Who Should Teach Catechism?

We will help ourselves answer the question of who should teach catechism if we first answer these questions: What is the nature of the subject matter we are teaching? Who are we teaching? Then we can ask who has the responsibility and authority to teach. In answer to the first question I will argue that since what we teach in catechism is the Scriptures and the Confessions, it should properly therefore, be con­sidered the official teaching ministry of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Teaching Catechism - Review and Repetition

A common saying among the ancient Jews was, "He who teaches without having the lesson repeated back to him aloud, is like one who sows without reaping.". Our covenant Jehovah laid down the teaching principles of repetition and review in the Psalms, and especially in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes which are clearly books of instruction. This article discusses some of the teaching devices God incorporated into these (and other books as well) to aid His children in learning them. Technically we call these writing devices mnemonic and didactic, meaning for memorizing and for teaching.

Teaching Catechism - Catching a Catechist

There are two areas of catechism: catechising the children in the Bible and then catechising the young people in the Confessions. Well, who are more important, little children or young people? What is more important, the Bible or the Confessions? Why do I ask those questions? Because I have seen churches answer those questions by teach­ing young children Bible stories in Sunday School, but making sure the pastor taught doctrine to the teens.

How Shall We Teach Catechism?

Scripture tells us that Christ and the apostles went about preaching and teaching. These activities are similar but yet are not the same. Teaching is not merely telling the truth, but causing another to know the truth. Augustine testified that the wise catechism teacher labored to make sure that his student knew and understood the truth, not merely heard it. Some ministers tend to preach instead of teaching the lesson in class.

Catechesis and Church

Should catechism instruction (catechesis) be something left merely to the minister? This article shows how the church in the time of the Reformation well understood that the education of the youth of the church was an event in which the church as a whole was involved. The author provides a sample catechism service, and then also suggestions as to how to make catechism teaching prominent in the members' minds.

The Reformed Method of Catechizing

Is there a method to teaching the Heidelberg Catechism? Who is responsible to teach it? This article looks at possible answers to such questions. As they say at times, the best way to look into the present and future is by looking at the past. This article reminds one of the basic methods to teach the Catechism, as practiced by our forefathers: one rooted in family, church and school.