This is an article I (Pastor Kevin) wrote in 2005 and updated in 2017. It is featured in a new resource available through Children’s Desiring God called Discipleship through Doctrinal Teaching and Catechism by Sally Michael.
It is our desire to encourage parents to use a children’s catechism as a tool in building and strengthening faith in children. A simple definition of a catechism is “organized teaching.” Catechisms are not the only things that can or should be used to instruct the next generation, yet they have useful purposes. Listed here are ten specific benefits a catechism can uniquely offer. Hopefully these ten points will help parents understand how a catechism can be effectively used in their families.
1. A catechism is a very clear and complete gospel message.
A catechism is, among other things, a very clear and concise gospel message to children. Everything a child needs to know for salvation is embodied within a catechism. The gospel is truly amazing. It is wonderfully basic and infinitely glorious at the same time. A children’s catechism makes it possible to simply communicate a robust theology.
2. The question answer format of a catechism is engaging for little children.
Children love to ask questions. They have a God-given curiosity and therefore the question answer format of a children’s catechism can be very engaging. Usually, both questions and answers are very brief and concise, keeping facts truthful and clear for children to understand.
3. A Catechism is a wonderful resource for parents.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9 instructs parents to teach God’s Word to their own children when “you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise.” A children’s catechism has done a lot of heavy lifting for parents by determining what needs to be taught. The memorization of the questions and answers provides content to revisit and apply as life unfolds throughout your day together.
4. Catechisms can guide children into a God-centered curiosity.
Even though children have a God-given curiosity it is important to remember that folly is bound up in their hearts (Proverbs 22:15). Parents have a responsibility to harness and direct their children’s curiosity towards important and deeper matters of spiritual growth. Not only the answers but the questions may very well help a child to channel their curiosity about God into a God-centered curiosity.
5. A catechism can serve as a basic outline of biblical truth.
The Bible is undoubtedly an overwhelming book for adults, how much more for a child! Understanding the contents of the Bible makes it easier to embrace the Bible. Because catechisms are organized by different doctrines of Scripture they can serve as an overview of key teachings woven through the Scripture. As children grow older and become better readers they may likely take up Bible reading on their own if they have a grasp of foundational Bible doctrines. Each answer has a Scripture reference that can help children use their Bibles and gain an appreciation for the authority and application of Scripture.
6. A catechism forms a good foundation for solid faith later in life.
Younger children tend to operate in black or white, right or wrong, and yes or no. As they grow older they will naturally begin to develop the ability to think abstractly. Solid faith is typically connected to solid theology. As children grow in their ability to think abstractly the more clearly they know theological truth the better they will be safeguarded from faulty convictions or faulty faith.
7. Catechisms help children think critically.
The teachings of doctrine that children memorize in a catechism will give them a standard of truth which they will be able to measure other teachings against. Children will begin to question the validity of other teachings when truth is built into them. This is how a child begins to think critically. The nature of a catechism itself suggests to little ones that there is a distinction between right and wrong information.
8. A catechism can teach children to pray biblically grounded prayers.
Prayer is something that needs to be learned. Children do not naturally know how to pray or what to pray for. Catechisms are very particular in what they address. Most catechisms point out the Lord’s prayer and highlight petitions Jesus teaches us to pray for. Memorizing these points will certainly help shape a child’s understanding of biblical priorities in prayer.
9. A catechism demands active learning instead of passive learning.
As children memorize and recite the answers they are gaining the ability to articulate truth, which is a higher form of internalization and learning. Most children are not required to write papers articulating theology, which means that most children learn theology by passively listening to a teacher or parent explain it to them (if they are being taught theology at all). As they recite the answers they are forced to speak, making them active participants in learning theology.
10. Catechisms can encourage the beginning stages of biblical interpretation.
Essentially, the answers in a catechism are good interpretations from Scripture that are formatted into Bible doctrine. Biblical interpretation is the process of discovering the intended meaning of a text and making application to present day life. Children who use catechisms will begin to see the idea that a Biblical text has original meaning and a purpose in shaping their own lives.
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