Catechism…Not just for children, but for everyone.
Throughout church history, biblically rich statements of faith were written to be memorized and used for Christian growth and training. They were written in the form of questions and answers and were called catechisms. In short, a catechism is a summary of the principles of Christianity, in the form of questions and answers, used for the instruction of Christians.
I am excited to share with you that in the spring semester, as part of the Wednesday night Bible Skills, Drills, and Thrills, our children will be learning songs based on the shorter version of the New City Catechism developed by Pastor Timothy Keller. “The New City Catechism is a modern-day resource aimed at helping children and adults alike learn the core doctrines of the Christian faith via 52 questions and answers.”
“As with most traditional catechisms, a Bible verse accompanies each question and answer. In addition, each question and answer is followed by a short commentary taken from the writings or sayings of a past preacher, as well as a commentary from a contemporary preacher, to help students meditate on and think about the topic being explored. Each question ends with a short, original prayer.”
I highly recommend that the Eastmont family download the free app – simply search for “New City Catechism” – which contains all 52 questions and answers (in either long or short form), suggested Scripture readings, short prayers, and devotional commentary, as well as the kid-friendly songs our children will learn. Additionally, the same resources may also be found by visiting newcitycatechism.com and selecting the “WebApp” link. Note: to access the songs, one must have “Children’s Mode” selected.
It should be noted that a catechism, any catechism, is not intended to replace the spiritual discipline of Bible intake, but to enhance our understanding of Scripture. This is a valuable tool to be used alongside our reading of, meditating on, and hearing the word of God.