The New City Catechism Devotional: God's Truth for Our Hearts and Minds

by Collin Hansen

Publisher:

Crossway

, 2017

Overview

In centuries past, the church used catechisms to teach foundational Christian doctrines. In today’s world of shifting beliefs, this communal practice of learning biblical truth via questions and answers is more needed than ever before.

Seeking to restore this ancient method of teaching to the regular life of the church, The New City Catechism Devotional is a gospel-centered, modern-day resource that not only summarizes important Christian beliefs through fifty-two questions and answers but also helps readers be transformed by those doctrines.

Each question features a relevant Scripture reading, a short prayer, and a devotional commentary written by contemporary pastors (including John Piper, Timothy Keller, and Kevin DeYoung) and historical figures (such as Augustine, John Calvin, Martin Luther, and many others). Designed for use in a variety of contexts, The New City Catechism Devotional is a valuable resource for helping believers learn and meditate on the doctrines that stand at the heart of the Christian faith.

Key Features

• Valuable readerings from key biblical texts
• Written prayers for guiding devotional time
• Thoughful discusion of the catechism's questions

Contents

• God, Creation and Fall, Law (Questions 1–20)
• Christ, Redemption, Grace (Questions 21–35)
• Spirit, Restoration, Growing in Grace (Questions 36–52)

Top Highlights

“So what’s important to grasp is this: sin is not just doing bad things. It’s turning good things into ultimate things, because it ruins your soul, destroys community, and dishonors God.” (Pages 82–83)

“Second, when you have a triune God, you have the eternality of love. Love has existed from all time. If you have a god who is not three persons, he has to create a being to love, to be an expression of his love. But Father, Son, and Holy Spirit existing in eternity have always had this relationship of love. So love is not a created thing. God didn’t have to go outside of himself to love. Love is eternal. And when you have a triune God, you have fully this God who is love.” (Page 27)

“To not misuse the name of God doesn’t merely mean that there are certain words we can or cannot say. It means that when we speak of God, whether through words or lifestyle, we are to fully honor and respect who he is.” (Page 51)

“Jesus gave himself wholly for us. So now, we must give ourselves wholly to him.” (Page 19)

“the Trinity helps us to understand how there can be unity in diversity.” (Page 27)

Endorsements

Looking through The New City Catechism Devotional, I am moved. This new teaching tool is more than interesting; it is stirring. Why? Because it makes glorious theology readily accessible to us all. We can stand against the man-centered worldview coming at us only with an alternative, God-centered worldview, a total seeing of reality with new eyes. Piecemeal theology will not help us. But a comprehensive theology can strengthen us for our times. The task of teaching that new worldview just became easier for every pastor, every parent, and every teacher, thanks to The New City Catechism. It is a significant step forward in the gospel resurgence of our times.

—Ray Ortlund, lead pastor, Immanuel Church, Nashville, Tennessee; council member, The Gospel Coalition; president, Renewal Ministries; author, Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel

Simply written, accessibly presented, and with a wealth of wisdom from different cultures and centuries, this devotional does not just teach God’s Word—it delights in it. All Christians would benefit from considering these questions and reflecting on the answers.

—Andrew Wilson, pastor, Kings Church Eastbourne, East Sussex; author, If God, Then What? and Unbreakable

If the word catechism makes your eye twitch, twitch no more. The New City Catechism Devotional offers teachers, parents, and those young in their faith a tool that communicates basic doctrine in fifty-two straightforward steps. Harmonizing wisdom from voices both ancient and modern, it invites us to methodically internalize the categories by which we understand our faith, reechoing the good news for a new generation of believers. I am grateful for this resource.

— Jen Wilkin, author, Women of the Word and None Like Him; bible teacher

Product Details

• Title: The New City Catechism Devotional: God’s Truth for Our Hearts and Minds
• Author: Collin Hansen
• Publisher: Crossway
• Print Publication Date: 2017
• Logos Release Date: 2017
• Pages: 240
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: New city catechism; Presbyterian Church › Catechisms--English; Reformed Church › Catechisms--English; Christian education of children; Westminster Assembly (1643-1652). Shorter catechism
• ISBNs: 9781433555039, 9781433555060, 9781433555046, 9781433555053, 9781433579912, 1433555034, 1433555069, 1433555042, 1433555050, 143357991X
• Resource ID: LLS:NWCTYCTCHSDVTNL
• Resource Type: text.monograph.catechism
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:00:35Z

About Collin Hansen

Collin Hansen (MDiv, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) serves as the editorial director for the Gospel Coalition. He previously worked as an associate editor for Christianity Today magazine and coedits the Cultural Renewal series with Tim Keller. He and his wife belong to Redeemer Community Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and he serves on the advisory board of Beeson Divinity School.