New edition of catechism impacts homes, churches, and schools

In June 2017, Northwestern Publishing House (NPH) released a new edition of Luther’s Small Catechism. Since then, this version has had an impact in thousands of homes, churches, and schools.

First published in 1529, Luther’s Small Catechism has served as a powerful resource for Lutheran students and families. Its lessons consist of a series of questions and answers based on the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Baptism, the Keys and Confession, and the Lord’s Supper.

Developed in collaboration with Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, NPH’s 2017 version of Luther’s Small Catechism retains the signature question-and-answer style and lesson topics. New additions include enhanced diagrams of important concepts, information on historical Bible accounts, suggestions for applying Lutheran beliefs practically, and more.

In a February issue of Together, WELS President Mark Schroeder commented on the 2017 catechism’s potential for lifelong devotional use in the home.

“Luther often encouraged faithful Christians to study and review the catechism as a part of their daily devotional lives,” he said. “With that in mind, the newly revised WELS catechism is formatted in such a way to encourage our members to use the catechism on a daily basis, long after they have been confirmed.”

Congregation members at Grace, Milwaukee, Wis., share their thoughts on their weekly household use of the new catechism in the church’s blog series called “As for Me and My House.”

“As someone who grew up on the catechism in school, I have greatly appreciated the refreshed format of the new catechism,” Grace’s church councilman Jared Greanya said. “After reading a chapter together, my wife and I pick out the specific content that is easily understood by our children and then study that content with them the following evening.”

New teaching resources from NPH support the 2017 catechism. Growing in the Word is a new curriculum designed to teach Bible history to catechism students who may be unfamiliar with the historical accounts recorded in God’s Word.

“Some kids down here don’t know Bible history the same way many kids in Lutheran elementary schools do up north,” says Rev. John Boggs, pastor at Divine Savior, West Palm Beach, Fla. “I’ve been searching for a good way to incorporate that into my catechism teaching, and this seems like an awesome opportunity for us.”

Growing in Grace is another new curriculum from NPH. Focusing on the six chief parts of Luther’s Small Catechism, it serves as a complement to Growing in the Word.

To learn more about the 2017 edition of Luther’s Small Catechism and its related teaching resources from NPH, visit www.nph.net/catechism.