Over the summer we studied Proverbs in our morning devotional time. During the school year, I like to do the catechism. If you are unfamiliar with the use of catechisms in teaching children God’s word, it’s basically a tool that helps children learn biblical truth through a question and answer format. Children have an amazing ability to memorize things and that makes catechism work an excellent tool in teaching them about Jesus. Verbal children as young as 2 can begin memorizing the catechism.

With the new school year starting, everyone’s getting back into normal routine. No more sleeping in late or staying in pj’s until mid morning. For my kids, it means getting back into our homeschool routine.

Over the summer we studied Proverbs in our morning devotional time. During the school year, I like to do the catechism. If you are unfamiliar with the use of catechisms in teaching children God’s word, it’s basically a tool that helps children learn biblical truth through a question and answer format. Children have an amazing ability to memorize things and that makes catechism work an excellent tool in teaching them about Jesus. Verbal children as young as 2 can begin memorizing the catechism.

In our house, we use The Westminster Shorter Catechism. The Westminster Confession of Faith was written in the mid 1600′s when a group of “learned, godly and judicious Divines” met over a period of five years at the request of English Parliament to provide advice on doctrine, worship, discipline, etc. for the Church of England. As a result of these meetings, the Westminster Confession of Faith and what’s called the Larger Catechism and Shorter Catechism were written. Since that time, churches around the world have adopted the Westminster Confession as a summary of their standard of doctrine, after and subordinate to the bible. The catechism provides an excellent summary of the teachings in scripture in a question and answer format.  Examples of such doctrines covered include: the Trinity, original sin, justification, the covenants, ten commandments, and much more.

Here are a couple examples of questions asked:

Q2.: What authority from God directs us how to glorify and enjoy him?

A: The only authority for glorifying and enjoying Him is the Bible, which is the word of God and is made up of the Old and New Testaments.

Q 86: What is faith in Jesus Christ? A: Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.

There are other catechisms, such as the Heidelberg and the Augsburg Confession. Some churches also write their own. Check with your local church to see what catechism they recommend.

Resources for using the catechism:

1. For young children, there is a simpler version of the Westminster designed for little ones. Sample questions include:

Q: Who made you? A: God

Q: What is God? A: God is a spirit and does not have a body like man.

You can get a child’s version here.

2. There are a few devotional resources we like to use in conjunction with the catechism. The first is Training Hearts, Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the Shorter Catechism   written by Starr Meade. This book has you focus on one question per week and includes a devotional for each day of the week where it unpacks the question. There are passages in Scripture to read each day that help children understand the doctrine being studied. Another resource is Big Truths for Little Kids: Teaching Your Children to Live for God which contains stories about the daily life of a brother and sister, Caleb and Cassie. As the characters in the story learn to apply God’s word to their hearts, your children do as well. Each chapter contains a story, passages to read, and catechism questions to learn.

3. The Heidelberg catechism is another one I love. I still remember a few of the questions we used to recite in church growing up. My favorite is this one:

Q. What is your only comfort in life and death?

A. That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.

Starr Meade has written a devotional for this one as well called, Comforting Hearts, Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the Heidelberg Catechism.

4. Tim Keller’s church has developed a catechism using a combination of the Heidelberg and the Westminster, called New City Catechism. You can find it as an app on many devices. You can find out more about it here.

5. When I learned the catechism growing up, we always learned a proof text alongside it. When you have found a catechism that you want to use, include a Bible verse for your children to memorize as well.

6. One of my friends has an Etsy shop where she makes fun and adorable covers for catechism books for kids (including the Heidelberg and Westminster). You can find her shop here.

Do you have your children learn a catechism? Do you have any additional resources to recommend?

Christina Fox, a graduate of Covenant College, is a member of Treasure Coast Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Stuart, Fla. This article appeared on her blog and is used with permission.