Friday Catechism

At the Sumpter home in Grants Pass on Friday mornings, we draw Westminster Shorter Catechism questions out of the basket and quiz one another. Below is an outline that I've used here at Faith OPC. I've seen these kinds of outlines and teaching helps on the web and in books, and what not.

An Outline of the Westminster Shorter Catechism

Catechism=orderly, sounding-over, sounding-through instruction “…to write to you an orderly account…” Luke 1:3 “Apollos…had been instructed in the way of the Lord…” Acts 18:24

I. Introduction to the Catechism: God's Summum Bonum (highest good) for Man
What is man’s purpose? Where is this purpose taught? (Questions 1-3)

II. What Man is To Believe: The Triune God, Creation and Providence (Questions 4-38)
The Doctrine of God (Questions 4-6)
The Doctrine of God's Works (Questions 7-11)
The Doctrine of God's Covenant of Life or Works (Questions 12-19)
Man's test or probation (Question 12)
Man's fall into sin, his misery (Questions 13-19)
The Doctrine of God's Covenant of Grace (Questions 20-38)
Jesus: The Redeemer and His Work (Questions 21-28)
Holy Spirit: His Work of Applying Redemption (Questions 29-38)

III. What Man is To Do: Obey the revealed will of God (Questions 39-107)
The Rule of Man's Obedience Summarized: 10 Commandments (Quest. 39-42)
The Rule Prefaced with God's Gracious Work (Questions 43-44)
The Rule of Man's Duty to God—Commandments 1-4 (Questions 45-62)
The Rule of Man's Duty to Man—Commandments 5-10 (Questions 63-81)
Man's Need for Faith and Repentance (Questions 82-87)
God's Gifts of the Means of Grace (Questions 88-97)
God's Gift of Prayer (Questions 98-107)

G. Mark Sumpter