Three years ago I made an attempt to post the questions and answers each week from the Heidelberg Catechism. It was a simple exercise to share with others the timeless truths and tenets of the Christian faith synthesized within the catechism. I also hoped to share something of the warm devotional nature of the catechism; as the Heidelberg has served as a source of comfort and joy for over four centuries.

This past year the catechism has served me in the same manner. Each Lord’s Day I was refreshed and encouraged by the catechism’s summery of Scripture’s teaching. Each week I was drawn back to my need for grace and reminded of “my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ” who has “fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood.” In the face of suffering I was again reminded, “He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.”

Each Sunday my regular practice was to read the questions and answers that corresponded to that particular Lord’s Day. Then, I would also read the brief commentary offered by Kevin DeYoung in his book, The Good News We Almost Forgot: Rediscovering the Gospel in a 16th Century Catechism. Through the rest of the week I would go back and revisit the questions and answers – most often as part of my scripture reading in the morning. This practice provided substance for meditation throughout the course of the day and inevitably proved to be a catalyst for prayer.

In 2012 I would like to make this practice a regular habit. I would also like to invite anyone who so desires to join me. To help along those lines, I intend to make two adjustments to my normal Heidelberg posts. First, instead of Sunday morning, I will post each week’s questions and answers Saturday evening. This will allow everyone to have them prior to Sunday.I will also post a link to a Word document that can be printed and used during the week. In addition to the corresponding questions and answers, I will also include the full scripture references for each.

I would also like to encourage the use of some study aid along with the regular reading of the catechism. In addition to Kevin DeYoung’s book that I mentioned above, two other resources I would like to suggest would be G. I. Williamson’s The Heidelberg Catechism: A Study Guide and Zacharias Ursinus’ (the catechism’s author) Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism. I may try using Ursinus’s commentary, but for the time being I will continue with DeYoung’s book alongside the catechism.

I hope this proves to be as much of a blessing as it was for me this past year.