On DTP - especially during the first 3 terms - we’ll be using an ancient method of helping ourselves to think through all we are being taught.  For almost 2,000 years, the Church used set Questions and Answers (called a Catechism, from the Greek word Katekeo, meaning ‘to teach by word of mouth’) to help us get a handle on our faith, and to grow in our understanding of how being a Christian works.  For centuries, the greatest theologians and pastors of the Church produced such Catechisms, and were often explicit in their expectations that families would use them on a daily basis as part of their worship together.

In our own generation, there has been a welcome re-discovery of the practise, and I’ll be introducing us to a modern Catechism produced by the Anglican Church of North America (written substantively by Jim Packer). 

It is available ‘hard copy’ from Crossway Publishers. Or you can download the PDF here.

During the terms looking at the creed, the Lord’s prayer and the Ten Commandments I’ll be setting a number of questions each work as part of our homework.

Here is an excerpt from the Catechism’s introduction to the Ten Commandments section:

God wants us to have fullness of life in a relationship of loving obedience to Him.  He teaches us His will for our lives through the Law, and most fully through the teaching and example of Jesus (John 12:49-50; Heb.1:1-2).  God’s Law is outlined and distilled for us in the Ten Commandments, and displayed for us in Jesus’ sinless life and atoning death … God’s purpose for our new life in Christ is to make us like Jesus (Rom.8:28-29).  Scripture teaches that our actions are pleasing to God only if the attitudes of our minds and hearts are also godly.  God sees our behaviour as the fruit of our hearts and character, not something external or separate from our inner being.  Thus the goal of our life in Christ is that we become like Christ – not only in our actions but also in our thoughts and attitudes.

enjoy!