The Christian Reformed Church Order states (Art. 54b) "At one of the services each Lord's day, the minister shall ordinarily preach the Word as summarized in the Heidelberg Catechism, following its sequence." This article both reflects and main­tains a practice in Reformed churches which dates back to Reformation times. Often such preaching has been done by simply explaining and applying the catechism questions and answers sometimes with little or only passing reference to the Bible passages which are suggested as basis for the doc­trines. Some would even argue that this is the "proper" method of preaching the catechism. Today there are many indications that the historic practice is being neglected in spite of the Church Order re­quirement, and the doctrines expressed in the catechism and even the idea of a "system" of doc­trine are being criticized and belittled.

In this situation the rightness and necessity of preaching the gospel's doctrines must be maintained and defended. God's Word, the Bible, is not merely a loose collection of books and particular revelations. It conveys what the Apostle called "the whole coun­sel of God" (Acts 20:27) including everything profit­able for Christian faith and life (vs. 20) or as Peter expressed it "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). This revelation is character­ized by structure and order so that Paul must in­struct Timothy to "Hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee guard through the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us" (2 Timothy 1:13 and 14), and this trust he in turn must "commit ... to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2:2). It is this trust of "sound" or, literally, "healthful" doctrine which the Christian Church through the centuries under the promised and given guidance of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 17; 15:26, 27; 16:13, 14) sought to preserve, teach and defend in its creeds. Those creeds are not, like the Bible, inspired, and they are subject to critical study, correction and improve­ment, but as we seek to be faithful to the Word of God we must hold to and learn from these official creeds, not ignore or disparage them. Although we, under the guidance of Word and Spirit may see something somewhat more clearly than our fathers did, we must hold, confess and defend the same un­changing truth of God stated in the creeds.

Seeing the relationship of Bible and creed in this way makes it appropriate that we in our method of "catechism preaching" try to make clear that these are the Bible's doctrines. That may be done in vari­ous ways. Forty years ago as a young minister re­cently graduated from the seminary I faced the problem of beginning this "catechism preaching." The situation was peculiar, a little struggling "or­phan" congregation, 700 miles from the nearest other representative of the denomination, vacant for two years and rather critical of such Christian Reformed ideas as the Heidelberg Catechism. Hav­ing plenty of questions of my own, I set out to study each doctrine seeking to determine what Biblical ground could be found for it. (I worked through and outlined most of Kuyper's four volumes of E Voto, his collection of writings on the Catechism). Then in preaching I sought Bible passages which most di­rectly and clearly presented and applied each point of doctrine, bringing in the church creed as simply confessing that. Not only did this approach meet the criticism "You are not preaching the Bible." It also had the positive advantages of showing that what was being presented was not merely a church tradi­tion, but God's Word and showing from Scripture the practical implications and application of the Bi­ble's doctrine. The exercise taught me (and I hope the people of the congregation), to appreciate those doctrines of the Bible. That approach to the doc­trines I have continued to take in the succeeding 4 decades. Does it have disadvantages? Perhaps it does. Stressing the Bible text or texts may tend to slight the system and unity of the system of doc­trine. That "system" may, however, be pointed out in the development of sermons and even more in the teaching of the catechism classes. Especially in our day of criticisms of old traditions we need, like the Reformers, to go back to and ground our and the churches' faith in the Bible, God's Word. Textual preaching of doctrines is one of the most forthright and effective ways of doing that.

Scripture Texts used in Catechism Preaching (1939-1980)⤒🔗

Introduction←↰⤒🔗

2 Timothy 1:13, 14; Titus 1:9; 2 John 8-11; 2 Peter 1:12-16, 19-21; 2 Chronicles 17:7-9.

Lord's Day←↰⤒🔗

I:             QA 1: Philippians 1:21; Romans 14:8, 9; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; Psalms 16:5, 6; Psalms  2:8; Acts 27:23, 24; 2 Corinthians 1:5; Hosea 2:23.

I:             QA 2: 1 John 1:1-2:6; Psalms 106:4-6, 47; Ephesians 5:8.

II:            Galatians 3:24; Romans 3:20; 7:7; 2 Kings 22:8-14 (cf. 2 Chronicles 34).

II:            QA 4: Matthew 22:37-40. II:        QA 5; III, QA 7, 8; Ephesians 2:3, 4; Romans 7:21-25; Psalms 51:5.

III:           Romans 5:19. III, QA 6; Genesis 1:27, 31. III; Ecclesiastes 7:29.

