​Certain words can create strong reactions in people. Something about the verb “blanch” makes me not hungry anymore. Maybe there’s a new diet idea.

Sadly, this also happens when talking about the most basic teachings of Christianity. Notice, I didn’t say “doctrines.” I don’t want to lose your attention.

Say the word “petition,” and eyes glaze over. Mention something about God’s “first article gifts,” and people look confused. Ask someone if they remember what the “catechism” teaches about truth in the Eighth Commandment, and you’ve lost them. Because of this, Luther’s Small Catechism often is viewed as that little book used in Confirmation classes but has little value afterward. The word “catechism” comes from the Greek word “echo” and the preposition “again.” Oops. I used the word “preposition.” Keep reading.

In his new book, Echo, Jonathan Fisk seeks to repackage the basic teachings of the Small Catechism with fresh language and a faithful, interconnected approach.

Echo walks through Luther’s Small Catechism without using the normal jargon. Instead of the “Ten Commandments,” the book opens with “The Ten Important Things about Being Creation.” Rather than considering the “articles” of the Apostles’ Creed, Pastor Fisk walks through the “Three Elements of the Gospel.” In place of the various “petitions” of the Lord’s Prayer, you have “The Seven Edges of Christian Holification.”

Filled with drawings that help illustrate and outline how each part builds upon the others, Echo gives a very accessible, easy-to-read foundation of the Christian faith. Each chapter boils down a part of the catechism to its most basic meaning.

For example, the subtitle of the chapter on the Seventh Commandment, “Thou shalt not steal,” is “God Gave You Stuff.” The chapter shows how God has provided you with everything you need in life. The things you own are given to you by God through others. And God intends you to use the things He has given to you, not to sinfully hold on to and trust, but to help and bless your neighbor.

If you read Fisk’s previous book Broken and, like me, found it to be difficult because of its style, Echo does not have the same hurdles.

Echo would be a fantastic gift for someone interested in Christianity, for confirmation students and graduates, for people who are curious about Lutheran theology, and for seasoned Lutherans to help brush up on what they learned years ago. I highly recommend this book.

Order your copy here: Ambassador Publications Online Store