Why You Might Want to Use a Catechism in Your Homeschool (+ One We Love!)
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When it comes to incorporating new resources into our homeschool, it can be easy for me to dismiss certain tools because they seem unnecessary or redundant.
Until recently, I felt that way about catechisms. I would occasionally hear about them, but I figured I didn’t need to bother since we already had a Bible study curriculum.
Plus, growing up, I associated catechisms with endless memorization and didn’t see how one might add value to our daily Bible reading and Scripture memorization.
But after a thoughtful conversation with one of our pastors (and some personal research!), I realized there might be more value to using a catechism with my kids than I initially thought.
I’m excited to share with you how using a catechism in your homeschool can enrich your (and your kids’!) understanding of Biblical doctrine, and why you might want to consider adding one to your own routine.
So whether you’re curious about what a catechism is, skeptical like me, or simply looking for a new way to teach systematic theology to your kids, read on—I think you’ll find some valuable insights!
The other month, one of our pastors was talking about how he and his wife use a catechism with their kids to teach a brief systematic theology and help with building a Biblical worldview.
I kind of brushed it aside in my mind at that moment, recalling the hours of rote memorization I did as a kid in my catechism classes, and thought—I already read the Bible with my kids each day and we study it together. We memorize verses together. What could a catechism really add that we aren’t already doing?
Well, it turns out, a LOT.
What IS a Catechism?
A catechism teaches Biblical truths in an orderly way, typically in question/answer format, which are then backed up by Scripture references.
It’s aim is to help develop fundamental understandings of Bible doctrine and what we believe as Christians.
There are many catechisms out there! I didn’t realize this, but when I started looking into them I found different versions corresponding to the various confessions of faith, and even catechisms that regular people have written over the years to summarize and effectively teach Biblical doctrine.
An Effective Teaching Method
When I started thinking about this whole catechism teaching idea, two things came to mind.
For one, I already do a lot of “question and answer” type teaching with my kids, and it’s very effective!
Here’s one example of something we do: when I ask my kids, “How do you respond when you receive a “no” answer?”, they’ll reply, “Say “ok” or disagree appropriately.” It’s something we’ve practiced and they’ve learned, so when they choose to respond to a “no” by whining or complaining or backtalking, I can bring this to their mind very easily.
The second thing I realized is that we are being “catechized” all the time, whether we realize it or not.
Who is God? Who created everything? What is our primary purpose for living or what is the chief end of man? How do we know Jesus is God’s only begotten son? How do we know Jesus rose from the dead?
The world is ready to give our kids answers to these questions — are we?
I like to think that I know how to answer a lot of what I’d consider “basic” questions about my faith.
But for some of those questions that come up, there is a LOT to unpack, and a lot that the Bible says about it.
Sometimes I don’t always have a succinct answer for what the Bible says about something as a whole. What I LOVE is that a catechism does just that—it helps summarize and order Bible doctrine so that it’s easy and clear to communicate and teach.
Why Should I Use a Catechism With My Kids?
It wasn’t long after I heard my pastor talking about catechisms, that I learned about Foundational Truths: A Modern Catechism being released by Israel Wayne.
If you’ve read my blog for a while or follow my email newsletter, you might know that I highly recommend Israel Wayne’s books. In fact, it was one of his sessions at my first homeschooling convention that truly changed how I viewed homeschooling, parenting, and education (this book right here—GAME CHANGER).
I was curious about this new catechism, so I started researching the benefits of using catechisms with kids, and why people like my pastor and Israel Wayne thought they were such great teaching tools.
So why should we use a catechism with our kids? Here are some of the reasons that really compelled me:
1. Understanding Fundamental Doctrines
While memorizing individual Bible verses is crucial, it’s challenging to grasp fundamental doctrines from single verses alone.
We need to interpret Scripture as a whole, but memorizing the entire Bible isn’t feasible.
Catechisms provide a framework for understanding, and help our kids learn what the Bible teaches, laying the groundwork for deeper theological study.
2. Teaching Theology Effectively
We are told by God to instruct our kids. Diligently. And they are capable of understanding basic theology.
A catechism can be a great tool to help us teach this.
I don’t think it should be a substitute for Bible study or Scripture memory, but something different. They help us instruct in a different way.
Yes, our kids can learn theology by reading the Bible, but having a foundation, a big picture understanding, will help them learn and read the Bible in a deeper way because they’ll have that doctrinal knowledge.
I love that catechisms often provide verses that back up the answers to the questions. So kids are learning the usefulness of God’s Word, and how different verses answer important questions, which is important in teaching them and helping them build a deeper understanding of the Bible as a whole.
3. Memorization—our kids can do it!
We can work with our kids on memorizing catechism questions…because they can!
My little 5 year old started rattling off the Pledge of Allegiance the other day that he had learned (I think in BSF) and it made me think of ALL the things we put emphasis on having them memorize: multiplication facts, states and capitals, etcetera…all for good reason, yes!
How much more important, though, is it that they are memorizing truths from and about God?
Kids can memorize things much more easily than adults, so having them hide these truths in their hearts now will serve them for the rest of their lives.
The other day we started memorizing the Lord’s Prayer, and that’s one of those things I will never forget because I recited it probably hundreds of times in catechism class growing up.
Did I 100% realize the usefulness of that memorization when I was doing it and why it was important? Honestly not really, but that’s a conversation and teaching opportunity I can now have with my kids. I am thankful for the way the Lord has used what I learned and memorized as a child to help me today.
And I do think that this is key: that we teach our kids WHY we are doing things like memorizing a catechism.
I’ll be honest, when I went through my catechism classes at our church growing up, I did it because I had to. But I don’t think I really understood the value of what I was doing, and I didn’t even really understand the beauty of the Bible being an entire narrative, a beautiful story of Gods love and redemption, until I was much older.
I didn’t know what “doctrine” was, or that the Bible spoke very clearly about certain topics. So this is an important part, that our kids see purpose in what they are doing, and why it’s valuable. It’s important that we show them how it can be helpful when we study the Bible with them or they study on their own.
Foundational Truths: A Modern Catechism
So, after I thought through this a bit, I decided to purchase this catechism, and I was excited to see that it was also part of one of the Morning Baskets from Master Books that I was interested in.
Before I share an inside peek at this one, I want to remind you that I am not very well-versed (yet) in all of the different catechisms out there, so I can’t really make a comparison. But I DO like this one for a few reasons, and I think it’s going to be a good tool for us.
Foundational Truths: A Modern Catechism is a non-denominational catechism. It’s written using verses from the King James Version of the Bible, and there are 52 weekly lessons inside.
There’s not necessarily a teacher-guide or anything that comes with this, so it’s kind of up to you on how you want to incorporate this in your homeschool (more on that in a minute!).
Check out my YouTube video flip-through for a peek at the entire table of contents, so you can see exactly which questions are covered in this catechism!
There are four pages devoted to each of the 52 Life Questions. Here’s an example of question #27:
Then an answer is given (typical catechism form!) to summarize what the Bible has to say about this question. Supporting verses are given, and also written out fully on the opposite page.
Notice the color coding—it makes it really easy to match up the verses! Of course, if you don’t prefer the King James Version, you could have your kids look up the verses in whatever translation you’d like.
On the next two pages, you’ll find an “In Action” section that will give you—you guessed it—an action plan for that week. A way to help your kids (and even you!) put what you are learning into practice.
You’ll also get a list of important definitions relating to that week’s question, checklists for recording Scripture memory, and finally a prayer to pray and meditate on during the week.
How to Use This Catechism in Your Homeschool
There are a lot of ways I can think of to incorporate a catechism like this into your daily routine!
What’s important is that you find a way to make it work for your family and your schedule…but here are just a few ideas.
Morning Basket Routine: Include catechism questions in your morning basket time! Start the day by reviewing a question and answer, discussing its meaning, and reading the associated Bible verses.
This catechism is a part of Master Book’s Faith Grower Morning Basket, which is FULL of great resources for kids of all ages!
Daily Devotional Time: Use the catechism as part of your family’s daily devotionals. Discuss one question each day, focusing on the scriptural backing and its application to daily life.
Memory Work: Set aside time each week for your kids to practice memorizing catechism questions and answers.
Copywork and Dictation: Incorporate catechism questions and corresponding Bible verses into your language arts curriculum as copywork or dictation exercises. This helps reinforce the material and improve handwriting and writing skills.
Discussion Prompts: Use catechism questions as prompts for deeper discussions during meal times or family meetings. Encourage your children to think critically about their faith and how it applies to their lives.
Bible Study Supplement: This catechism could simply be used as a supplement to your regular Bible study curriculum, providing a structured way to explore and understand key doctrines alongside regular Bible readings.
Bedtime Routine: Incorporate catechism questions into your bedtime routine. This can be a peaceful way to end the day, reflecting on God’s truths and praying together as a family.
Song and Music: Have a musical child? Encourage them to create songs that correspond to catechism questions and answers! Music can be a powerful tool for memorization and can make learning fun for younger children.
Rewards and Incentives: Use small rewards or incentives, like stickers, reward punch cards, or treats, to motivate children to memorize and recite catechism questions (I’m definitely not above doing this!).
Writing Assignments: Assign older children to write essays or reflections on catechism questions, exploring how the doctrines apply to their lives and what they’ve learned from the associated Bible verses.
A Great Catechism for Families
Incorporating a catechism into your homeschool can be such a rewarding experience!
What began as a simple curiosity for me led to a valuable tool that I’m confident will have lasting benefits for our family’s spiritual growth. And if you’re looking to deepen your kids’ understanding of Biblical doctrine, Foundational Truths: A Modern Catechism is a great option.
In fact, Master Books has a variety of affordable, Biblical homeschool curriculum for all ages and stages, covering all subject areas.
I’d love to hear from you: how do you incorporate catechisms into your homeschool? Do you have any favorite catechisms or tips for making doctrinal teaching engaging for kids? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Master Books Academy Course Giveaway
This month, Master Books is giving away one FREE online course from Master Books Academy!
One lucky winner will receive their choice of any online course listed at MasterBooksAcademy.com (maximum value of $89.95).
Enter below, and good luck!
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