As a follow-up to my previous post, if some of the questions in the Shorter Catechism are beyond your child’s current comprehension level, you might try Catechism for Young Children: An Introduction to the Shorter Catechism. Or, if you are working through the Meade book and you hit a question where the wording goes over the kids’ heads, you can borrow from this simplified version.

For example, let’s say you hit this doosey…

Q.18. What is sinful about man’s sinful condition?

A.18. The sinfulness of that fallen condition is twofold. First, in what is commonly called original sin, there is the guilt of Adam’s first sin with its lack of original righteousness and the corruption of his whole nature. Second are all the specific acts of disobedience that come from original sin.

You could break it down like the Young Children version does like this…

Q. 33. What befell our first parents when they had sinned?
A. Instead of being holy and happy, they became sinful and miserable.

Q. 34. Did Adam act for himself alone in the covenant of works?
A. No; he represented all his posterity.

Q. 35. What effect had the sin of Adam on all mankind?
A. All mankind are born in a state of sin and misery.

Q. 36. What is that sinful nature which we inherit from Adam called?
A. Original sin.

Q. 37. What does every sin deserve?
A. The wrath and curse of God.