What Can I Expect from Westminster Wednesdays?

Next week marks the launch of a new video and audio resource from the Banner—Westminster Wednesdays.

Each week our Communications Manager, Joshua Kellard, will be joined by a special guest for an in-depth conversation on the questions and answers contained in the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Here Joshua answers some questions about what viewers and listeners can expect from the series:

Are these podcasts just for Presbyterians, or for a wider audience who may not be as familiar with the Shorter Catechism?

▶ These podcasts most certainly are for Presbyterians, but not exclusively so! The Westminster Shorter Catechism is an accessible and crisp statement of the Christian faith as it was recovered and clarified at and shortly after the Reformation. Therefore, I would venture to say that any true believer in the Lord Jesus who takes up the Shorter Catechism will find it to be a document that is rich, biblically rooted, encouraging, and edifying. We hope that these podcast episodes are all these things, too. And, I might add, not all our guests are Presbyterians!

The point is to use the Shorter Catechism to help us understand and apply Scripture’s teaching

What does each episode include? How long will each episode last?

▶ Each episode of Westminster Wednesdays begins with a reading of the question and answer for that week (sometimes there are two or even three, depending on the topic). Then we have an in-depth conversation on the biblical teaching covered by the question and answer with a special guest—usually a local church pastor, but we have a scattering of seminary teachers represented as well.

The point is to use the Shorter Catechism to help us understand and apply Scripture’s teaching, especially with a view to helping all who listen to teach others in turn. We will often pause, for example, to ask how a father or mother might teach the truths covered on a given week to their children. The episodes are about 15 to 20 minutes in length. There is minimal ‘fluff’—we try to get straight to the topic at hand.

How might the series help listeners in their devotions, and as they serve in the church?

▶ All biblical truth, seen by the light of faith, should motivate us to thank, praise, and love the Lord more. Given that the Shorter Catechism summarizes scriptural truth for understanding and for devotion, we should be able to see reasons to thank, praise, and stand in awe of God every week. That said, no merely human document should ever take the place of hearing and reading Scripture. The more time anyone spends in a confession or a catechism, the more they should be motivated to return to the Scriptures with fresh perspective and deeper hunger.

We also hope the series will be a blessing to churches. For one thing, well–taught Christians are a blessing to the church. They can and should find ways to build up other members in the faith. It may also be the case that we have some pastors and elders watching or listening in. If so, we hope and trust they will be encouraged to consider whether catechesis could be part of their approach to teaching their congregations. Churches that practice both expository preaching and steady catechesis have often found these modes of teaching to be mutually reinforcing.

Why did you choose to use the Shorter Catechism as a framework?

▶ There are quite a few Reformed catechisms out there, but only a handful are in frequent use today. The Shorter Catechism has the advantage of broad scope (there are 107 questions and answers in this ‘shorter’ document!) coupled with memorable expression. And, as Dr Chad Van Dixhoorn shares in our bonus historical episode Behind the Scenes at the Westminster Assembly (releasing 28 October), each of the questions and answers is a stand-alone unit—one doesn’t have to have read the whole document to understand what is being asked and answered.

The reader is often struck by what might clumsily be called the theological or pastoral ‘genius’ of the catechism—in reading it, you can tell that its authors were men of great mental clarity and pastoral sensitivity. The Holy Spirit graciously helped them in shaping a document of outstanding usefulness and faithfulness. But of course, the catechism is not inspired Scripture. It is not infallible or perfect—no merely human document is. Neither is it exhaustive: there are whole areas of doctrine, including quite essential areas of teaching, which are not covered, and indeed everything the catechism does teach could be expanded. That said, as a compression of Christian truth, it is extremely helpful. In some ways, it is a miniature ‘systematic theology,’ and so it is well suited to teaching anyone the basics of the faith.

How can listeners make the most of this new resource, over and above listening to the podcast?

▶ I would encourage each listener to pray about whether and how they might use these 80+ recorded discussions to enrich their own family, church, or discipleship relationships. We walk a fine line at the Banner of Truth, as we seek to resource and not to replace the ordinary, God-appointed work of Christian ministers, Christian churches, and Christian families. That’s what this series is about.

Success will not consist of lots of ‘views’ or ‘shares’ (although we do hope the material travels far and wide). Success in this case will be less obvious—it will be seen, for example, in a new believer who is helped towards a better grasp of the basics of the faith through the episodes. It will be seen in the young or retired couple who are inspired to go through the catechism together as part of their devotions. It could be seen in a Christian father who gains confidence to catechize his family on Lord’s Day afternoons. It might be the elder or small group leader who catches the vision to supplement his regular preaching or leading with some doctrinal instruction from the Catechism or Confession. Lasting fruitfulness will ultimately not even be these things in themselves—it will be the increase of the faith, hope, and love of God’s people that only the Holy Spirit can bring as the word of God is explored. Might a child be born again during a time of catechetical instruction? Yes! Might an older Christian see the grace of God in a new way while working through the catechism? Absolutely! It is that kind of fruit we should pray for.

Episodes of Westminster Wednesdays will be posted weekly at our Youtube Channel and on the Banner Podcast.

Watch the first episode, available Oct 28: