Something Worth Living for: God, the World, Yourself, and the Shorter Catechism

by Randall Greenwald

Lengthy, heavy, theological tomes have their place, but sometimes we need a simple way of understanding the doctrine that is central to our faith. The Westminster Shorter Catechism is designed to do just that. Randall Greenwald takes the question and answer format that it follows and, in short chapters, encourages us to dig for the gold that is to be found in its pages. Read, and be enriched.

256 pages, Paperback

Published November 6, 2020

Reviews

[Karyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m excited to use Something Worth Living For as a resource for so many people- those who are new to the Christian faith, those asking questions about who God is, those investigating reformed theology, and those who desire a clear understanding of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Randy writes in an approachable way, easy to follow and neither intimidating nor arrogant.

[Ross Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something Worth Living For rightly reflects its author in many ways. Randall speaks with a personal tone that welcomes the reader into a weighty subject. He invites us to walk this road alongside him with wisdom based on may years of serving and teaching others faithfully from the Word of God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism can feel inaccessible, sometimes you just need a helping hand to open the door to the riches that are found within.

[Monty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Randall for writing this clear, genuine, and approachable book on the Westminster Shorter Catechism. SWFL reflects your heart for the wonder of God and his Word. It reflects the warmth and the beauty of Reformed theology. And all of it is written in a way which reflects your own heart and warmth for people - broken and needy as we all are.

[Nancy Franson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, when I was first introduced to Randall Greenwald and learned he had written a book based on the Shorter Catechism, I thought to myself, "Why do we need another one?" And then I started reading. Here's why this book is important - it's written from the heart. Randy doesn't merely want readers to have more information about the Catechism. He wants readers to draw more deeply in love with Jesus.

This book is whimsical, accessible, and rich with personal examples that illustrate the relevance of the church's historic doctrines for everyday life. I can imagine it being used as a helpful conversation guide for anyone who is curious about what the Christian faith actually teaches. I believe it could be especially useful for church membership classes, in campus ministry settings, or simply as a tool discussion over coffee. Highly recommend.

Note: I received an advance copy of Something Worth Living For from the publisher. The views expressed here, however, are my own.

[Sammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chalk full of beauty and humor. An excellent resource for those new to the Reformed faith...or new to the Christian faith! One pastor's loving look at the historic truths of the Gospel.

[Sungyak Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a rare book, the kind that I can both enjoy personally for my reflections and communally for teaching/preaching. You can tell pretty immediately that this is written by a minister with a wealth of life experiences. If "theology is application" (ref. John Frame), then Randall Greenwald is a solid theologian. The book also has that rare balance between being instructive (without sounding didactic) and being relevant (without compromising historical doctrine). I would recommend this for anyone who's curious (as you should be!) about the relevance of the Westminster Shorter Catechism to the modern-day life. And if you are (like me) growing weary of the politicized debates about what constitutes "essential" Christianity, this book will also be a breath of fresh air.

[Baxter Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend for anyone interested in the Westminster Shorter Catechism. The book has a simple goal of providing some color and context to the Shorter Catechism and it accomplishes it well. The intro is background information about the history of the Westminster Catechism and catechism generally. The remainder of the book is short commentaries that explain and expand upon each of the Shorter Catechism questions.

The author does not draw out chapters (like he is getting paid by the word) or attempt to amaze you with his seminary-trained vocabulary (like he is getting paid by the longest word). This book should be understandable by any lay-reader.

[Breanne Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book enough! If you’re curious about Christianity, read this book. If you have no idea what the Westminster shorter catechism is, read this book. If you’re new to the faith, read this book. If you’ve been a Christian your whole life, read this book. Randy does an excellent job of writing to a variety of audiences. He has eliminated verbiage that is confusing and frustrating, while also treating the readers as intellectuals. Gentleness and truth is shown in the communication on every page. Would recommend to anyone!

[Shuli · Rating 3 out of 5]

light read of daily devotional.

[Douglas Domer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for a person who is wanting to become more knowledgable about the Westminster Shorter Catechism.