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Making Disciples: Catechesis in History, Theology, and Practice
Now more than ever, faith communities need to engage in what the early church called catechesis: basic but comprehensive instruction in what Christians believe, hope, and love.
The early church stressed the importance of teaching core tenets of the Christian faith. Over time, however, many churches have lost sight of what catechesis is and how to practice it effectively. As a result, believers today often lack the theological, spiritual, and moral foundations needed to remain firmly grounded in Christ in the midst of personal and cultural struggles.
To meet this need, theologian Alex Fogleman has written Making Disciples—an introduction to catechesis that is engaging, informative, and pastoral. Fogleman explains that catechesis focuses less on current fashions and hot topics and more on the basic building blocks of thinking, praying, and living as a Christian. It is distinct from evangelism in that it goes beyond the proclamation of the gospel; it is distinct from preaching in that it prioritizes basic understanding of Christian belief and practice. Put simply, catechesis is a process of forming lifelong followers of Christ. Making Disciples provides rich insights and practical resources for incorporating catechesis into the life of the church today.
The early church stressed the importance of teaching core tenets of the Christian faith. Over time, however, many churches have lost sight of what catechesis is and how to practice it effectively. As a result, believers today often lack the theological, spiritual, and moral foundations needed to remain firmly grounded in Christ in the midst of personal and cultural struggles.
To meet this need, theologian Alex Fogleman has written Making Disciples—an introduction to catechesis that is engaging, informative, and pastoral. Fogleman explains that catechesis focuses less on current fashions and hot topics and more on the basic building blocks of thinking, praying, and living as a Christian. It is distinct from evangelism in that it goes beyond the proclamation of the gospel; it is distinct from preaching in that it prioritizes basic understanding of Christian belief and practice. Put simply, catechesis is a process of forming lifelong followers of Christ. Making Disciples provides rich insights and practical resources for incorporating catechesis into the life of the church today.
220 pages, Paperback
Published July 8, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 28, 2026
This book is outstanding, and it does a number of things well at the same time. It brings a deep understanding of history to bear on the topic of discipleship and catechesis in a way that is both accessible and compelling. It offers a profound theological vision of the church and the Christian life that is firmly rooted in Scripture and the Christian tradition, and it connects that vision seamlessly with a range of contemporary denominations. It provides straightforward practical advice and resources for those who are or want to begin doing catechesis in their church. Finally, it is winsome and irenic, and marked throughout by three things: humility, joy, and love. I highly recommend this book to pastors and lay people, and anyone interested in Christian discipleship today. Whether you want to lead catechesis or understand what it might mean to be catechized, this is the book for you.
June 10, 2026
Catechesis is the process of instructing beginners in Christianity. And as the the book makes clear, it is a process that never ends while we are on earth - we just progress to deeper levels.
Dr. Fogleman writes clearly and persuasively. When taking notes, I used many direct quotes as he often has wonderful phrasing for his thoughts. The book has a lot of history and instruction from early church fathers, which is appealing to me. He reviews particular catechisms and catechetical practices, but more importantly he places the whole effort in a solid theological context. I learned a lot.
Dr. Fogleman writes clearly and persuasively. When taking notes, I used many direct quotes as he often has wonderful phrasing for his thoughts. The book has a lot of history and instruction from early church fathers, which is appealing to me. He reviews particular catechisms and catechetical practices, but more importantly he places the whole effort in a solid theological context. I learned a lot.
December 27, 2025
Fogleman’s book fills a void in the contemporary literature of catechesis. In my reading, most books are either uber-practical with very little depth in doctrine, or hifalutin theological tomes that don't catch a whiff of the parish. “Making Disciples” manages pleasingly to wed the theological and the practical—with a healthy dose of the historical sprinkled in. Recommended for pastors, catechists, and anyone teaching the faith (or teaching *about* teaching the faith).
January 1, 2026
Excellent book on the history of the church’s discipleship of its people. Gave me a bigger dream for the intentional discipleship of our people, and some clear intentional tools to do that.
