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Families Learning Together

Deuteronomy 4:9
9  “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—

Deuteronomy 6:4-7
4  “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
5  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
6  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
7  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Acts 2:39
39  For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

I have been reading a new resource for the Church.  It's called the New City Catechism.  Now, I realize the word catechism strikes one of two cords in most people.

One is those who had to go through Catechism in their church as a child.  For me that was not a pleasant experience.  If you have an unpleasant thought connected to Catechism that way, please set it aside for a couple of minutes and read this all the way to the end...Please!

The second experience with the word Catechism is from those who never went through this - which means they either say, "I'm glad I didn't have to do that!", or "What is a Catechism?"  Either way, you need the encouragement of both knowing what it is all about, and why it might be helpful for you and your family.

Catechism comes from a Greek word (doesn't everything?) - katachew (pronounced 'Cata que') and it means "to teach orally" and by it the Reformers saw a need for real training in the essential doctrines of orthodox faith.
Across the western world, the church has grown in both the Evangelical and Pentecostal churches while many mainline denominations dwindle in size and scope.  One repercussion of this is the lack of real doctrinal training in the lives of our children and youth.

I understand the predicament that it leaves families.  On the one hand, the Faith that they possess is something they want their children and children's children to also possess.  Yet, trying to add a program like a weekly Catechism may not be the best way for that to occur.  As a Pastor I'm more than aware of the stresses upon family life.  Anything that we can do to help families grow in their faith without creating more pressure upon them for time and energy is the goal of this approach I'm sharing.

Families Learning Together embraces a new approach to Catechism.  On our church's web site, under the Resources tab, is a tab "Families Learning Together".  Go to our church web site and by clicking on this link.  
http://www.nlfellowship.org/resources/
Under the resources tab, click on Families Learning Together and you'll find yourself on a new page, the New City Catechism, which is a very modern, brief q&a about an aspect of our Faith.  What I love about it is that it is easily read, taught, even memorized, and is doctrinally sound.

Is it necessary to add?  I think it is not so much necessary as a very helpful way of sharing the Faith that we all affirm together as a Family.  Try it out, give me some feedback, and tell me what you think...ok?

Peace

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