Catechism
This is a work in progress and is not yet complete.
Introduction
God requires of us two things: Firstly, to put his words within our own souls; secondly, to teach them to our children—as it is written:
Ye shall put these, my words, upon your heart, and upon your soul, and ye shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes; and ye shall teach them to your sons, by speaking of them in thy sitting in thy house, and in thy going in the way, and in thy lying down, and in thy rising up. Deuteronomy 11:18–19
Kevin Swanson and R.A. Sheats observe, in Teach Me the Faith (upon which our catechism is based), that this “…is God’s preassigned means to the conversion of children, the perpetuation of the faith, and the ongoing development of the Christian church generation by generation.”
But successfully following these commands doesn’t just happen. You need some kind of system. To start with, you need to know which words to focus on first. We created our catechism for this purpose—as a primer on the scriptures which teach the foundational doctrines of our faith: about God, scripture, creation, man, sin, redemption, good works, the church, and eternal life.
While there are many great catechisms out there, their objective is purely to teach systematic theology. This is a worthy goal, and many such catechisms have proved themselves across history—but they relegate scripture itself to footnotes. We believe there is a unique power in catechizing children using the words of God himself, and that is the approach we have taken here.
Dedicate a youngster in the mouth of his way; even when he is old, he turneth not from it. Proverbs 22:6
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1. Who made all things?
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the land.
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.
John 1:3
All things, through him, came into being; and without him came into being not even one thing that hath come into being.
John 1:3
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
John 1:3
2. How did God make all things?
By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear.
Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand the ages to have been finished by the word of God, so that what is seen was not brought into being from things showing forth.
Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:3
3. In how many days did God make all things?
In six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exodus 20:11
In that six days hath Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested in the seventh day; wherefore hath Yahweh blessed the Sabbath-day, and hallowed it.
Exodus 20:11
In six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.
Exodus 20:11
4. Why did God make all things?
For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen.
Romans 11:36
For him, and through him, and unto him are all things; to him is the glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36
5. Why did God make man?
God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 1:26–27
God said: Let us make man in our image, as unto our likeness: and let them rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawleth upon the earth. And God created the man in his image; in the image of God he created him, a male and a female he created them.
Genesis 1:26–27
God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, so that they will have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:26–27
6. Where do we learn how to image and glorify God?
Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16–17
Every scripture is breathed out by God, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for setting aright, for instruction which is in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete—for every good work having been finished.
2 Timothy 3:16–17
All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16–17
7. Who was the first man, and what did he call our first mother?
Adam, the son of God … and the man called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
Luke 3:38; Genesis 3:20
Adam, the son of God … and the man called his woman’s name Eve; for she hath been mother of all living.
Luke 3:38; Genesis 3:20
Adam, the son of God … now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.
Luke 3:38; Genesis 3:20
8. What two things does God require of man?
Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Mark 12:29–31.
Jesus answered: The first is: Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God out of thy whole heart, and out of thy whole soul, and out of thy whole mind, and out of thy whole strength. The second, this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Greater than these, there is no other command.
Mark 12:29–31.
Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:29–31.
9. How do we love God?
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we guard his commands, and his commands are not hefty.
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
1 John 5:3