New City Catechism, Week 7 (Question 7)

Q: What does the law of God require?

Children’s answer

A: That we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love our neighbor as ourselves.

Adult/older children’s answer

A: Personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience; that we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love our neighbor as ourselves. What God forbids should never be done and what God commands should always be done.

Video explanation:

Song to assist with memorization:

Relevant Scripture to read:

Matthew 22: 37-40

And [Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Children’s Activity (printable pdfs)

Younger Kids (pages 14 and 15)

Older Kids (pages 14 and 15)

Special thanks to Del Rey Church for sharing their New City Catechism kid resources with us!

Devotional questions for individual/family/group discussion:

  1. The catechism says - “What God forbids should never be done and what God commands should always be done.” - Which one of these do you find more challenging?

  2. Is there a group of people that you find it difficult to love in this difficult season? How can you ask God for help?

  3. What is your primary calling in your life right now? What does it look like to love God and neighbor in and through this calling?

  4. How is God’s law a gift/grace to us?

  5. What kind of shape would we be in if the catechism (and our faith) ended here? How does the Gospel give hope?

For an additional “deeper” dive into this question and answer, check out this video from Dr. Michael Allen: