What Are Catechisms—and Why Are They So Valuable for Instructing Our Children?

On Sunday, Pastor Mike took us to Ephesians 6:4: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” We spoke a great deal about how discipline yields the “peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:11). In our blog today, I want to focus on the other command from Eph. 6:4 for fathers – the command to bring their children up in the instruction of the Lord.

When I first found out that I was going to be a father, I began to really think hard about how I was going to pass down a solid foundation of faith to my children. One timeless and effective tool used by the church throughout history is catechisms. But what exactly is a catechism—and why has it served as such a powerful instrument for spiritual formation, especially in the lives of children?

What is a Catechism?

The word catechism comes from the Greek katecheo, meaning ‘to instruct’ or ‘to sound down into the ears.’ A catechism is a method of teaching Christian doctrine using a question and answer style format. Many pastors throughout church history have seen it as their responsibility to write a catechism for the people of their congregation. They have primarily been used as a method for teaching and instructing children.

Church Discipline and Family Worship

In 1647, the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly adopted the Act for Observing the Directions of the General Assembly. This act required households to observe family worship. Elders were tasked to investigate families in their congregations regarding the practice of family worship. If the head of the family deliberately neglected this duty, then a process was initiated:

1. He was to be privately admonished to repent;

2. If still non‑compliant, he would be gravely and sadly reproved by the session;

3. If obstinacy persisted, he would be suspended from the Lord’s Supper until he repented 

In other words, the church used to see the neglect of family worship as a failure of spiritual leadership in the household. Today, there is an assumption that the church has the primary role in discipling children. But, according to Ephesians 6:4, the Father has the primary responsibility of disciplining and instructing his children in the Lord. The church only reinforces what is supposed to be taught in the home. Jonathan Edwards said it well when he said "Every Christian family ought to be as it were a little church, consecrated to Christ… family education and order are some of the chief means of grace."

When it comes to the instruction of children, catechisms have served as an effective tool for centuries.

Why are catechisms so helpful?

Children learn through repetition, rhythm, and structure. Catechisms help are so helpful because they:

1. They build a framework for truth

In my experience with my own children, the truths contained in catechisms are often beyond their full comprehension at first. However, the value of catechisms isn’t limited to immediate understanding—they serve as a kind of filing cabinet for truth. When children are later exposed to biblical teaching—whether in a sermon, Sunday school, or conversation—they already have categories and language in place to receive it.

2. They offer clarity in a confused age

When children hear competing messages about identity, truth, and morality, catechisms anchor them in timeless truths. Catechisms are timeless truths confessed by Christians throughout the ages. They remind children that they are not believing something new, but they are embracing ancient truths. They are embracing “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

3. They train the heart, not just the mind

Good catechisms don’t stop at theology—they also teach how to respond with love, obedience, worship, and trust. The truths memorized in childhood often return in moments of crisis, temptation, or doubt.

4. They are fun.

Many of the better catechisms have been put to song. The Baptist Catechism, The New City Catechism, Westminster Shorter/Larger, and Heidelberg can be found in song form. Oftentimes, when my family is in the car, we listen and teach the catechisms through song. The songs have been a tremendous aid to memorization. 

One of the kids favorite things to do is compete against one another to see who knows the most. Some of our favorite “family worship” nights turn into a friendly catechism contest (with lots of treats of course).

Final Thoughts

Catechisms aren’t dusty relics from the past—they’re vibrant tools for today. In an age of shallow beliefs and fleeting attention, they offer children something rare and life-giving. If you have never tried them, I would highly recommend them to you. Start by picking an age-appropriate catechism. Start small and try to learn a question a week. And make it joyful. I truly believe God will take that time that you invest with your children now and make it fruitful.