Foundational Truths: A Modern Catechism

My philosophy with catechisms is that as long as it is biblical and I can know where I stand on each subject to interject where I'd disagree or add to the topic, the more the merrier. I've done the Westminster Catechism (in song) and the New City Catechism with my family before and each has been special (who doesn't love to ask 6 months later "What is the chief end of man?" and hear the response from your kids?!).

Here, Wayne lays out the structure well and allows for a 6-day coverage of 52 topics with each day through the week being a Bible verse. This allows for discussion on each verse and what it builds into the whole of the main question. Definitions are provided which are always great to have and a call to action along with a prayer for the week are nice to have. Each week has a new picture and the whole book is bright and color-coded without being distracting.

A few small quibbles to be had include some definitions of words that seem to be taken so as to broaden the tent of coverage (definition for baptism for example) seem to be taken to not "rock the boat" as much as it could. The use of KJV I can see being used so as to include because other versions that may have been desired are subject to copyright restrictions (I won't go on a rant here) so if you want something other than KJV, you're going to need to bring your own Bible along. It would have been nice to include action points for each day rather than everything up front for the week and to include a relevant to the topic hymn just as a reference would have been chef's kiss. Again, all these are minor issues. I would recommend this for a new Christian or a 1st generation Christian family looking for a starter catechism and would happily put this next to The New City Catechism in recommendation level. Final Grade - B

This is the perfect book for families to use as a quick study together. There are 52 questions, so you could focus on 1 per week and spend time studying and memorizing the included verses. I like that the verses are written in the text in a colorful way. Definitions are also included to clarify terms. This book definitely uses the Bible as it's foundation, with multiple references to back up the questions and answers. Regarding baptism, it does include the definition as immersion or sprinkling. This is definitely NOT referring to infant baptism. "It’s an outward expression of an inward
commitment to follow Jesus Christ." This aligns with our beliefs, even though I would leave out the term sprinkling in our family, since we believe in full immersion. I believe this can be easily adjusted to your personal beliefs. I love this resource and can see it being a useful resource year after year to strengthen a biblical worldview and understanding in our home for multiple ages.

This is a helpful resource for any library. It includes 52 foundational truth questions. Each question is answered and backed up with multiple Scripture references. An action challenge is given with each question as well. This brings application of the truth to our daily lives. I especially like that definitions of challenging words used within the Scripture are given to bring more clarity and understanding.

Foundational Truths: A Modern Catechism is an effective, engaging question-and-answer resource for parents and children. Each week you will go through a life question and Bible answer. The Bible answer is color coded and based on scripture. This makes it very clear and easy to implement. The real life applications, definitions, and prayers allow you to simply read from the book, or to pause and explore a topic that resonates with you or your children. Foundational Truths provides an EXCELLENT foundation for the whole family. If you want your family to draw near to God and live out their lives based on His word, this book will set you up for success.

Saldley this book is not teaching what the Bible teaches. Baptism is an act of obedience and when you recieve the Holly spirit. It is not an outward expression. And the word Baptism itself means to immerse. Sprinkling some water on you is not being baptized.

Foundational Truths brings one back to the basics of the Christian faith and points each reader more to the word of God. The questions presented in the book create an atmosphere for more thorough discussion. The scriptures referenced helps edify each person more and equips the person with foundational knowledge to live by and to share with others. I also think the information discussed with each question establishes room to better understand an apologetic focus for the faith while at the same time conveying the gospel of Christ. The book is well laid out and flows nicely. I personally used this book to provide an opportunity during family Bible time for my children to select questions they wanted to learn more about. I also used this book for equipping myself more to explain why I believe what I believe.

Foundational Truths: A Modern Catechism is a wonderful study for the whole family. It would work great as a morning basket, family devotional, personal devotional, Bible study or even just a great resource for a newly saved Christian.

I've absolutely loved how well organized it is. It consists of several parts for each week: weekly question and answer, supporting verses that can be also used as memory verses for a week, weekly truths, application of the truths, verses' checklist as they get memorized, and a weekly prayer.

