This catechism is a simplification of the New City Catechism for children aged 3-6. It is named the "Calvary Grace Catechism" because our lead pastor Jeff Jones originally prepared this catechism for use by the children's ministry at our mother church, Calvary Grace, while he was Executive Pastor there. It arose out of a recognition that while the New City Catechism has simpler forms of its answers, these were still too difficult for younger children.
A printable version can be downloaded here.
1. Q. What is our only hope?
1. A. That we belong to God.
2. Q. What is God?
2. A. The creator of everything.
3. Q. How many persons are in God?
3. A. Three: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
4. Q. How and why did God create us?
4. A. Male and female in God’s image to glorify him.
5. Q. What else did God create?
5. A. All things.
6. Q. How can we glorify God?
6. A. By loving and obeying him.
7. Q. What does God’s law require?
7. A. That we love God with all our heart and our neighbour as ourselves.
8. Q. How many commandments did God give on Mount Sinai?
8. A. Ten commandments.
9. Q. What does God require in the first, second, and third commandments?
9. A. Worship only God, no idols, and honour God’s name.
10. Q. What does God require in the fourth and fifth commandments?
10. A. Honour God’s day and our parents.
11. Q. What does God require in the sixth, seventh, and eighth commandments?
11. A. Don’t kill, live purely, and don’t steal.
12. Q. What does God require in the ninth and tenth commandments?
12. A. Don’t lie, and be content.
13. Q. Can anyone keep God’s law?
13. A. No mere human can keep the law perfectly.
14. Q. Did God create us unable to keep his law?
14. A. No, but because of Adam and Eve we are born in sin.
15. Q. What is the law’s purpose?
15. A. That we may know our need of a Saviour.
16. Q. What is sin?
16. A. Not doing what God requires in his law.
17. Q. What is idolatry?
17. A. Trusting in created things.
18. Q. Will our disobedience and idolatry go unpunished?
18. A. No, God will punish them.
19. Q. Is there any way to escape punishment?
19. A. Yes, by a Redeemer.
20. Q. Who is the Redeemer?
20. A. The Lord Jesus Christ.
21. Q. What sort of Redeemer is needed?
21. A. One who is human and also God.
22. Q. Why must the Redeemer be human?
22. A. To obey the law and suffer punishment for sin.
23. Q. Why must the Redeemer be God?
23. A. That his obedience and suffering would be perfect.
24. Q. Why did Christ the Redeemer die?
24. A. Christ died in our place to deliver us from sin.
25. Q. Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven?
25. A. Yes, the cross fully paid for sin.
26. Q. What else does Christ’s death redeem?
26. A. Fallen creation.
27. Q. Are all people saved through Christ?
27. A. No, only those united to Christ by faith.
28. Q. What happens to those not united to Christ by faith?
28. A. They will be cast into hell forever.
29. Q. How can we be saved?
29. A. Only by faith in Jesus Christ.
30. Q. What is faith in Jesus Christ?
30. A. Resting on him alone for salvation.
31. Q. What do we believe by true faith?
31. A. Everything taught in the Gospel.
32. Q. What do justification and sanctification mean?
32. A. God declares us good before him, and God makes us grow in goodness.
33. Q. Should we seek salvation through works or anywhere else?
33. A. No, everything to salvation is in Christ.
34. Q. Since we are redeemed through faith alone must we still obey?
34. A. Yes, to show love to God and win others to Christ.
35. Q. Where does faith come from?
35. A. The Holy Spirit.
36. Q. What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?
36. A. He is God with the Father and Son.
37. Q. How does the Holy Spirit help us?
37. A. He helps us see our sin, pray, and understand God’s Word.
38. Q. What is prayer?
38. A. Pouring out our hearts to God.
39. Q. How should we pray?
39. A. With love and gratefulness.
40. Q. What should we pray?
40. A. The Word of God tells us what we should pray.
41. Q. What is the Lord’s Prayer?
41. A. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
42. Q. How is God’s Word to be read and heard?
42. A. With diligence, preparation, and prayer.
43. Q. What are the ordinances?
43. A. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
44. Q. What is baptism?
44. A. Washing with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
45. Q. Is baptism washing away sin itself?
45. A. No, only Christ can cleanse us from sin.
46. Q. What is the Lord’s Supper?
46. A. To eat bread and drink from the cup in remembrance of Christ.
47. Q. Does the Lord’s Supper add anything to Christ’s work?
47. A. No, Christ died once for all.
48. Q. What is the church?
48. A. People united by faith who worship God together.
49. Q. Where is Christ now?
49. A. At the right hand of the Father.
50. Q. What does Christ’s resurrection mean?
50. A. All who trust in him are raised to new life.
51. Q. What does Christ’s ascension mean?
51. A. Christ is advocating for us with the Father and sends his Spirit.
52. Q. What is the hope of everlasting life?
52. A. We will live with and enjoy God forever.