FIRM IN THE FAITH
An exciting presentation of God’s Word in 52 studies, for use at home or in church groups
By Dennis D. Hustedt. Evangelical Press. 240 pages. £8.99
ISBN 978 0 852 347 379
Firm in the Faith is a workbook on Christian doctrine and living aimed particularly at young people. It bases its 52 studies (intended as a year’s ‘course’) on selected questions from the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
The author is clearly convinced that ‘catechesis’ is both a lost art among young people and a route to the restoration of real godliness in the same. By setting a catechism question and memory verse each week, supplemented by his own questions and activities on the theme, Hustedt sets out to revive the art.
He succeeds pretty well. There is perhaps a lot of work each week for your ‘average’ teenager, but, if undertaken in groups (e.g. a Bible class), there could be real profit and growth in understanding. Even on their own a young person would learn a lot if they had the stickability for it. Hustedt’s questions are carefully set and his ‘dilemmas’ for discussion would certainly provoke real thought, even if one or two are perhaps a little contrived. So that ‘average’ teenager might just end up rising above that description via the stimulation of this book.
Maybe you might have thought (in practice, if not out loud) that turning to the 17th-century confessions for pointing 21st-century young people to the gospel and its implications for living would be a rather outdated exercise. But I think Firm in the Faith, if carefully used and well taught, might persuade you otherwise. Certainly worth a try.
Luke Jenner,
co-pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Halifax
