November 2007 - Protestant Reformed Churches in America

Homiletical Use of the Heidelberg Catechism
Both Lloyd-Jones and Macleod are convinced that catechetical
preaching promotes an intellectual and theoretical approach to
the Christian life. In their view, it is virtually impossible in
catechetical preaching to sound the warm and practical note of
the gospel.
Besides this criticism, Lloyd-Jones raises a concern over
catechetical preaching that it is too narrow in its focus. This narrowness
of focus, in his judgment, is due to the fact that catechisms
are not only incomplete in covering the expanse of biblical teaching,
but also present their material with an emphasis derived from
the time and circumstances out of which the catechism was written.
… these catechisms were produced by men and men who were
concerned to emphasise (sic) certain things in their peculiar historical
situation, over against certain things in their peculiar historical
situation, over against certain teachings and attitudes. At their best,
therefore, they tend to be incomplete, they tend to have a particular
emphasis; and therefore they tend to leave out certain things. 37
Macleod expresses the same viewpoint. The minister ought not
to preach from a creed, because “Even when creeds are inerrant
(a claim that can be made for the Apostles Creed, for example),
their proportion, balance, and selection of topics will not be that
of Scripture.” 38
The Charge That Heidelberg Catechism Preaching
Is Not the Preaching of the Word of God
Of all the objections raised against catechism preaching over
the years, the most serious objection is that such preaching is not
preaching of the Word of God. The other objections raise concerns,
whether judged valid or not, over catechism preaching. This
objection does more than raise a concern. It lodges a principle
objection to the practice. The Reformed churches take this ob-
37. Lloyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers, p. 187.
38. Macleod, “Preaching and Systematic Theology,” p. 269.
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