A Baptist Catechism Program for Children

Since 1998, we have been putting together a Baptist based catechism program. This Bible Club is freely downloadable here. This is a six-year program that covers the main doctrines of the faith and includes a year focusing on the Dispensations. ¹

Ministry Purpose

We agree with C.H. Spurgeon who said it best:

In matters of doctrine you will find orthodox congregations frequently changed to heterodoxy in the course of thirty or forty years, and that is because, too often, there has been no teaching of the children in the essential doctrines of the Gospel. For my part, I am more and more persuaded that the study of a good Scriptural catechism is of infinite value to our children. . . . Even if the youngsters do not understand all the questions and answers. . . . yet, abiding in their memories, it will be of infinite service when the time of understanding comes, to have known these very excellent, wise and judicious definitions of the things of God. . . . It will be a blessing to them – the greatest of all blessing. . . . a blessing in life and death, in time and eternity, the best of blessings God Himself can give.

Objectives

• We need a guide to help us as we “live a life worthy of the Lord. . . . growing in the knowledge of God.”
  Colossians 1.10
• We need a sound doctrinal grid that enables us to defend our faith against apostates, deceivers, and the misinformed. “See to it that no-one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
  Colossians 2.8
• We need an explanation of the difficult to understand doctrines “which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”
  2 Peter 3.16
• We need to develop leaders who will be able to “encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”

Format

Each book is designed to cover one month. A brief statement from the catechism is supported by scripture. Children memorize both. Children are not given a vast amount of verses and statements to stuff away. Instead, a slow approach with plenty of review helps children retain what they have learned.

A teacher’s manual is provided which includes a short Bible lesson which explains the doctrines and scripture being learned. It is our goal that the children memorize and learn what the Bible says.

These booklets use the New International Version. We provide it in Microsoft Word (.docx) format so you can use your preferred version.

Courses

Introductory Book: Introduces the new participants to the Pledge of the American and Christian Flags, the list of books in the Old and New Testaments and the gospel. This book is used as a starting place for every child who attends the club. [book and teachers manual coming soon]

Baptist Catechism by Brad Anderson

Year One