What is a Catechism?
A catechism is a simple tool to help disciple you and your family between Sundays. It is a set of questions and answers that contain the essentials of the Christian faith. Teaching through questions and answers in this way is a method of training used throughout the history of the Church.
Why do we use this method?
Knowledge of doctrine does not change anyone’s heart—only knowing Jesus can do that. But, by laying a foundation of “kindling” with Biblical truth, the Holy Spirit can light the fire and make a heart come alive. The purpose and prayer for the use of catechism is that it will encourage each person to know what they believe and why they believe it.
What Catechism are we using?
We choose to use New City Catechism for several reasons.
- Accessible Truth: The questions are framed in understandable ways—one for adults and another for kids.
- Robust Teaching: The 52 questions/answers (1 for each week of the year) cover the essentials of the faith.
- Simple: This is “doable discipleship.” It won’t overwhelm.
- Free!: The app can be downloaded at no cost and is available on all platforms.
- Relational: Questions are the way we start conversations.
- Time-sensitive: It considers busy lives and short attention-span issues—it can be done anywhere in 3 minutes.
How do I get started?
- Download the app using this link.
- Click on “get started” and you can begin meditating on Biblical truths. In the upper-right corner, you will find icons for pertinent Scriptures, prayers, and helpful commentary, which will help to deepen your enjoyment of God’s truth.
Catechism as a helpful tool for parents:
Parents are the primary disciple-makers of their children. But sometimes, the busyness and complexities of life can stand in the way of discipleship. This flexible tool will allow you to pick the time and place that work best for you and your family.
- Tell them what a catechism is and why you’re doing it. One time a week, you will ask a question about God, learn the answer together as a family, and discover more about God in the process.
- Read each week's question out loud, and let each person guess the answer in their own words.
- Read the answer, and then repeat it with your family several times, committing it to memory.
- Remember to ask each person in your family, “What does this mean to you?” or “How does this make you feel?” or “What do you think about that?"
- For older children, you will appreciate the prayer and devotionals provided alongside the question.
- Be creative. Post the week’s question and answer in conspicuous spots around the house and read it aloud every time you see it. Use flash cards with questions on one side and answers on the other. Record yourself asking and answering the questions and listen to it during activities like chore time, workouts, etc.
Does the bible support Catechism?
We know the early church relied on catechism as a teaching tool, and the marks of its use are found throughout the New Testament.
- The early church “devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching…” Acts 2:42
- Paul instructed Timothy to “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 1:13
- To the Romans, Paul wrote, “You who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed…” Romans 6:17
- In the letter of Jude, we read, “I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” Jude 1:3
- The Ephesians were implored to attain to the unity of the faith and mature to the stature of Christ so they may “no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine…” Ephesians 4:13-14
We pray that using this catechism will help you to love and follow Jesus with all of your heart. May God bless our church with a passionate love for the gospel that will outlive our generation.