Catechism: Going Deeper in Your Walk with Jesus
Is your faith growing, or do you perhaps feel stuck? You come to weekend services, maybe you’ve even completed Alpha, and you try your best to keep Jesus at the center … but questions still remain. What does it mean to really follow Jesus day by day? How do you form “the mind of Christ” like Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 2:16?
If you’ve ever wrestled with those questions, you’re not alone.
What is Catechism?
Maybe you’ve heard the word “catechism” before, or maybe it feels completely new. “Catechism” is a word with deep roots in the history of the Church, but it can sound unfamiliar to many of us. We asked Pastor James, who will be leading the class, to explain how he understands it.
“Catechism is certainly a big word,” he admits. “In fact, I don’t always remember how to spell it! That is the reason I chose to use it; it forces me to ask and answer the question, ‘what does this mean?’ Simply, it refers to teaching, and in our case here at FAC, teaching about what it means to be a follower of Jesus.”
James first encountered the word while researching the history of the early church. “Some of the best preachers in the ancient church relied on catechism as part of their discipleship pathway. Their goal was to equip well-rounded disciples who were ready to follow Jesus anywhere he led them.”
Historically, catechism was taught in a question-and-answer format, like a running commentary. The focus was on the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostles’ Creed, each examined through the lens of Scripture with a clear connection to everyday life. Think of catechism like a set of building blocks in how to follow Jesus!
Why Now?
We also asked James why FAC is offering a catechism class now, and how it fits into FAC’s discipleship pathway.
“As I began to read more about how the early church used catechism, I felt like this was a great opportunity for us at FAC,” James shares. “It’s a way to dig deeper and learn some of what enabled earlier generations of disciples to take the good news of Jesus everywhere they went, even in difficult circumstances.
If you’ve taken Alpha, this is a great next step. If you’re preparing for baptism, or have recently been baptized, this is a great next step. And if you simply want to understand the Bible better, this is a great next step. You don’t need to know everything, not even what questions to ask! You’ll find them in the workbook we have prepared for you.”
What to Expect
Catechism at FAC is set up as a four-week class, meeting Tuesday nights starting October 7 at FAC Deerfoot. Over the four weeks, we will look at four key themes:
- Beginning with Christ
- Believing in Christ
- Belonging to Christ
- Becoming like Christ
Each week will include time for teaching and discussion, but also space to reflect on what these truths mean for everyday life. Together we will explore the Scriptures, the gospel, the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostles’ Creed. You will also receive a workbook that will help spark your own questions and guide meaningful conversations along the way.
Sharing his heart for this class, James says: “My prayer is that you will be better equipped for the lifelong adventure of following Jesus by taking a deep dive into these foundational subjects. I hope you’ll discover for yourself the wonder of the journey Jesus is taking us on. I’m looking forward to seeing you there!”
Wherever you’re starting from, catechism invites you to grow. To not just believe in Jesus, but to belong to him and become more like Him!
Ready to go deeper? We would love for you to join us as we ask questions, explore the foundations of faith, and grow together in following Jesus.
