In encouraging the advancement of the Reformation in England, Calvin wrote to the English Lord Protector: “The Church of God will never be preserved without catechism. “What he meant was that the basic teaching task of Christ’s disciples from generation to generation (original meaning of “catechesis”) is one of Jesus’ main ways of preserving his Church over the centuries.
That is why reformers and their successors (as well as opponents) have written so many catechisms. These small manuals deal, in the most didactic way possible, with the foundations of Christian faith, practice, worship and devotion. they were often structured in a question-and-answer dialogue to facilitate the memorization of children, new converts, adults, and even church leaders.
- Today.
- This form of introduction to the Christian faith seems arid and uncompromising.
- Not in vain so few catechisms have been developed (let alone used) in recent decades.
- One of the main reasons is inaccessibility.
- Many Christians.
- As well as their families and churches.
- Use catechetical resources vorically after being able to understand their content and language.
To overcome this inaccessibility, the ministry of the Gospel Coalition and the Redemptive Church, led by Tim Keller, prepared the Catechism of the Nova Cidade.
Originally in English, it was made with answers from the main catechisms of the Reformation, explanations of these questions with quotes from great authors of the past (such as Augustine, John Chrysostome, Luther, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon and Martin Lloyd-Jones) and the present (such as John Piper, Tim Keller and Kevin DeYoung) and an interesting format for children and adults. In addition, you have 52 questions and answers to read and teach each week in a year.
Now, in a joint faithful ministry initiative, Let’s Go Back to the Gospel, Gospel Coalition, and The Pilgrim, you can listen to the New City Catechism for free on your mobile phone.
Use the pilgrim catechism coupon in this link, download the app (IOS or Android) and start relearning the basics of true Christian faith.
In this way, we hope to contribute to the preservation of the Church of God, which, united, confesses, in the words of the first question of the Catechism:
What is your only life expectancy or death?
That we are not ours, but belong, in body and soul, in life and death, to God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.