This book is excellent for personal or family devotional times. The commentary from great men of the faith was wonderful. This is a great tool for teaching your children basic theology. The format of question and answer followed by scripture and commentary is an excellent way to absorb theological truths.

This book has been an invaluable resource in our corporate, family, and individual worship and study of God's Word. We appreciate the in-depth commentaries from historical and contemporary champions of faith as well as the simplicity of the questions and answers. I highly recommend this to all people of faith. May it be used to draw the Church closer to the Truth and God's will.

I requested an eARC of this title then later purchased the hardcover edition through our local church. The opinions expressed are my own.

This is a great catechism for Christians. My children have been singing the songs that were created for this catechism for two years now. They love them. The questions and answers are clear and the proof Scriptures are also excellent. I highly recommend it.

I know God loves me because he would give up everything for me. is much different from saying I know God loves me because he did give up everything for me. One is a loving sentiment; the other is a loving act. While we may try to make God more loving by diminishing the reality of hell and God's wrath, all we've really done is diminish the love of God. Without a real
hell we can't understand the real price that Jesus paid for our sin. and without a real price that was paid, there's no real love, there's no real grace, and there's no real praise for what he has done.

A catechism is a question (What is our only hope in life and death?) and the answer supported by scripture. "That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ. romans 14:7-8. This particular text takes 52 questions with answers supported by scripture and commentary by current teachers and teachers in church history. The author explains the importance of catechism in our daily devotions for family and for ourselves. It solidifies our faith and in the process, God becomes known to us in word and in deed. It also keeps our hearts looking forward eternity for what really matters.

The text is done in 3 parts. Part 1 deals with God, creation, fall and the Law. Part 2 deals with Christ, redemption, and grace and Part 3 deals with Spirit, Restoration, and growing in grace.

In doing the question and answers, we also see our heart responds to the question and how we can reason with the answer. I love this because God takes pleasure in our searching to know him in truth and in spirit. This devotion puts you in the right track for that.

Will be buying this devotional for family. I highly recommend.

A Special Thank You to Crossway and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Doctrine matters. Everyone's a theologian. You've probably heard these truths or insights in passing. Perhaps you've even given it a little thought. Perhaps you've made a resolution or two or three. Maybe it's on your one-day-I-will-figure-this-stuff-out list.

Everyone should be able to give an answer for the hope that they have. And catechisms--as out of favor as they are in some denominations--might be the way to go.

"Catechisms were written with at least three purposes. The first was to set forth a comprehensive exposition of the gospel—not only in order to explain clearly what the gospel is, but also to lay out the building blocks on which the gospel is based, such as the biblical doctrines of God, of human nature, of sin, and so forth. The second purpose was to do this exposition in such a way that the heresies, errors, and false beliefs of the time and culture were addressed and counteracted. The third and more pastoral purpose was to form a distinct people, a counterculture that reflected the likeness of Christ not only in individual character but also in the church’s communal life." (from the introduction)

The New City Catechism is 52 questions and answers. Questions 1-20 cover "God, Creation and Fall, Law." Questions 21-35 cover "Christ, Redemption, Grace." Questions 21-35 cover "Spirit, Restoration, Growing in Grace."

I loved the way this devotional is arranged: first the question and answer; second, a Bible verse; third, commentary from a 'witness' (theologian now in glory); fourth, commentary from a contemporary theologian; and finally, a closing prayer.

Three sample questions and answers:

"What is sin? Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world he created, rebelling against him by living without reference to him, not being or doing what he requires in his law—resulting in our death and the disintegration of all creation."
"How can we be saved? Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross; so even though we are guilty of having disobeyed God and are still inclined to all evil, nevertheless, God, without any merit of our own but only by pure grace, imputes to us the perfect righteousness of Christ when we repent and believe in him."
"What is faith in Jesus Christ? Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel."

An example of the contemporary commentary:

"It is spectacularly wonderful to talk about God, to think about him. There cannot be any higher subject. But the word God itself is not an empty cipher. Just because somebody uses the word God and then somebody else uses the word God, it does not follow that they mean the same thing. God, for some, is an inexpressible feeling, or it’s the unmoved cause at the beginning of the universe, or it’s a being full of transcendence. But we’re talking about the God of the Bible, and the God of the Bible is self-defined. He talks about himself as being eternal and righteous. He’s the God of love. He’s the God of transcendence; that is, he’s above space and time and history. Yet he is the immanent God; that is, he is so much with us that we cannot possibly escape from him. He is everywhere. He is unchangeable. He is truthful. He is reliable. He’s personal. What’s really important to see and understand, as God has disclosed himself not only in words but in the whole storyline of the Bible’s narrative, is that we are not permitted to take one attribute of God and make everything of it. We cannot, let’s say, take his sovereignty and forget his goodness. Or take his goodness and forget his holiness (his holiness is what makes him the God of judgment). Or take his judgment, even the severity of his judgment, and forget that he’s the God of love, the God who has so much loved even his rebellious creatures that ultimately he sent his Son to bear their sin in his own body on the tree. In other words, to get to the heart of who God is and to bow before him in some small measure of genuine understanding, it’s important to think through what the Bible says again and again and integrate the whole with the same balance and proportion that Scripture itself gives. That calls us to worship. And if we put anything else in the place of God, that is the very definition of idolatry." ~ D.A. Carson

