The church has formulated much of the teaching of Scripture in certain documents which form part of the basic law of the church, and which are commonly called Subordinate Standards. The most important of these is the Westminster Confession of Faith as explained by the Acts of the Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1647, and the Synod of Eastern Australia in 1952.

A document on church government, agreed by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1578.

A document on church government, approved by the Westminster Assembly in 1645 and by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in that same year.

The Larger Catechism was one of two catechisms drawn up at the Westminster Assembly. Although cathechising may now be somewhat out of favour, these catechisms gave a valuable summary of theology.

Have you memorised them?

This catechism, the second of those produced by the Westminster Assembly, was adopted "to be a Directory for catechising such as are of weaker capacity", that is, those who could not yet manage the Larger Catechism. That this Shorter Catechism is the only one that many are aware of today may say something about our current grasp of theology.