Catechisms

Teaching Kids Theology Part 7

TLDR: A catechism is one of the greatest tools available in a family discipleship tool belt. This time-tested method of teaching theology involves a question and answer approach that not only communicates God’s truth, but also creates an environment for exploring the faith together as a family.

When many people think of a catechism, they think of guys like in this post’s feature image, which, by the way, is AI’s attempt at portraying Martin Luther. Catechisms are seen as relics of a past era, or they are perhaps associated with with certain faith traditions. But that’s about all many people know about them.

While it’s true that the heyday of catechisms was during the Protestant Reformation and the century that followed it, the history of catechisms actually stretches way back into biblical days. And while catechisms are indeed more popular with some faith traditions, their use spans nearly each one. The reason is simple: Catechisms are a tremendous discipleship tool for kids and adults.

What is a Catechism?

A catechism is a series of questions and answers concerning the basics of the faith that are meant to be recited and memorized. It comes from the Greek word katēcheō, which means to “teach by word of mouth” or “instruct.” This word is used seven times in the New Testament, most notably to speak of Apollos’s instruction (Acts 18:25), Paul’s desire to instruct others (1 Corinthians 14:19), and Paul’s command that those who receive instruction in the Word must share good things with those who teach it (Galatians 6:6).

Catechism Terms

The word catechism is a noun, describing the content of this question and answer instruction. Here are four other terms to be aware of:

Catechesis | The method of instructionCatechumen | The recipient of instructionCatechist | The giver of instructionCatechize | The process of instructionPopular Historical Catechisms

Again, catechisms can be dated back to biblical days, but they became quite popular during the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation and into the seventeenth century. Here are a few of the more well-known catechisms:

The Small Catechism (1529) | Martin Luther (the real one, not the AI Martin Luther on this post) created this catechism intending it to be used by families.The Geneva Catechism (1542) | John Calvin created this catechism also to be used by families.The Heidelberg Catechism (1563) The Westminster Shorter Catechism (1646) | This is perhaps the most famous of catechism, being a hallmark for many Presbyterians.The Baptist Catechism (1677)Example Questions and Answers

So, that’s a lot about catechisms, but you still might be wondering what one is like. Here are a few sample questions and answers to give you a feel for what the are and how they work:

WHO IS GOD? | God is our creator and he is the ruler of everything. WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT GOD IS OMNISCIENT? | That God is omniscient means he knows everything that was, that is, that will be, and that could be. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A NEW IDENTITY IN CHRIST? | To have a new identity in Christ means the core of who we are has changed; we have been recreated to live the way God made us.

Often, the catechist reads the question, and then the catechumen responds by reading the answer or reciting it from memory. In this way, theological truths are embedded into the minds of everyone, and prayerfully, that truth works its way down into their hearts and onto their hands in daily life as well.

Catechisms and Family Discipleship

Like many people, I didn’t know much about catechisms until I was in seminary. I loved what I heard about them and immediately decided it was a tool I wanted to use with my young son. After looking at various catechisms, I couldn’t find one that I loved. There’s certainly an appeal to using a historic, tested catechism, but I wanted something more approachable and practical to use in my home.

So, I wrote one and used it for a while. That catechism was later expanded and published by B&H as Cornerstones. This resource became key for my family’s discipleship. During dinner, we’d randomly choose catechism questions to ask our three children. Not only did this help our kids learn the basics of the faith, but it provided a safe, fun, meaningful context for fantastic conversations as my kids would often want to go beyond the questions and answers. They wanted to know the why behind many of the truths, or they wanted to understand how they were strung together. I can say without a doubt that using a catechism fueled family discipleship in our home more than anything else.

That’s why I am grateful that IVP has published Faith Foundations, based on this catechism. I’ve seen this work firsthand, and believe it can work in other homes too.

If you are looking for a resource to help you grow as a theologian and to help you teach your children theology, Faith Foundations is for you. These ninety-nine devotions use an ancient tool called a catechism to teach the core doctrines of the faith. Each devotion features a Bible reading, a devotion, several engaging questions, a Jesus connection, and a suggested family activity. Faith Foundations releases October 21, 2025 but you can preorder a copy today.