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FOUNDATIONS*63**The* fifth* proposition* is* the* necessity* for* the* catechising* of* adults* and*children*in*the*church.*In*my*experience*as*a*Christian,*over*more*than*two*decades,*the*best*form*of*evangelism*is*when*Christians*are*rightly*excited*by*the*gospel*and*the*church*where*they*worship.*This*can*never*happen*by*the*quest*for*constant*outreach*activities*at*the*expense*of*feeding,*caring,*instructing*and*nurturing*the*whole*church.*The*church’s*dual*responsibility*must*be*pursued.*In*my*opinion*the*recovery*of*the*content*of*the*Reformed*faith* requires* attention* and* it* was* for* this* precise* reason* that* the*Westminster* divines* did* not* only* produce* a* Confession* of* Faith;* it* was*foreseen* that* the* church’s* elders* needed* the* right* tools* for* effective*discipleship*and*catechism’s*were*produced.*It*is*my*contention*that*the*use*of*the*Westminster*Larger*and*Shorter*Catechisms*in*the*church*can*help*to*solve*this*discipleship*problem.**The* growth* and* general* acceptance* of* believer’s* baptism* probably*explains*the*common*neglect*of*Reformed*catechisms.*J.*I.*Packer*and*Gary*A.*Parrett* write* on* “The* Waxing* and* Waning* of* Catechesis”.* The* authors*comment* that* “within* evangelical* circles,* conservative* Presbyterians* and*other* Reformed* believers* probably* represent* the* only* major* groups* that*have* regular* acquaintance* with* the* notion* of* catechesis”. 43 *They* pinpoint*part* of* the* waning* of* doctrinal* instruction* in* the* church* to* the* rise* of* the*Sunday* school* model* for* the* teaching* of* children.* They* highlight* that*Baptists* and* other* denominations* would* commonly* reject* Reformed*catechisms* because* they* taught* a* different* view* on* baptism* (WSC,* Q.* 95).*They*propose*that*catechetical*instruction*was*unfortunately*replaced*with*a*form*of*biblical*moralism,*one*that*lacks*doctrinal*content. 44 *This*analysis*is*searching*and*it*is*a*much:needed*exposé*of*a*contemporary*weakness,*one*that*needs*to*be*addressed*within*evangelicalism.**Conclusion!*Christian* baptism* is* in* urgent* need* of* being* re:visited* by* the* evangelical*church.* The* biblical* teaching* of* the* sacraments* is* that* they* are* “signs* and*seals”*of*God’s*covenant*grace*(Rom*4:11).*The*forerunner*of*baptism*in*the*OT*was*circumcision,*which*God*instituted*in*Genesis*17.*God*commanded*Abraham:*“As*for*you,*you*shall*keep*my*covenant,*you*and*your*offspring*after*you*throughout*their*generations.*This*is*my*covenant,*which*you*shall*keep,* between* me* and* you* and* your* offspring* after* you...* and* it* shall* be* a*sign*of*the*covenant*between*me*and*you”*(Gen*17:9:11).*We*have*noted*the*clear*connection*that*existed*between*covenant*and*circumcision.**********************************************************************43*J.*I.*Packer*and*Gary*A.*Parrett,*Grounded!in!the!Gospel:!Building!Believers!the!OldYFashioned!Way!(Grand*Rapids:*Baker*Books,*2010),*33.*44*Packer*and*Parrett,*Grounded!in!the!Gospel,*71:72.*!