The Essentials

About the Book

The hope of this book is to make learning about the essential tenets of the Christian faith enjoyable. We want you to be excited about encountering God. Confirmation class is a time to explore what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, Confirmation will help you understand how the relationship you have with Christ leads to the responsibility you will have as a church member.

When a person has completed the reading of this book, we hope that they will think very seriously about the following questions.

The Five Essential Questions of Christian Faith

1) "Do you acknowledge yourself to be a sinner in the sight of God, justly deserving God's displeasure, and without hope except in God's sovereign mercy?"

2) "Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and depend upon Christ alone for your salvation as He is offered freely in the Gospel?"

3) "Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes a follower of Christ?"

4) "Do you promise to serve Christ in His Church by supporting and participating in its service to God and its ministry to others to the best of your ability?"

5) "Do you submit yourself to the government and discipline of the Church and promise to further its purity and peace?"

About the Author

Chris Robinson has been working in youth ministry as an ordained pastor for 17 years. He has a Masters Degree from Union Seminary in Richmond, VA and he will complete his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of South Carolina in May 2007. He loves working with families and youth. He also has a love for the the Essential Tenets of the Reformed Christian faith. Currenlty, he lives on Siganl Mountain, TN where he serves as youth and family minister at Siganl Mountain Presbyterian Church. He is married and have two daughters.

The Rev. Dr. David D. Swanson is the Senior Pastor and Head of Staff of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. His preparation for ministry began through the nurture and ministry of his home church in Dallas, Texas: Highland Park Presbyterian. He received his undergraduate degree in business from Southern Methodist University, and prior to attending Austin seminary, worked for several years in public relations for a computer software firm in the Dallas area. He received his Doctor of Ministry from Gordon Conwell.

David is married and has three children.