Discussion Guide

concerning

The Heidelberg Catechism

by

Dr. J. Van Vliet

August 2012
Introduction
On January 19, 2013, the Heidelberg Catechism will turn 450 years old. Back on Tuesday, January 19,
1563, Elector Frederick III of the Palatinate, Germany, put the finishing touches on the Catechism by
completing the preface. The final paragraph of his preface reads as follows:

We do herewith affectionately admonish and enjoin upon every one of you, that you do, for
the honour of God and our subjects, and also for the sake of your own soul’s profit and
welfare, thankfully accept this proffered Catechism or course of instruction, and that you do
diligently and faithfully represent and explain the same according to its true import, to the
youth in our schools and churches, and also from the pulpit to the common people, that you
teach, and act, and live in accordance with it, in the assured hope, that if our youth in early
life are earnestly instructed and educated in the Word of God, it will please Almighty God
also to grant reformation of public and private morals, and temporal and eternal welfare.

This preface mentions a number of things worth highlighting. First, from the start the Catechism was
intended for use in the schools and churches. The family is not mentioned in this final paragraph, but it
is mentioned earlier in the preface. The intersection of the Catechism with home, church and school
receives further attention in the cluster of questions found in Section 1 of this booklet. Second, the
Catechism was also written with the pulpit in view. The whole matter of Catechism preaching is
explored in Section 2. Third, it is clear that the Elector had a special place in his heart for the youth of
the church. As Frederick III indicates right at the end of the paragraph, the Catechism was written with
the “temporal and eternal welfare” of future generations in mind. How will the youth today and
generations yet unborn use the Catechism to help them understand the Word of God? That issue is
dealt with in Section 4. That still leaves Section 3, “The Catechism & Evangelism, Mission and Church
Planting Work.” Frederick III does not mention this explicitly in his preface, but the connection is easily
made. If there is another group, beside the youth of the church, who need to be “earnestly instructed
and educated in the Word of God,” then certainly it is new converts.

This guide, containing some thirty questions, can assist local congregations in celebrating the blessing of
having the Catechism as part of our church life. It can also spur us on to consider how the Catechism
can be used, to even greater benefit, for generations to come. Groups that may find this guide helpful
include: catechism classes, Bible study groups, home or foreign mission committees, families and even
councils. Each group may find certain sections, or even certain questions within sections, more relevant
than other parts of the guide. Therefore, each group, or leader of the group, can freely choose the
sections and questions that are most beneficial to them. This guide is simply a resource, not a strict
curriculum which needs to be follow from A to Z.

The Lord willing, each of these topics will be discussed further, also with the help of experienced people,
in workshops which will be part of the upcoming conference on the Heidelberg Catechism which is
scheduled to coincide with the actual anniversary, Jan 18-19, 2013. More details about this conference,
and possible satellite conferences in your area, can be found at:
http://www.canadianreformedseminary.ca/general/2013_conference.html.

May this guide, in some small way, serve to remind us and reaffirm for us the very special blessing that
we have received in the Heidelberg Catechism.
 Section 1: Catechism & Home, Church, and School

