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Elementary Catechism

The Catechism is a teaching tool used by Christians to summarize and describe our Christian doctrine. Below you will find the complete catechism as well as discussions question for this month to aid families in conversation with your kids.

View a PDF of all elementary catechism questions

 Month of August

First Grade

Question 37: What effect did the sin of Adam have on you and all people?

Answer: We are all born guilty and sinful.

  • Do you believe your sin is bad? Have you ever seen a little kid throw a tantrum, lie, take something that isn't theirs? How does this show you that everyone has sin?
  • Read Psalm 51 together. What is David saying about how often/early we sin?

Question 38: How sinful are you by nature?

Answer: I am corrupt in every part of my being.

  • The Bible says that even the righteous things we do are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Why do you think this is true? (since I am sinful in nature, my own reasons for doing things are always mixed. Can you think of an example of this? Parents? Like when you do something good to get attention from someone else or when you are prideful about not doing something bad).
  • The fact that we are corrupt shows us how very much we need a Savior! Why don't you thank Jesus now for doing what you (we) could not do...living a perfect life and saving us from our sin.


Second Grade

Question 65: How were sinners saved before Christ came?

Answer: By believing in the promised Messiah.

  • What is a prophesy? (When God would give someone information about something that would happen in the future.)
  • Did you know there are lots of prophesies about Jesus that all came true? (Born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, from David's family, be killed, ride on a colt, etc.)
  • How can this encourage you as you believe in God's future promises? (If He did what He promised before, He will do what He has promised to us in the future!)

Question 66: Before Christ came, how did believers show their faith?

Answer: By offering the sacrifices God required.

  • Believers had to offer sacrifices over and over again. What do you think this would have been like?
  • The sacrifices involved the priest killing an animal. What do you think that would have been like to watch and know the animal died because of your family's sin?


Third Grade

Question 106: What does the tenth commandment teach you?

Answer: To be content with whatever God chooses to give me.

  • What does content mean? (satisfied with who you are/what you have)
  • Why do you think it is important to be content? (thankful for God's gifts, because we never really know what someone else's life is like, so when we are jealous, we probably don't know the whole story, because we deserve death and separation from the Lord...remembering this helps us be more thankful for what we have.)

Question 107: Can you keep the ten commandments perfectly?

Answer: No. Since the fall of Adam the only One who has been able to do this is Jesus.

  • Do you usually think of yourself as a good kid or a bad kid?
  • If no one keeps the commandments perfectly, what does that mean about being good/bad? (All of us are sinners, so it isn't good/bad that is important! If I believe in Jesus, when God looks at me, He sees Jesus' good, not my sin anymore! This gives me freedom to do good things because I am loved and He already sees me as clean.)

Question 108: Of what use are the Ten Commandments to you?

Answer: They teach me what is pleasing to God, and how much I need a Savior.

  • How do they teach you why you need a savior? (Since I cannot keep them perfectly.)
  • How do they teach you what is pleasing to God? (The commandments tell us how to love God and love others. They show us what it would look like for things to be right, if we were all keeping them.)


Fourth Grade

Question 135: What did Jesus say about little children?


  • Have you ever thought about how much Jesus loves you? Talk about it with your parents. How does it make you feel that someone so important, someone who created everything, knows and loves you.
  • What does it mean to hinder? (to prevent from doing, acting, happening; to stop.) How can you be hindered? How could you hinder someone else?

Question 136: What does baptism call you to be?

Answer: A true follower of Christ.

  • What does it mean to you to be a true follower of Christ? (To believe He is who He says He is and died to save me from my sin. To trust Him for that salvation and to confess and turn away from my sin. To become more like Jesus.)
  • Why is baptism important? (It is a sign that reminds me of my relationship with Jesus and shows my belief to others.)


Fifth Grade

Question 149: What will God do for believers at the last day?

Answer: He will give them a home with him in the new heaven and the new earth.

  • See Revelation 21:1-8 to read about what it will be like for us when Jesus comes back.

Question 150: What will the new heaven and the new earth be like?

Answer: A glorious and happy place, where the saved will be with Jesus forever.

  • See above and talk about this with your family!