An example of the 'theologian in glory' commentary:

"Sin is a fundamental relationship; it is not wrong doing, it is wrong being, deliberate and emphatic independence of God. The Christian religion bases everything on the positive, radical nature of sin. Other religions deal with sins; the Bible alone deals with sin. The first thing Jesus Christ faced in men was the heredity of sin, and it is because we have ignored this in our presentation of the Gospel that the message of the Gospel has lost its sting and its blasting power." ~ Oswald Chambers

Three examples of closing prayer:

"Merciful Lord, we are corrupt in our very natures. We are sons and daughters of the first Adam who desire what you forbid. Give us a new nature through new birth in Christ, the second Adam, that we might be able to keep your law in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
"Creator God, forgive us for worshiping the things you have made. No person or thing should be our hope or our trust. You alone are self-existent and all sufficient. May you be our all in all. Amen."
"Righteous Lord, if we think that we are good, we deceive ourselves. We deserve your wrath. We have broken your commands and we have not loved you with our whole hearts, minds, and strength. We can only plead the righteousness of Christ and ask you to let our punishment fall on him. Amen. Is there any way to escape punishment and be brought back into God’s favor? Yes, to satisfy his justice, God himself, out of mere mercy, reconciles us to himself and delivers us from sin and from the punishment for sin, by a Redeemer."

I loved, loved, LOVED, LOVED this one. It's so very good. I think everyone should have a copy of this one. I love the catechism. I think the questions are very straightforward and capture the essentials of the faith. I think they're relevant questions too. The how-then-should-I-live questions. I think the organization of this one is excellent. I love the blend of old and new. I'm already excited about rereading this one!

Recently, a woman asked a question in a Facebook community - What ideas can you share about ways to teach our children the creeds and catechisms of our faith? I wish I'd known about this book when she asked that question. For those of you who don't know, these catechisms are questions and answers about the Christian faith that some traditions memorize in order to better understand the basics. Question #1 from the Heidelberg Catechism (and my favorite and the only one I really know and I only have the first part memorized): Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death? A. That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. This book presents readers with 52 questions and answers, alongside Scripture relevant to the teaching. Then, a contemporary pastor writes a short devotional and prayer relating to the truth. This is an excellent book for parents who want to implement catechism teaching into their faith training. Or for anyone looking for further meaning behind why we learn these catechisms.

How can we grow spiritually? In most churches, they would list the four main methods of growth: Bible, Prayer, Fellowship, and Outreach. Others would put the need to go to Church regularly, and to serve in some capacity faithfully. Unfortunately, the results are not very encouraging. Some believers, having gone through all these conventional paths still find it frustrating when they feel they have not grown beyond their comfort zones. One way our ancestors have done is through catechism. Catechisms are short question and answer format that are meant for new believers, new members, and those needing a refresher course on the fundamentals of the faith. There are already many old catechisms published. Why then do we need another catechism?

According to author Collin Hansen, catechisms were written for three purposes. First, they outline a comprehensive exposition of the gospel. Second, they counter heresies and false teachings. Third, they show believers ways to be Christlike, both individually and as a community. These three purposes apply today. People today need to be reminded and refreshed about what the gospel is. They also need to be equipped against false teachings that continue to deceive and distract. They need to re-examine both old and new ways of becoming more Christlike. In this book, Hansen attempts to refresh the catechisms with 52 basic questions and answers. It can be used on a weekly basis over a year. It is based on the historical catechisms like Calvin's Geneva Catechism, Westminster Shorter and Larger Catechisms, and the Heidelberg Catechism. Hansen structures it as follows:

Part 1: God, creation and fall, law (twenty questions)
Part 2: Christ, redemption, grace (fifteen questions)
Part 3: Spirit, restoration, growing in grace (seventeen questions)
This new catechism maintains the traditional format of question and answer, followed by a Bible verse. It is then followed by a commentary from the historic catechisms followed by a contemporary preacher. Each question ends with a prayer. Hansen even supplies a brief guide to help readers use the book. It is good for discussion, for memorization, for review, and for personal devotion. Follow along historical contributors like the early Church Fathers (Augustine and Athanasius), Puritans (Richard Baxtor and John Owen), Reformers (John Calvin and John Bunyan), and many more. Contemporary contributors include the popular Thabiti Anyabwile, Alistair Begg, Mark Dever, Kevin DeYoung, John Piper, and many more. This is testimony to a catechism that comprises of a community of contirbutors for a community of learners.

Catechisms have always fascinated me because of its simplicity and effectiveness in bringing across basic ideas through an easy to understand Question-and-Answer format. It is recommended for Church Sunday Schools, and basic courses on the Christian faith. It is easy to dismiss the use of the catechisms as some old knowledge that are relevant only in the past. That is simply not true. The world is changing and new threats continue to attempt to derail orthodox faith. If believers are not anchored on the basic doctrines and fundamental beliefs, something else would. The battle is on for young impressionable minds and old forgetful heads. Pick up this book and refresh your faith. Then encourage your fellow Church members to pester your pastor, teacher, or a teaching leader to hold a catechism class with this book.

Collin Hansen is a regular contributor to The Gospel Coalition, and has previously written books such as "Blind Spots" and "A God-Sized Vision." He worships at Reeemer Community Church in Birmingham, Alabama.


Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Crossway Publishers and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.