1. Does the Catechism play a role in your should be included in the profession of
family’s devotional life? If so, how? Also, faith class curriculum? Are there other
how could the Catechism become a more aspects, or activities, which would be
regular and effective part of your family’s particularly helpful for profession of faith
devotions? classes?
2. Does the Catechism play a role in your own 8. Some congregations have an annual
personal devotional life? If so, how? Also, profession of faith Sunday, usually in the
how could the Catechism become part of springtime, while others encourage
your personal devotional life? profession of faith vows to be made
3. If there is a Reformed day throughout the year, whenever
school in your area, do the someone is ready and has been
teachers refer to the examined by the consistory. What
Catechism in some of their For from the beginning of are the pros and cons of each
classes? If so, typically the Christian church all the approach? Spiritually? Practically
which classes? If not, why godly have been diligent to and logistically?
not? What resources instruct their children in the 9. Often when youth reach
might be available, or fear of the Lord, at home, at the age that they make a public
should be available, to
school and in the church. profession of faith vow, they also
make it easier for teachers stop their formal catechetical
Preface to Heidelberg
to use the Catechism as instruction. Some congregations
Catechism, 4th edition
one of the tools they use have post-confession classes. If
in their teaching? your congregation has post-
4. Can you list three (or confession classes, how are they
more) ways in which going? How could they be
home, church and school could work improved? If your congregation does not
together more efficiently and effectively in have post-confession classes, is it possible?
order to catechize the youth of the Desirable? Do post-confession classes
congregation? have an adverse effect on attendance at
5. Catechism classes are instructional times Bible study groups or do they actually
that in some ways are similar to classes encourage attendance at such groups?
taught in elementary or high school. At the
same time, it is an opportunity for a pastor
(or other catechism teacher) to connect
with the youth in a more pastoral way.
How do we best find the balance between
instructional and pastoral in the catechism
classroom? Are there ways to improve this
in your local congregation?
6. Why is memory work still important in an
age when so much information is only a
few clicks (or swipes) away?
7. Profession of faith classes have a slightly
different focus than the other catechism
classes since members in that class are
preparing to make a vow. What things
 Section 2: Catechism Preaching

1. It’s been said that in the morning worship doing this? How much lengthening is too
service the minister focuses more on much lengthening?
preaching, and that in the afternoon he 5. Particularly if a minister is in a
concentrates more on teaching. Is that a congregation for a longer period of time,
helpful distinction or a false dilemma? If it he may vary his approach in Catechism
is a helpful distinction, how should that preaching in an effort to keep it fresh and
distinction become evident, in practical relevant. To what degree is this
terms, in the worship necessary? Try to list at least four
services? different ways in which a minister
2. One question that always could vary his approach to
arises with Catechism The congregation, however, catechetical preaching.
preaching is this: “Is it should not lose sight of the 6. Article 52 of the Church
preaching God’s Word or great themes, the Order of the Canadian Reformed
man’s word because the underlying structure of the Churches calls for preaching from
Catechism is not the Bible. This prevents the Catechism once per Sunday.
inspired Word of God?” unintentional one- Article 34 of the Proposed Joint
Discuss together how this sidedness, and gives Church Order, composed in
question should best be resistance against false conjunction with a URC committee
teachings and the vanities of
answered. Also, what can says “the minister shall ordinarily
our own time. The faith of
a minister do to make it preach the Word of God as
the congregation needs a
clear that his Catechism backbone. This is provided summarized in the Heidelberg
preaching is a by the Catechism. Catechism… and may give such
proclamation of God’s attention also to the Belgic
Word and not man’s Dr. N.H. Gootjes Confession and the Canons of Dort.”
word? Teaching and Preaching the What are the advantages and
3. Catechism is a kind of Word (2010), 409. disadvantages of preaching the
topical preaching. Word of God as summarized in the
However, in Catechism Belgic Confession and Canons of
preaching, the topics are Dort? In particular, think about the
already chosen by the Catechism for the differences in content among these
preacher. What are the advantages of confessions. For example, the Canons of
having the topics chosen by the Dort has more on the doctrine of election;
Catechism? Moreover, you could also say: however, neither the Belgic nor the Canons
“In the end, the topics are not chosen by even comes close to the amount of
the Catechism, but by the church.” Discuss attention the Catechism gives to the Ten
that statement. Commandments and prayer.
4. By dividing the Catechism into 52 Lord’s 7. Sometimes the complaint is heard that
Days it is obvious that the intention is to Catechism preaching is too doctrinal and
preach through the Catechism in one year. not practical. Is that complaint valid? Is it
Due to vacations and pulpit exchanges that a false dilemma? The Heidelberg
rarely works out. However, is there room Catechism is widely recognized as one of
for having a series of sermons on one the most personal and pastoral catechisms
particular Lord’s Day, thereby lengthening ever written. Shouldn’t it be natural that
the time it takes to work through the Catechism preaching is also personal and
Catechism? What are the pros and cons of pastoral? If it isn’t, why not?
 Section 3: Catechism & Evangelism, Mission, Church Planting Work

