Bishop RE Howard, General Overseer - Church of God of Prophecy

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IIt may surprise you to know that a majority of today’s teenagers say they attended church regularly (at least two times a month) until they reached the age of 13. These teens said they were exposed to Bible stories, learned about the lives of great Bible characters, and had a positive experience. But the survey done by the Barna Research Group also found that almost half of these teens said that they did not gain enough understanding of the Bible to make decisions that were based on biblical principles. Yes, many kids know Bible stories and are familiar with well-known Bible characters. However, that knowledge alone is not enough for children to live Christ-centered lives. Christ-centered living requires our children to know God’s Word in such a way that its truths affect everything they do, especially the decisions that they make each day. How can we help children KNOW God’s Word in such a way? We must first come to an understanding that children are not too young to know and understand God’s Word. Just as sponges are made to absorb water, no matter what their size, children are created by God to absorb and understand the Word of God. Paul said of Timothy, “. . . from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15 NKJV). The knowledge of God’s Word that Timothy gained in childhood enabled him to pursue a life of Christ-centered living as a young man. 10 WWM APRIL 2010 INTENTIONALLY teach God’s Word. To understand what is meant by “intentional teaching,” think about the analogy of hunting with a rifle versus a shotgun. Rifles are designed for accuracy to hit a precise point or target at long-range with a single projectile. Shotguns are designed to shoot a spread of shot at short-range moving targets. The word intentional means to be “done or said on purpose” or “planned, weighed, or estimated in advance.” Intentional teaching is teaching that is planned for, that is thought out in advance; it is teaching in which the content has been weighed in advance for the benefit of the learner. It is like aiming for the precise, long-range target with the rifle. In our homes, our children’s ministries, and our congregations, we must be intentional in teaching God’s Word to our children. How do we do this? 1. Make the Bible prominent. Does the Bible have a prominent place in your home, in your classroom, and in your church? When our Bibles have a prominent place in our homes and ministries, children understand without being told that the Bible is a special book that helps us determine how to live every day. Make the Bible prominent by doing the following: • Have a special but accessible place for the Bible. • Read the Bible to and with children. Bible storybooks and children’s devotions are good to use to help children understand the Bible more easily. But don’t substitute these for reading directly from the Bible. by Sandy Knowles and Kathy Creasy • Help children understand and memorize Scripture verses and passages. As soon as a child can memorize nursery rhymes, he or she can begin memorizing verses of Scripture. • Apply specific verses to life situations that the child encounters. For example, when a child is afraid, encourage him or her to read and memorize Isaiah 41:10 (NASB): “Do not fear, for I am with you. . . .” 2. Teach Bible skills. For many children (and adults), the Bible is a very difficult book to comprehend. They don’t understand its structure, content, timeline, or how to use the tools of Bible study. If children don’t feel comfortable using the Bible, they will never come to KNOW and absorb God’s Word. If our children are to have a commanding knowledge of the Bible, they must grow into an independent reader and student of God’s Word. To accomplish this goal, our children must develop basic skills that will help them to navigate the Bible.
Visit http://www.lifeway. com/lwc/files/lwcF_kids_ LevelsofBibleSkillsPDF_2009.pdf for an excellent, downloadable resource on helping children from nursery through sixth grade develop Bible skills. 3. Teach Bible content. The Bible is filled with truths that will help our children learn how to live Christ-centered lives. However, many times, even children from Christian homes who attend church regularly are suffering from spiritual malnutrition. Rather than being systematically and consistently fed biblical truth that is age-level appropriate, children are often fed random Bible stories and lessons. If our children are to have a thorough knowledge of the key principles of the Christian faith, they must be taught intentionally and systematically. As you prayerfully determine what you will teach the children in your home or in your ministry from God’s Word, consider their age, life experiences, and spiritual maturity. Don’t just teach truth that is relevant such as being kind, giving our tithes and offerings, etc. Also teach truth that is foundational to the Christian faith. The Apostles’ Creed provides a very simple state of the foundational principles of the Christian faith. Make sure your children know these basic truths and more. Help children ENGAGE with God’s Word. True discipleship must go beyond knowing biblical principles and the skills needed to navigate the Bible. Even Satan knew God’s Word. He quoted Scripture when he was tempting Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–7). It was Jesus who understood Scripture and applied it to His situation, choosing not to throw Himself down from the temple. If children are to live Christ-centered lives, they must engage with the Word in such a way that they develop a mindset that is eternal rather than temporal. They must be able and willing to apply biblical principles to everyday life circumstances and relationships. How can we help children become engaged with God’s Word? • Spiritual labor. Paul wrote, “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19 NIV). In this context, the word travail means “to strive with intense effort and anguish.” Our children will not become Christ-centered disciples through reading bedtime Bible stories and providing “boxed” children’s ministry programs. We must labor intensely in prayer, study of God’s Word, teaching, modeling, loving relationships, and more. • Life application. Christ-centered living is about being and doing. Children can be taught to respond to relationships and circumstances with obedience to biblical principles. They can be given opportunities to live out their faith through service, giving, witnessing, and more. • Spirit-led ministry. Too often, our family devotion times and our Sunday school class times are simply times of instruction. There are seldom times of ministry when children are given opportunities to respond to God’s Word in confession, repentance, thanksgiving, praise, or supplication. Times of ministry allow children to experience God’s presence quite intimately, which engages their hearts in a lifetime of obedience. Whatever a sponge absorbs will come out when the sponge is squeezed. The same is true with our children. The youth culture, family dysfunction, peer pressure, and many other circumstances will continually “put the squeeze” on saved children. If we have labored intensely to equip them with a good understanding of biblical principles and skills, we can be sure that the outflow will be Christcentered living. ____________ Sandy Knowles has been involved in Children’s Ministries for more than seven years. She has served as the Children’s Pastor at Summerville Family Worship Center in Summerville, South Carolina, for five years, and most recently as Children’s Pastor at Bethesda Ministries in Elizabethtown, Kentucky and Bethany Family Worship Center in Bethany, North Carolina. WWM APRIL 2010 11
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Bishop RE Howard, General Overseer - Church of God of Prophecy

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