

  • Num. 21:4-9

  • John 3:14-18, 35-36

  • Acts 3:1-10, 16; 4:7-12; 13:38-43

  • Rom 1:14-17

  • Ga1. 2:15-20


16. Can we turn to God by our own power?

No. We must be born again by the Holy Spirit.

  • John 3:3

  • Eze. 36:24-27

  • John 3:1-8; 6:37-45

  • Rom. 8:5-11

  • 1 Cor. 2:11-16

  • 2 Thess. 2:13-17

  • Titus 3:3-7


17. What happens in justification?

God forgives our sins and accepts us as righteous in his sight.

  • Romans 5:1

  • Luke 18:9-14

  • Rom. 3:20-26; 4:1-8; 8:28-32; 33-39

  • 2 Cor. 5:16-21

  • Gal. 3:6-14


18. How can God justify sinners?

God can justify sinners, because Christ has obeyed and suffered in their place.

  • Rom 5: 19

  • Rom. 5:16-21; 10: 1-4, 10

  • 1 Cor. 1:30-2:2

  • Eph. 1-3-7; 2:1-9

  • Phil. 3:3-9

  • 1 John 4:7-14


19. How were people saved before Christ came?

They trusted in the Saviour God had promised.

  • John 8:56

  • Gen. 17: 1-6

  • Luke 2:22-32; 33-38

  • Rom. 4:18-25

  • Heb 11:1-7; 8-16; 17-22


20: How do we become children of God?

God adopts us into his family when we believe in Christ.

  • Galatians 3:26

  • John 1:10-13

  • Rom. 8:12-16; 17-21

  • Gal. 3:26-4:7

  • 2 Cor. 6:14-18

  • Eph. 2:17-22

  • 1 John 2:28-3:3


21. How must a Christian live?

A Christian must live a holy life in obedience to God's Word.

  • 1 Peter 1:16

  • Exodus 19: 1-8; 20:1-12; 20:13-17

  • Josh. 1:1-9

  • Psalm 119:1-8

  • John 15:9-17

  • 1 Pet. 1:13-17


22. Is the Christian life easy?

No. It is hard, but, it brings true happiness.

  • Matt. 7:14

  • Matt. 5:10-12; 16:24-28

  • Luke 14:15-23

  • Acts 14:21-25

  • Rom. 8:16-21

  • 2 Cor. 4:13-18

  • Rev 2:8-11


23. Why do real Christians go on believing?

They are kept safe by the power of God.

  • John 10:28

  • Deut 33:26-29

  • Is. 43:1-2

  • John 10:25-30

  • Eph. 1:11-14

  • Phil. 1:3-11

  • 2 Tim. 1:8-12

  • 1 Pet. 1:3-9


24. Do Christians serve God on their own?

No. They worship and witness together as Christ's church.

  • Acts 2:47

  • Mt. 16:13-20; 18:15-20

  • Luke 24:45-53

  • Acts 2:41-47

  • 1 Cor 12:17-20; 14:23-25

  • 1 Pet 4:7-11


25. What is the meaning of baptism?

Baptism is a picture of the washing away of sin.

  • Acts 22:16

  • Mark 1:4-8

  • Matt. 28:16-20

  • Acts 2:37-40; 16:13-15; 22:12-16

  • Rom. 6:1-7

  • 1 Pet. 3:18-22


26. What is the meaning of the Lord's Supper?

The Lord's Supper reminds us of Christ's death in the place of sinners.

  • Luke 22:19

  • Exodus 12:21-28

  • Luke 22:7-18; 22:19-23

  • Acts 20:7-12

  • 1 Cor 11: 17-22; 11:23-26; 11:27-34


27. What happens to the Christian when he dies?

His soul goes to be with Christ which is far better.

  • Phil. 1:23

  • Psalm 17:14-15

  • Luke 16:19-31; 23:32-43

  • John 14:1-6

  • Phil. 1:19-24

  • 2 Cor. 5:1-8

  • 1 Thess. 4:13-15


28. Where is the Lord Jesus now?

He is in heaven until he comes again at the last day.

  • Acts 3:21

  • John 7:33-36; 16:25-30

  • Acts 1:6-11; 5:27-32

  • Phil. 3:17-21

  • 1 Th. 1:7-10

  • Heb. 1:1-3


29. What will happen at the last day?

The dead will be raised and all will be judged by Christ.

  • 2 Cor. 5:10

  • Dan. 12:1-4

  • John 5:19-24; 5:25-30; 6:35-40

  • Matt. 25:31-40

  • Acts 17:29-34

  • 2 Cor. 5:9-11


30: What will happen to men after the judgement?

They will be either with God or in hell for ever.

  • Matt. 25:46

  • Matt. 25:41-46

  • John 3:31-36

  • 1 Thess. 4:16-5:3; 5:4-11

  • 2 Thess. 1:3-10

  • Rev. 20:11-15; 21:22-27


General Questions:

Q. How do we apply each of the above answers to our daily lives?


Q. How do the above answers affect our attitudes to God and to other people?