1. Broadly speaking, do you think using the not easily be understood by people from
Catechism in evangelism or mission work is different backgrounds or nations? If so,
a positive thing which attracts and helps please be specific and give examples. If
new Christians? Or is a negative thing there are cultural gaps, how could these be
which hinders or discourages new overcome?
Christians? 7. The first question of the
2. In evangelism, mission and Catechism has the power to grab
church planting work is it almost anyone’s attention. Who
wisest to start directly After working with a group wouldn’t want to know about a
with the Bible and in our new members’ class comfort that lasts throughout life
introduce a catechism for about eighteen months and even in death? However, the
later? Or is it better to use
and using various curricula, concern has been raised that this
we began with LD 1 of the
both right away? In other opening question might focus
Catechism. After several
words, how should the people too much on their own
weeks of study one of the
relationship of Scripture regular students exclaimed, comfort and not enough on God’s
and confession work out “So that’s what it’s all glory. What do you think about this
on the mission field? about!” concern? Does connecting Q. 1 with
3. Is the Catechism too A. 1 make a difference?
difficult for those with Rev. J.L. Van Popta during a
little or no knowledge of recent discussion
the Christian faith? If so,
give specific reasons. If
not, also give specific
reasons.
4. Scan through the Catechism, or at least LD
1-31, and try to pick out words or phrases
that: a) someone new to the faith might
not understand and b) is not explained by
the Catechism. Please note that both a)
and b) must apply to each word or phrase
you choose. For example, “providence”
might be an unfamiliar word to those who
are new to the faith, but in LD 10 the
Catechism explains what this term means.
So, you wouldn’t include “providence” in
this list. At the end, were surprised by how
many words you have on your list? Or
surprised by how few?
5. Do you think there is need for a simplified
Catechism in the context of mission work
and church planting? (Also see question
4.4 regarding the Compendium)
th
6. The Catechism was written in the 16
century in Germany. Are there cultural
elements in the Catechism which would
 Section 4: Catechism & The Next Generations

1. The Heidelberg Catechism has been used by 4. Already for centuries an abridgement of the
Reformed churches for 450 years—almost Heidelberg Catechism has been available.
one half of a millennium. In an age in which In English it’s called the Compendium (in
computers and software become obsolete Dutch it’s called the Kort Begrip). Do you
within a matter of a few think there is a future for the
years, it is not surprising Compendium? How could it be
that some people think it’s used effectively? How could it be
time for a new catechism. used in such a way that it does not
Yet why does the I’ll never forget sitting in my supplant the full Catechism?
Heidelberg Catechism
Christian education class at 5. Are there ways in which
my evangelical, non-Dutch,
outlast computer software. modern technology could improve
nondenominational
Is it just a matter of our knowledge of, appreciation for,
seminary. One of our
tradition, or is there more assigned texts was the and use of the Catechism? If so, list
involved? If so, what is Heidelberg Catechism…. My a few concrete examples.
that “more”? fellow students at seminary 6. Our churches have a rich
2. List three reasons why marveled at this piece of history with using the Catechism
people sometimes become work. “Where has this been and we have Catechism resources at
negative about the all our lives?” “This will be our disposal (sermons, articles,
Catechism and its use perfect for Sunday school!” teaching guides, commentaries,
within the life of the “I’m going to use this for etc). Are there ways in which we
churches. Then provide new members’ classes!” can share the heritage we have with
Most of the Dutch Reformed
solid, yet compassionate, other more effectively and more
kids I knew were ready to
responses to each of the widely?
see the Heidelberg
three reasons. Catechism go the way of the
3. Since we live together as dodo bird. But at seminary
members of one body, we my classmates were seeing
should help and encourage something many of my
each other, also to remain peers had missed. The
thankful for and Heidelberg Catechism is
enthusiastic about the really, really good.
Catechism. In what
practical ways can the Kevin DeYoung
The Good News We Almost
following groups help each
Forgot (2010), 15.
other?
a. Parents helping
their children and
children helping
their parents;
b. Grandparents helping their
grandchildren;
c. Ministers helping the youth of the
congregation;
d. Teachers helping their students;
e. Youth helping fellow youth;
f. Youth helping older members.