We will help ourselves answer the question of who should teach catechism if we first answer these questions: What is the nature of the subject matter we are teaching? Who are we teaching? Then we can ask who has the responsibility and authority to teach. In answer to the first question I will argue that since what we teach in catechism is the Scriptures and the Confessions, it should properly therefore, be con­sidered the official teaching ministry of the Church of Jesus Christ.

A common saying among the ancient Jews was, "He who teaches without having the lesson repeated back to him aloud, is like one who sows without reaping.". Our covenant Jehovah laid down the teaching principles of repetition and review in the Psalms, and especially in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes which are clearly books of instruction. This article discusses some of the teaching devices God incorporated into these (and other books as well) to aid His children in learning them. Technically we call these writing devices mnemonic and didactic, meaning for memorizing and for teaching.

The history of the Protestant faith is the history of fighters and Psalm-singers. Gustaphus Adolphus, the Lion of the North, Protestant hero and brilliant general, led his forces of Swedish, German, French Huguenot, Scottish and English with a mighty Psalm resounding from the ranks to batter the Roman Catholic armies of Count Tilly.

Catechetical teaching means causing someone to know the truth by the method of question and answer. By "knowing" the truth we do not mean just a temporary intellectual acquain­tance, but we use the word "knowing" in the Biblical sense, meaning a deep and intimate union or bond of love bringing forth fruit.

Scripture tells us that Christ and the apostles went about preaching and teaching. These activities are similar but yet are not the same. Teaching is not merely telling the truth, but causing another to know the truth. Augustine testified that the wise catechism teacher labored to make sure that his student knew and understood the truth, not merely heard it. Some ministers tend to preach instead of teaching the lesson in class.

Teaching the catechism should be done from and motivated by love for children. How does this work in catechism teaching? 

Catechism instruction must be shaped by the covenant. How? There are three claims God makes in the covenant which must inform the catechism teaching.