The Westminster Shorter Catechism

What is the chief end of man? This well-known question is the first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. With this question, we are asked to examine what our primary purpose is as created by God. The answer given, “To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever”, is simple to learn and yet contains an unmeasurable depth. This question and answer is the first of 107 questions and answers found in the Westminster Shorter Catechism. It was first written in 1647 by the Westminster Assembly in London, England. It has since been a treasure of Bible-centered instruction taught and learned in churches and families throughout the world. While it was originally written for children, it contains rich instruction for everyone – for people of every age and intellect. We hope you will learn much from these lectures on the Westminster Shorter Catechism and that they will be a rich blessing for you.

In this lesson, we will be introduced to the greatest thought that you or I can have. By “thought,” we don’t mean something we merely imagine. We mean that our minds get to think on the greatest truth there is. What is this greatest truth?—it’s God. We’ve already had important truths before us — our greatest purpose, the standard by which we know what we are to believe and what we are to do, and these helped prepare for our question today.

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Rev. Jonathan Mattull is minister of the gospel at Sovereign Grace Presbyterian Church, in St. Louis, Missouri, a congregation of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), Presbytery of the United States of America.