July 3, 2026
Outstanding. Not prescriptive of a particular plan but about a posture toward holistic and thoughtful catechesis. Very thought-provoking.
September 8, 2025
Fogleman does an excellent job of collating all the most important resources surrounding the topic of catechesis. The subject itself is a very humbling topic to attempt to “cover,” as the teaching handed down to us in the Good News of Jesus Christ is one that touches all things (Matthew 25, Great Commission), and it’s the Christians job to attempt to speak to the whole, while recognizing that the whole of Christ’s teaching would fill more books that the world contains (see the conclusion of John!) .
Faith, hope and love are a “sturdy framework for lifelong discipleship,” a claim that he does a great job of elucidating from every angle. A lovely theme he attends to is that the education of catechesis is akin to apprenticeship, which is exactly right!
I’ve read a ton in the world of catechesis, maybe more than other subjects, and I’m delighted to have a text that can help people get into the breadth of the subject. His resourcing of the early church was especially satisfying to me; I’ve spent most of my early church catechetical reading in Augustine, so getting acquainted with a wider lens was very lovely.
One of themes that I’ve been struggling with over the last few years is the relationship between catechesis and the maturity of spiritual gifts. While he doesn’t attend with tons of specificity on the spiritual gifts, I do love that he also has meditated on similar themes that I’ve not seen covered all the time. Here’s a great quote: “Catechesis, on this view, belongs to the spiritual transformation by which the Spirit sanctifies the hearts and minds of believers, enabling them to see God through their dynamic transformation in Christ,” (19).
One area where the Church must desperately seek guidance from the great Tradition’s understanding of discipleship is the place of the Will of God, the 10 Commandments in the believer’s devotional life. I’m personally very fussy on requiring catechumens to know the 10 by heart, and I agree with Fogleman’s lovely exclamation: “As we walk in their glow, our lives shine with love of Christ,” (111).
Love his second Appendix, “Building a Catechetical Library.” Yes, please!
Wish Fogleman provided more insight into the pedagogical underpinnings of how to catechize. I think we are all in need of more prescriptiveness in this New Medieval/Technological age we live in, where thinking is confused in the noise of it all. All that said, not one book can do everything! To me, this is primary reading material for anyone who wants to be a catechist in the church. It is an amazing lay-of-the-land.
Faith, hope and love are a “sturdy framework for lifelong discipleship,” a claim that he does a great job of elucidating from every angle. A lovely theme he attends to is that the education of catechesis is akin to apprenticeship, which is exactly right!
I’ve read a ton in the world of catechesis, maybe more than other subjects, and I’m delighted to have a text that can help people get into the breadth of the subject. His resourcing of the early church was especially satisfying to me; I’ve spent most of my early church catechetical reading in Augustine, so getting acquainted with a wider lens was very lovely.
One of themes that I’ve been struggling with over the last few years is the relationship between catechesis and the maturity of spiritual gifts. While he doesn’t attend with tons of specificity on the spiritual gifts, I do love that he also has meditated on similar themes that I’ve not seen covered all the time. Here’s a great quote: “Catechesis, on this view, belongs to the spiritual transformation by which the Spirit sanctifies the hearts and minds of believers, enabling them to see God through their dynamic transformation in Christ,” (19).
One area where the Church must desperately seek guidance from the great Tradition’s understanding of discipleship is the place of the Will of God, the 10 Commandments in the believer’s devotional life. I’m personally very fussy on requiring catechumens to know the 10 by heart, and I agree with Fogleman’s lovely exclamation: “As we walk in their glow, our lives shine with love of Christ,” (111).
Love his second Appendix, “Building a Catechetical Library.” Yes, please!
Wish Fogleman provided more insight into the pedagogical underpinnings of how to catechize. I think we are all in need of more prescriptiveness in this New Medieval/Technological age we live in, where thinking is confused in the noise of it all. All that said, not one book can do everything! To me, this is primary reading material for anyone who wants to be a catechist in the church. It is an amazing lay-of-the-land.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews