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The ‘All Together Catechism’
The ‘All Together Catechism’ is 52 questions and answers. Like many before, it takes cues from the Apostles’ Creed and the Westminster and Heidelberg Catechisms. However, it is structured around the church calendar, so the truth learned fits with what else is going on at the time of year.
The catechism could be started at any time in the year, with the ten different parts all providing good places from which to begin. This is especially true of the beginning of September, which is when part one, ‘Sovereign Creator’ begins. This is the most natural place to make a start.
Each question’s page has several features:
- The part name. Each question falls within one of ten parts of the catechism, with its own name and coloured design.
- The date. Each question lands on a Sunday in the year. This tells you which question is for this week.
- The answer. Each answer is at most 16 words long. Questions and answers flow logically from one to the next.
- A Bible reference. These verses help demonstrate or explain the answer and can also be learned for further value.
- A Bible story. The story brings the answer to life, especially for younger children.
Catechising your church
Perhaps a short slot for a Sunday service, or other gathering, might look a bit like this:
- Recap on last week’s question and answer, perhaps inviting a child, or an individual, or the whole congregation, to show their learning and recite it together.
- Read this week’s new question and answer.
- Explain this week’s new question and answer using the Bible passage or Bible story that accompanies it.
- Repeat this week’s new question and answer, inviting the church to repeat it back.
- Send off the church to learn this week’s question and answer during the rest of the week.
The dates allow you, as a church leader, to plan ahead and know which question and answer will be for each Sunday. They also mean that church members and families at home can easily find which question the church is on each week, so that the whole church can learn all together.
The ‘All Together Catechism’ needn’t just be for Sunday mornings however. It could be used in home groups, or discipleship group. It could also be learned in ten meetings with some new believers, to teach them the fundamentals of their new faith, by simply ignoring the dates and beginning at question one.
Catechising your family
Find this week’s question and answer, to keep up with the church. Every answer in the ‘All Together Catechism’ is at most 16 words long. This is to bring consistency to each week’s learning and to make it possible to learn for even young children. Each answer is also written in such a way that it can be divided into three parts.
Memorization needn’t be over-complicated: repetition is key! Ask the question, and give the answer in three parts, giving space for the family to repeat after you. You might want to pause and make sure that everyone understands, or read the accompanying Bible passage. For younger children, the stories are ideal for bringing the truth to life. You could even try acting out the story yourselves, or with toys, or draw a picture of what happens.
Repeat the question and answer a few times, and then frequently through the week, perhaps at bedtime, over breakfast, in the bath, or on the walk to school. As each question is learned, you can revisit old ones, especially in the same part of the catechism, so that the logic of the questions ties together.
Catechising yourself
We are never beyond training in sound doctrine. You can use the above techniques to learn the catechism for yourself. This might be as an end goal in itself, or as a starter before moving on to a longer, more detailed catechism.