Recently, while traveling in Urumqi, I visited a local church. On a large screen at the front, they displayed the text of Audio version of the Shorter Catechism. I listened for a while and felt quite edified.
Later, I joined their Tuesday evening worship service, where the pastor preached on some questions from the Shorter Catechism, particularly questions 91 to 96 and 98, covering biblical teachings on helping others, serving, forgiveness, and interpersonal conduct.
The content is primarily ethical in nature, and the pastor's sermons focused on three points: "Transforming Life Through the Word," "Serving the Lord and Loving People," and "Fulfilling Ministry." The congregants were reminded that the Christian faith is practical and encouraged to build their lives on Christ.
Originally published in 1983, the Shorter Catechism is the most widely distributed text on basic beliefs within the Chinese church and holds great significance for the faith and spiritual development of believers, especially new Christians.
Compiled in a Q&A format, it covers seven major topics—the Bible, God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, the church, and saints—along with an appendix. It provides clear and concise explanations of basic Christian beliefs, reflecting the unity and shared faith understanding within Chinese Christianity. It has played a crucial role in maintaining doctrinal integrity in churches with the phenomenon of "many sheep and few shepherds," raising the quality of believers and resisting heresies.
A revised edition of the Shorter Catechism was released in September 2023, expanding from 100 to 120 entries. This version includes questions and answers addressing issues relevant to seekers and believers in today’s context. CCC&TSPM has also produced an audio version for believers nationwide.
In addition to its use in catechism classes, some churches are incorporating this Catechism pamphlet into regular pastoral care. Besides the Urumqi church mentioned, a church in Linfen dedicates 5-10 minutes before worship to explain and elaborate on one question from the pamphlet each week, helping believers establish a strong foundation of faith regarding Scripture, God, the church, and the Holy Spirit. Reports suggest that this approach has yielded positive results.
In many grassroots churches, believers’ understanding of doctrine is often somewhat limited and unclear, while Sunday sermons tend to be thematic. Without systematic Bible study, believers may struggle to grasp a comprehensive understanding of the gospel truths. This lack of grounding has made some grassroots churches susceptible to infiltration by cults, with many believers being led astray by false teachings.
Under such circumstances, churches could greatly benefit from this book, dedicating some time during each worship service to study and disseminate fundamental teachings. This would help believers gain a solid, truth-based understanding of both gospel truths and ethical conduct.
- Edited & translated by Abigail Wu
前段时间，笔者在乌市旅游时，顺带前往当地一个教堂聚会。堂前的大屏幕上播放的是《要道问答》的语音文字版，内容短小精炼。它就一些信仰的核心问题准确地给出了圣经性的解答。我听了一会，觉得受益不少。
后来参加他们周二晚上的晚间崇拜，牧者也是围绕《要道问答》中的一些问题证道。主要是第91到96以及98条，论到帮助人、服侍人、饶恕人以及在待人接物上，圣经有什么教导。这些主要是涉及伦理方面的内容，牧者围绕“道化人生”“事主爱人”“成就职事”三点进行了分享；提醒会众基督信仰是实践性的，要在这恩惠之道上，建造自己的人生。
这两次经历让笔者对《基本要道》这本小册子产生了兴趣。之前只是觉得这本小书大部分用于慕道洗礼班，可以帮助慕道友快速了解基督教的核心真理；却没想到也可以用在教会日常礼拜中，帮助造就信徒。
《要道问答》发行于1983年，是中国教会关乎基本信仰的最普及的读本，对于信徒特别是初信者的信仰和灵性栽培有非常重要的意义。《要道问答》以问答形式汇编而成，包括圣经、上帝、基督、圣灵、救恩、教会、圣徒七个大的分类以及附录；它简明扼要阐释基督教基本信仰，也体现了中国基督教合一精神和共同的信仰认知；它为维护“羊多牧少”的中国教会的信仰纯正、提升信徒素质、抵制异端邪说发挥了重要的作用。
修订版的《要道问答》也于2023年9月正式发行，条目从原来的100条扩充至120条。这个版本增加了慕道友、信徒在今日处境中遇到的问题以及回答。中国基督教两会随后还制作推出了音频版本，供各地信徒使用。
除了受洗慕道班之外，也有一些教会会在日常牧养中使用它。除了开头提到的乌市教会外，临汾一教会在礼拜开始前教唱后的5-10分钟，也会围绕《要道问答》的问题进行逐个解释和阐述；在圣经、上帝、教会、圣灵等基要真理上帮助信徒夯实根基。施行一段时间后，据说效果很不错。
实际上，在不少基层教会，信徒对于真理的认识还是相对片面和模糊的，而教会的主日讲道又多数是主题式的。如果没有相对系统的圣经学习，普通信徒很难树立起对福音真理的整全的认识。这也导致一些基层教会成为邪教异端渗透的目标，不少信徒就是因此被异端拉走。这种情况下，如果教会善用《要道问答》，每次礼拜花一些时间进行基本要道的学习和普及；会让信徒在福音真理还是生活伦理上，有一个基于真理的基本认识。
《要道问答》在教会的使用和对牧养的作用
Recently, while traveling in Urumqi, I visited a local church. On a large screen at the front, they displayed the text of Audio version of the Shorter Catechism. I listened for a while and felt quite edified.
Later, I joined their Tuesday evening worship service, where the pastor preached on some questions from the Shorter Catechism, particularly questions 91 to 96 and 98, covering biblical teachings on helping others, serving, forgiveness, and interpersonal conduct.
The content is primarily ethical in nature, and the pastor's sermons focused on three points: "Transforming Life Through the Word," "Serving the Lord and Loving People," and "Fulfilling Ministry." The congregants were reminded that the Christian faith is practical and encouraged to build their lives on Christ.
Originally published in 1983, the Shorter Catechism is the most widely distributed text on basic beliefs within the Chinese church and holds great significance for the faith and spiritual development of believers, especially new Christians.
Compiled in a Q&A format, it covers seven major topics—the Bible, God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, the church, and saints—along with an appendix. It provides clear and concise explanations of basic Christian beliefs, reflecting the unity and shared faith understanding within Chinese Christianity. It has played a crucial role in maintaining doctrinal integrity in churches with the phenomenon of "many sheep and few shepherds," raising the quality of believers and resisting heresies.
A revised edition of the Shorter Catechism was released in September 2023, expanding from 100 to 120 entries. This version includes questions and answers addressing issues relevant to seekers and believers in today’s context. CCC&TSPM has also produced an audio version for believers nationwide.
In addition to its use in catechism classes, some churches are incorporating this Catechism pamphlet into regular pastoral care. Besides the Urumqi church mentioned, a church in Linfen dedicates 5-10 minutes before worship to explain and elaborate on one question from the pamphlet each week, helping believers establish a strong foundation of faith regarding Scripture, God, the church, and the Holy Spirit. Reports suggest that this approach has yielded positive results.
In many grassroots churches, believers’ understanding of doctrine is often somewhat limited and unclear, while Sunday sermons tend to be thematic. Without systematic Bible study, believers may struggle to grasp a comprehensive understanding of the gospel truths. This lack of grounding has made some grassroots churches susceptible to infiltration by cults, with many believers being led astray by false teachings.
Under such circumstances, churches could greatly benefit from this book, dedicating some time during each worship service to study and disseminate fundamental teachings. This would help believers gain a solid, truth-based understanding of both gospel truths and ethical conduct.
- Edited & translated by Abigail Wu
Shorter Catechism’s Use in Churches, Pastoral Care