I love that each topic gets exactly a week to study. There are 52 questions, so this study is perfect for a whole year. The study itself is not in depth or overwhelming, but it gives enough wiggle room for the family or a person to spend as much time studying each topic as desired and to memorize the provided verses. There are 3-6 verses depending on the topic. Each verse supports the answer in one way or another. I love that Israel Wayne uses verses to support the answers instead of opinions of men.

At the end Israel concludes this study with The 10 Commandments, Psalm 23, "Beatitudes" from Matthew chapter 5, How to live for God section, and even the Nicene Creed.

This is an absolutely great collection of an important foundation for any Christian and especially for kids who are still learning what is Christianity and how to follow Jesus.

The only thing I wish was spent a bit more time on is the power of the Holy Spirit. I think it is essential for any Christian to know. I do love this book though and plan to use this with my children.

Every resource we have from Israel Wayne has been a source of encouragement and edification, building us up in our walk with God. This book does not disappoint! It is a catechism, but so much more! It contains 52 foundational truths that are arranged in a systematic question and answer format, color coded to supportive KJV Scripture verses which are printed on the opposite page. The foundational truth is then briefly expounded with definitions, a check box for memory tracking, an application, and a prayer.

Learning these truths will create a theological framework - in essence, a skeleton on which all the joints, ligaments, and flesh of Bible reading, other teaching, and sermons will cling to and be organized upon. You will learn much about God. But as is clear throughout this book, the goal of knowing ABOUT God is to be TRANSFORMED BY Him - to be more and more conformed to the image of His Son.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

By memorizing these foundational truths about God, we will be better equipped to meditate on them and “be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.” (1 Timothy 4:15) As we apply these truths to our own lives, people should see a change in us!

Personally, I like everything about this book. But I think my favorite part is the prayer that ties together the foundational truth, application, and a yearning for God to change our lives by it. For example, God’s holiness:

“Dear Heavenly Father, as we go through this week, help us recognize moments when we fall short of Your glory. Grant us the courage to repent and turn away from actions, thoughts, or beliefs that do not align with Your character. Strengthen our resolve to live in a way that honors and pleases You. Guide us, Lord, in our journey toward a life that reflects Your holiness. May we seek Your wisdom, embrace Your love, and show kindness and forgiveness to others as You do for us. Amen.”

I am excited about this resource and know it is going to be a blessing to our family and many others!

This book is filled with questions that every Christian should understand the answer to. Each question is answered in a very short, conclusive response. Following the answer is multiple scriptures that reveal where the answer came from. I appreciate the definitions of terms used for each study. It gives a greater depth to the understanding. The pages are bright with beautiful illustrations. I am looking forward to going through this book with my kids.

Sometimes the word catechism is met with side eyes as people think memorization doesn't lead to learning, but this book does an excellent job providing such strong Biblical truth to not only memorize but to learn from. First of all, the scriptures used within the book are all from the King James Bible (KJV), and I know many homeschoolers who like to utilize the KJV have a hard time finding resources that use that version. There are 52 important questions answered in this book. First the question is presented at the top of the page, then the page contains a beautiful picture that relates to the question, and the bottom of the page contains the answer to memorize with scripture references included. The following page contains each of those scripture references with excellent visual separation. Then the following page has practical ways you can pray or talk over the truth learned as well as define terms that may need clarification. Finally there is a prayer page which I found to be especially beautiful. It is very elegant looking, and I feel it could be easily hung or framed when this specific topic is being studied. A few of the questions include: 'What is sin?', 'What is sanctification?', 'Whom does the Holy Spirit fill?', 'How can God be one yet three persons?'. The end of the book also contains the topics: 10 Commandments, 23 Psalm, the Beatitudes, and the Nicene Creed. As a parent, I feel that these are great tools to teach both the young and old within a family and foster conversations that that have eternal significance.