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

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with him. . . .” It was in the context of relationship that they became disciples. Children will never become Christcentered simply through programs and events. They will become true disciples in the context of relationships. What relationships are biblically significant in the discipleship of children? 1. Parent-child relationship. Parents have been given a divine mandate in both the Old and New Testaments to disciple their children. (See Deuteronomy 6:6, 7; Ephesians 6:4.) Why? Family relationships are the most influential relationships in a child’s life. If the family unit (parents, siblings, and extended family members) is healthy and Christian, instruction, training, and correction are done in the context of loving relationships. Bible truths are taught and lived out (modeled) in the context of everyday life. Many parents have failed to accept responsibility. Some parents are unsaved. Some parents are saved but unwilling. Some parents are willing but do not feel equipped to disciple their children. In each of these cases, what is the church’s responsibility? In his book, Rock-Solid Kids, Larry Fowler challenges us to “give it back” 2 —to give the responsibility for discipleship of children back to parents. The church is not to assume the parents’ responsibility for discipleship. The church is to equip parents to fulfill a responsibility that is rightfully theirs. Each congregation must prayerfully consider what steps must be taken to give parents back the responsibility of teaching their children in the ways of the Lord. 2. Church-child relationship. Yes, parents have a biblical mandate to disciple their children. But as we give parents back their responsibility, the church cannot neglect its responsibility. Ephesians 4:11–13 (NIV) paints a very detailed portrait of the church’s 8 WWM APRIL 2010 Bible truths are taught and lived out. responsibility in the discipleship of children: “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” The body of Christ, the church, definitely has a responsibility not only to evangelize children (Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15) but to disciple them as well. Saved children are “God’s people.” Saved children are part of the “we all” who must be brought to spiritual maturity. 3. Minister-child relationship. Often, in local church ministries to children, relationships between children’s ministers and kids stop at the teacherstudent level. Relationship with kids is “cubbyholed” into the 45 minutes of instruction on Sunday morning. The children’s minister focuses on the content of the lesson rather than the context of relationship, and relationships do not extend beyond the ministry session. Jesus was in a teacher-student relationship with many of His followers. But there were some whom He called disciples. He moved from the role of teacher into the role of mentor in His relationship with these men and women. He prayed for them. He taught them. He was involved in their everyday lives. He modeled right actions and attitudes. He included them in ministry. The local church must encourage and facilitate children’s ministers rethinking their roles. Will they be teachers or mentors? Will some continue in a teacher/student relationship while others develop a mentor/disciple relationship? What will children’s ministers do differently in the role of mentor? Will children’s ministry programs need to change so that relational disciplemaking can take place? Content Paul wrote to Timothy, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:14–17 NIV). What had Timothy learned? He had learned the Holy Scriptures. From whom had he learned the Holy Scriptures? He had learned from his mother and grandmother. They had fulfilled their God-given responsibility as parents. Paul, along with others, had fulfilled the God-given responsibility of the body of Christ. What did the content of the
Holy Scriptures accomplish? It made Timothy wise to receive salvation, and it equipped Timothy for every good work. Paul’s words verify that it is the Holy Scriptures, God’s Word, that must be the content of our ministries to children. Each of us would probably be quick to affirm that the content of each program and ministry session is God’s Word. Yet Barna’s statistics demonstrate that church-going kids are not committed to Christ and do not have a belief system that is consistent with biblical principles. We must look intently at the content we are teaching children. Before children reach 13 years old, their belief system is in place. During childhood, we have the opportunity to help them develop a belief system that is consistent with the truths of God’s Word. How will we do this? 1. We must be students of God’s Word. In 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV), Paul reminded Timothy to “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Children’s ministers, parents, and others who speak God’s Word to kids must correctly handle it. We must avoid teaching traditions, personal experiences, or knowledge gained from sources other than the Bible unless these are consistent with Scripture. Our teaching and behavior must affirm the authority of God’s Word as the ultimate source of truth, wisdom, and guidance. 2. We must help children develop a commanding knowledge of the Bible. A commanding knowledge of the Bible goes beyond being able to retell a Bible story or recite a Bible verse. A commanding knowledge of the Bible is a knowledge that includes the following: • Understanding principle Bible truths such as “Who is God?” “Who is Jesus?” “How can I be Nurturing Christ-centered kids is God’s will. saved?” “Why am I here?” “Who is the devil?” “What is sin?” “Is the Bible God’s Word?” “Where will I go after I die?” • Committing Bible verses to longterm memory that affirm these principles and provide insight on how to live out Bible truth. • Correctly applying Bible truths to life situations so that the child’s responses honor God. • The ability to use the Bible and basic study tools so the child is able to study God’s Word independently. 3. We must help children develop a passionate desire to obey God’s Word. It is at this point when the other elements become so crucial. Prayer prepares our children’s hearts to receive the Word of God with joy and obedience. Relationships allow them to see obedience to the Word of God modeled by men and women who are intimately involved in their lives. Content provides instruction, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, which will show them how to live Christcentered lives. Conclusion Ivy Beckwith says, “There will never be a kit available at the local Christian bookstore that provides everything needed for the spiritual nurture of the children in the emerging church of the 21st century.” 3 Thus, an effective plan for nurturing Christ-centered kids doesn’t come in a box with instructions. But nurturing Christ-centered kids is God’s will, and He has provided all the necessary ingredients—prayer, relationships within His body, and God’s Word. Our responsibility is to prayerfully put them all together in the ways that work best for the children and families of our congregation and our communities. When we begin doing this, God will work with us to make sure the children we serve live Christcentered lives for the rest of their lives. ________________ 1 George Barna, Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions (Ventura, CA: Issachar Resources, 2003). 2 Larry Fowler, Rock Solid Kids (Ventura, CA: Gospel Light, 2005). 3 Ivy Beckwith, Postmodern Children’s Ministry, Ministry to Children in the 21st Century (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004). For the past 18 years, Kathy Creasy has served as the Coordinator of Children’s Ministries for the International Offices of the Church of God of Prophecy. Her passion is to develop leaders in children’s ministry who will multiply themselves and impact the lives of children in their churches and communities. Kathy has earned a Masters of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and has taught in the public schools of Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia. In May of 2003, Kathy completed a graduate certificate in Children’s Ministry from Lancaster Bible College. Kathy and her husband, Rick, live in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, with their two adult sons, Lee and Clint, and a lovely daughter-in-law, Sarah. WWM APRIL 2010 9
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Bishop RE Howard, General Overseer - Church of God of Prophecy

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