If you want to teach your kids the ecumenical (universally agreed upon) Creeds of the Church, that's a great idea. Teaching the creeds is a great way to train your children toward a theologically robust Christianity. If you're committed to discipling your children, this is a fantastic method to provide some content and structure of your discipleship plan for your family.
How can I disciple my children?
Discipleship is more about following and imitating Jesus than about information, but the word disciple does mean "learner," and there's no way to avoid teaching our children the foundational doctrines of the faith! Knowing right belief (orthodoxy) is part of what it means to be a Christian.
Helping Your Kids memorize the Nicene Creed
You might want to use this Nicene Creed Video to help your kids memorize the creed. You can play it in the car, during family discipleship time, during chore or morning routines. Personally, it plays at least once a week on my family's morning routine playlist.
The Nicene Creed Lyrics
We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.
What is the Nicene Creed?
The Apostles Creed is one of the most ancient "confessions of faith" in existence. It is a summary of the classic doctrines of the Christian faith. It was approved by the Church Council of Nicea, but has its roots in the Apostles Creed and other summaries of Christian doctrine that extend back as far as Irenaeus' summary of the Gospel, and even earlier, to the Apostles themselves.
The Nicene Creed builds upon the Apostles' Creed and dives a little deeper into defining the doctrine of Christology, what Christians believe about Jesus Christ. His divinity, his nature, his authority, his being of "the same essence" as the Father, and more is covered in this universal Creed of Christianity.
Belief in the doctrines of the Nicene Creed is on of the things that separates orthodox Christians from cults of Christianity like Mormonism or Jehovah's Witnesses.
Some people search for "Nicene Creed Methodist" or Nicene Creed Catholic, not realizing that this ancient creed is one of the things that unites Christians, instead of dividing them. There isn't a special version of the Apostles creed for each denomination, it's one of the things that all orthodox Christians can agree on.
*some versions of the Apostles Creed have the word "catholic" in this place. The word catholic means "universal," but many automatically think of Roman Catholic. So I've used the word Christian in this version. If you want a version that says Catholic, subscribe and reply to one of my emails to let me know. I've got one for you. :)
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