Description:
In an age of waning biblical literacy and theological knowledge, Adam McClendon and Chris Hulshof offer a vital educational tool designed to help Christians understand, articulate, and embody their faith in a contemporary world.
Review Quotes: "Adam McClendon and Chris Hulshof offer pastors, parents, and any follower of Christ a biblically sound and helpful resource for everyday use. This resource not only uses the question-and-answer format of previous classic Christian catechisms but helps teach the redemptive narrative of Scripture through McClendon and Hulshof's outline of Creator, Creation, Crisis, Covenants, Christ, Church, and Crown. I look forward to being able to keep this resource handy and using it in my own devotional times with the Lord. I pray this work will be a blessing to individuals, families, and churches for generations to come."
--Brian Autry, executive director, Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia
--Linda Barrick, cofounder, Hope Out Loud Ministries "Catechism seems like an old and dusty word to some. But McClendon and Hulshof have done a great service to the church in knocking the dust off Keach's classic work. All Baptist/evangelical churches will be well served by this resource aimed at training a new generation in Christian thought and theology."
--Louis Beckwith, pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Virginia "Catechesis is a historic Christian practice and a common Baptist instinct. From Keach and Collins to Spurgeon and Piper, Baptists have historically produced catechisms to further their efforts in discipleship. This new addition is helpful in the home and in the church, for children and adults alike. Hulshof and McClendon have produced a valuable resource for Christ's church."
--Matthew Y. Emerson, co-provost; dean of theology, arts, and humanities; and professor of religion, Oklahoma Baptist University "For much of church history, catechisms have been central to Christian formation. Though less popular among Baptists and other evangelicals today, we need sound catechisms more than ever. Chris Hulshof and Adam McClendon understand that need, and Creator to Crown is a welcome resource. The authors draw upon Benjamin Keach's famous catechism, first published in 1693, but they update the language and structure to emphasize the story of redemption revealed through the biblical covenants. The result is a substantive, yet accessible short introduction to the Christian faith."
--Nathan A. Finn, professor of faith and culture, North Greenville University "With Creator to Crown, Hulshof and McClendon have achieved a new level of accessibility for catechesis in the home, the classroom, and the church. This book is a compelling vehicle for doctrinal formation and pastoral care, equipping pastors and ministry leaders with the means to convey rich theological truths in ways that are both biblically sound and within reach to both new believers and seasoned saints alike."
--Bradley Gray, pastor, Stonington Baptist Church, Paxinos, Pennsylvania "The day a Christian, at any age, stops asking questions, they stop growing. To discover the answers that produce maturity, transformation, and fruitfulness, we must ask the right questions--ones that will renew our minds and root our souls in balanced and unchanging biblical truth. Even as a pastor for four decades, I was helped by this excellent resource that will certainly stimulate rich, well-ordered, and applicable learning of biblical truth for individuals, families, schools, and entire congregations."
--Daniel Henderson, founder and president, Strategic Renewal "Beautiful! Creator to Crown will live on my coffee table. I deeply appreciate resources that help me point the people in my life to the truths of our faith."
--Scarlet Hiltibidal, speaker and author "What a gift we have been given with Creator to Crown. As a former youth pastor and now senior pastor of a local church, I am always looking for resources to point people to that can develop their whole faith journey. Drs. McClendon and Hulshof have created a map to follow from beginning to end, and there is no mistaking it all points to Jesus. Fabulous book that I believe God will use to help shape our culture."
--Mike Linch, senior pastor, NorthStar Church, Kennesaw, Georgia "On the plains of Moab, just before the nation of Israel entered the promised land, Moses preached his last few sermons, in which he gave this simple pastoral directive: Catechize your family (Deut 6:7, 20-25). In other words, theological education was at the top of the to-do list as these families moved into their new neighborhoods. This book is theological education at its finest. This question-and-answer teaching device has the same goal as Moses's: that we would love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, and strength by keeping his commandments on our hearts."
--Benji Magness, senior pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Santa Maria, California "Creator to Crown is a welcome and much-needed gift to our churches, especially for Baptists. Connected to the greater evangelical tradition and the Baptist precedent from Keach, Boyce, and Spurgeon, McClendon and Hulshof have delivered a most accessible catechism for Christians of all ages and stages. I am proud to recommend Creator to Crown for individuals, families, and church groups for growth and clarity in their confession of Christ."
--Benjamin T. Quinn, director of L. Russ Bush Center for Faith & Culture and associate professor of theology, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Judson College "Breathing new life into an old approach, Creator to Crown is a Baptist catechism for the twenty-first century. Biblically faithful, doctrinally solid, and user-friendly, Hulshof and McClendon's work will benefit pastors, parents, and professors who want to make disciples of the next generation."
--Tyler Scarlett, pastor-teacher, Forest Baptist Church, Forest, Virginia "One of the most pressing needs in the church today is catechesis: instruction in the fundamentals of Christian faith and practice. Creator to Crown renews a venerable tradition among Baptists and other Protestants of crafting catechisms for this use in the church, the home, and other discipleship contexts. While some readers might wish to supplement or tailor the catechism to their own convictions on certain points, this work provides a helpful model for passing on the faith to the next generation."
--R. Lucas Stamps, professor of Christian studies and director of master's programs, Anderson University