IV:           Romans 1:18; Luke 13:6-9; Romans 2:2; Psalms  5:4, 5, 6; Galatians 3:10; 6:7, 8; Nahum 1:2, 3; Lamentations1:18.

V:            Psalm 49:7-9, 15; Hebrews 10:5-7, 9, 10; Hosea 13:4; Jeremiah 23:6; Genesis  22:7, 8; Job 33:24.

VI:          1 Timothy 2:5,6; Matthew 16:13-18; 22:41-45; Romans 1:1-5; 8:2-5; Philippians 2:5-7; Hebrews 1:1-8; 2:14-18; 4:14-16; Mark 12:35-37.

VII:         2 Timothy 3:14-17; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-10; Acts 16:30, 31; Luke 19:41-44; Hebrews 11:7; Hebrews 3:19-4:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

VII:         Matthew 28:19-20; John 17:3; Ephesians 2:18; Jude 20, 21; Titus 3:4-7; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Corinthians 6:11, Luke 4:18, 19; 1 Peter 1:2.

IX:           John 14:6; Ecclesiastes 12:1; Matthew 11:25-27; Psalms 24:1, 2; Revelation 4:11; Acts 17:24-31; Galatians 3:26; 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:3, 5; 2:18; Luke 10:21, 22; Genesis 1:1; Revelation 4:11; John 1:12; 20:17; Matthew 6:26.

X:            Matthew 6:28-32; Job 1:21; Genesis  45:4, 5, 7, 8; Psalms  103:13; Genesis  50:20; Psalms 121:36; Deuteronomy  8:3; Jonah 4:6-11; Isaiah 10:5-27; 11:1-10.

XI:           Matthew 1:21; Acts 4:12; 8:35; 10:43; Galatians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 3:11.

XII:         John 1:41; Acts 10:36-44; Psalms 110:1-4; Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:18, 19; Acts 4:26-28; Acts 17:3; Revelation 17:14; Acts 3:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 1:30.

XII:         QA 32: Acts 11:26, 26:28, 29; 1 Peter 4:12-16; 1 John 2:20.

XIII:        1 John 2:23, 4:9, 15; Psalms 2:7, 8; Hebrews 4:14; Romans 1:4-6; Matthew 22:41-45; 1 John 5:20, 21; Galatians 4:4, 5; Acts 2:36; Romans 14:8, 9; Philippians 2:11; Acts 22:8, 10; Luke 6:46.

XIV:        Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:20-24; Galatians 4:4, 5; Philippians 2:5-7.

XV:         1 Peter 3:18; Isaiah 53:4-6; Galatians 3:13, 14; 1 Peter 2:24; Luke 2:35.

XVI:        1 Corinthians15:3, 4; 1 Thessalonians 5:9,10; Matthew 12:38-41; Hebrews 9:27,28; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 2:14, 15; Matthew 20:28; Psalms 49:15;

XVI:        QA 44: Matthew 25:41; Galatians 3:13, 14; Psalms 16:10.

XVII:      Ephesians 2:4-7; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 15:17, 20; Philippians 3:10, 11; Ephesians 1:18-20; John 20:19, 20; John 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:58.

XVIII:     Hebrews 9:24; Psalms 68:18, 19; Ephesians 4:8; Daniel 7:13, 14; Mark 16:19, 20; John 14:1-3; Hebrews 6:19-20; Revelation 12:5; Luke 24:51; Matthew 28:19; John 16:5-7.

XIX:        Matthew 26:64; Ephesians 1:20-23; Romans  8:34, 35; Acts 2:33, 35;

XIX:        QA 52: Matthew 16:27; Revelation 20:11-21:8, 22:12-15; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; Titus 2:13; Matthew 25:31-34; 2 Peter 3:8-13.

XX:         John 14:16-18, 15:26, 16:13-15; Luke 24:48, 49; 1 Corinthians 2:9-13; 3:16; Romans  8:9;

XXI:        QA 54, 55: Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:4, 11-13; 1 Peter 1:2, 5; John 10:16; Ephesians 5:18, 27-29; Hebrews 12:22-25; Revelation 21:9-27; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 17:20-23; Matthew 12:30; Mark 9:40; Romans 1:6, 7; Philemon 4-7; Acts 2:44, 45.

XXI:        QA 56: Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 4:10, 11; Hebrews 10:17; Colossians 1:14;

XXII:       Philippians1:21, 3:20, 21; John 11:25, 26; Romans 8:23; Ephesians 2:4-7; 1 Timothy 6:12, 19; Revelation 22:1-5; John 6:54;

XXIII:     Romans 5:1, 2, 3:21-26; Acts 13:38, 39; Galatians 2:16; 5:4; 3:10-14;

XXIV:     Titus 3:5, 7, 2:14; Luke 19:17; 24-26; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.

XXV:      Romans 10:13-15; James 1:8, 21, 22; John 6:44, 45; Acts 16:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 1:21; 12:3; 1 Peter 1:23; 2:1, 2; 1 Corinthians1:17, 2:2; Acts 14:27; Romans 10:17; Acts 2:37-42; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Acts 16:14, 15; John 3:5.

XXVI, XXVII: Matthew 28:19; John 13:8; Acts 22:16; Titus 3:4-7.

XXVII:    QA 74: Genesis 17:7, 10; Acts 2:38, 39; Galatians 3:29; Colossians 2:11, 12; Mark 10:13, 14; Isaiah 44:1-3; Romans 3:1, 2.

XXVIII-XXX: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, 17-34;  1 Corinthians 10:14-21; Matthew 26:26-29; John 6:35;  2 Kings 18:4, 5; Hebrews 10:10, 14.

XXXI:     Matthew 16:19; 1 Corinthians 5:4-7; 2 Thessalonians 3:14, 15; 1 Timothy 3:4, 5, 12; Titus 1:13; Acts 26:16-18.

XXXII:    Romans 12:1, 2; John 3:3, 5; John 15:1-11; Matthew 5:13-16; Luke 1:74-75; Titus 2:14, 1, 5, 3:8; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 2:24, 25.

XXXIII:   Colossians 3:5-17; Acts 22:10; Romans 6:1-11; John 3:3; Luke 15:11-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Isaiah 55:7; Luke 19:10.

XXXIII:   QA 91-XXXIV, QA 93: Matthew 5:17-20; Psalms 1:2; Romans 8:3, 4; Hebrews 10:16; Psalms 119:18.

XXXIV:   Exodus 20:3; Matthew 22:37, 38; 1 Samuel 15:22, 23; 1 John 5:20, 21.

XXXV:    Exodus 20:4-6.

XXXVI, XXXVII: Exodus 20:7; Matthew 5:33-37.

XXXVIII: Exodus 20:8-11; Mark 2:28; Colossians 2:16, 17; Hebrews 4:9; Isaiah 58:13, 14.

XXXIX:   Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-4; Ecclesiastes 8:11; Proverbs 6:23.

XL:          Exodus 20:13; Genesis 9:6; Psalms 51:5-15; 1 John 3:11-16.

XLI:        Exodus 20:14; Ephesians 5:1-10; Matthew 19:4-6; Genesis 1:27, 28, 2:18-25; Genesis 39:9; Matthew 5:27, 28.

XLII:       Exodus 20:15; Ephesians 4:17-24, 28.

XLIII:      Exodus 20:16: Ephesians 4:15, 25; Colossians 3:9, 10.

XLIV:      Exodus 20:17; Romans 7:7; Ephesians 5:5.

XLIV:      QA 114, 115: John 3:3; Matthew 5:48; Hebrews 12:14; 13:20, 21; Psalms  25:8-14, 119:33-38; 1 John 1:8, 3:9.

XLIV:      QA 116: Psalms 50:14, 15, 116:12, 13; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

XLV:       QA 117-119: John 14:13, 14, 15:7, 16; 1 Kings 18:36, 37; Daniel 9:18, 19; 1 John 5:14; John 4:22-24; Luke 18:11-14; James 1:5-7; Matthew 6:5-15; John 16:23, 24.

XLVI:      Matthew 6:9.

XLVII:    Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:2;

XLVIII:   Matthew 6:10, 16:18, 19; Mark 10:13-16; Ephesians 5:25-27; Luke 11:2;

XLIX:      Matthew 6:10;

L:             Matthew 6:11;

LI:           Matthew 6:12, 14, 15;

LII:          Matthew 6:13; 2 Corinthians 1:20.

Canons of Dordt←↰⤒🔗

I:             Ephesians 1:3-6; 11-13; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15; Romans 8:28-34.

II:            John 10:11, 14, 15, 26-30;

III and IV: Ephesians 2:4-5; Matthew 19:24-26; Ezekiel 36:1-14.

V:              2 Timothy 2:19; John 10:27-30; 1 Peter 1:5; John 6:36-40; 2 Peter 1:10, 11.