Catechism is a method of teaching biblical truth through questions and answers. The word comes from the Greek katecheo, meaning “to instruct” or “to teach orally.” Throughout church history, many Christian traditions have used catechisms to help people learn and remember the core truths of Scripture—the gospel, doctrine, and the story of God.

Baptism is a public way of saying, “I belong to Jesus.” It expresses what God has already begun to do in the heart and points to Jesus’ death and resurrection and our new life in Him (Colossians 2:12). As Thomas Schreiner and Shawn Wright write, “Baptism itself is a summary of our faith… it portrays the radical nature of conversion” (Believer’s Baptism, 330). It is not about reaching a certain level of maturity, but about trusting Jesus and stepping forward in obedience.