I have taught Sunday School in many churches in both England and the US. My first attempt was when I was a student and I taught five year olds at the Round Church in Cambridge. I still remember the joy of teaching the exciting truths that I had recently discovered and choosing games that would help reinforce the Bible teaching. I arrived on my bike and although it meant that I had to get up early, I discovered the benefits of serving: the satisfaction that I was doing more than merely pleasing myself.

I struggle to simply follow the published curriculum or program. My teacher training in England encouraged us to develop our own teaching materials and games and I am very grateful that I could apply this approach to teaching the Bible to kids. It is too easy to read something about the Bible to the kids, rather than getting into the Bible itself. There are lots of enjoyable teaching methods that can help the kids have fun while learning, without distracting from the message. I am not suggesting that everyone should abandon teaching aids or curriculum. Rather, if we are teaching the Bible to anyone we should ensure that the curriculum is Biblical and that we do not rely on the program rather than the Word of God.

Adults are capable of listening to a sermon and leaving with a confused picture of the truth. It is even more likely that children jump to inaccurate conclusions. For example, if we refer to Bible “stories” they may assume that David and Goliath and the feeding of the five thousand are works of fiction. It is tempting to teach certain episodes over and over again but to avoid teaching doctrine. Children need to know that they were born sinful and cannot earn their salvation. They must be taught that we deserve the wrath of God but Jesus in His mercy took the punishment in our place. If we do not teach these truths, neither children nor adults will understand why we need Jesus. Other truths that must be taught include the reality that we can’t earn our salvation by being good but instead we are saved by God’s grace: a gift that we do not deserve.

Our lives are changed radically when we receive the Holy Spirit, God, who lives in us when we repent of our sins, confess that Jesus is Lord and start to follow Him. Our words, thoughts and actions will show that Christ is our Lord but they can never be the reason that we can go to Heaven. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is our reason and His resurrection is the proof that our hope is not in vain.

I remember attending a church when we had just arrived in the US when our kids were 4, 6 and 8. They obviously believed that children should understand these important principles of Christianity but they taught large chunks of the book of Romans to young children in a way that they struggled to understand. The approach must be age appropriate and this was not!

I was teaching teenage girls this summer and wanted them to understand the reality of sin and the need for forgiveness. I made a game, writing questions on cards and Bible verses on different cards. The goal was to find the answers from verses from Romans that I had pre-selected. Of course, ultimately we want everyone to be able to discover these truths from the Blble, but the teacher needs to make it relatively easy to understand the main ideas when working with young people. The tendency is either to avoid teaching anything difficult or inundating the youth with material that is over their heads.

In general, our expectations of young people, regarding their ability to understand and learn from the Bible, can be rather low. If a teenager is doing a number of high level classes at high school we should assume that he is capable of learning the Bible at a similar level. Parents are ultimately responsible for the Christian education that their children receive. The challenge is to study the Bible ourselves so that we can encourage our kids. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reminds us why the Bible is more valuable than any other book. It is unique and deserves our focused attention. The Amplified Bible explains that “Every Scripture is God breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, (and) for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose and action.) So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.” This means that the Scriptures clearly show God’s standards and expectations for man. I am so thankful that God has made His will clear and, like a bad child, I know that I can come back to Him whenever I go against His will because He will always forgive me. Without this standard I would be lost and I would not know right from wrong.

As a parent, teacher, or anyone seeking to follow Jesus, we are well advised to read the Bible regularly, recognizing that it is God’s Word. It is not an ancient, outdated commentary; rather it is “living and powerful” (Hebrews 4:12) and Jesus, when tempted by Satan, quotes a passage in Deuteronomy saying, ” It is written , ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) If we base our lives on God’s Word we will be much better off than struggling to satisfy the ever changing and confusing standards of the world. The Bible is even more important than food. We can’t live a fulfilled life without it. All of us at some time in our lives take on the role of teacher when we explain a concept to someone. When we are handling the Word of God, let’s make sure that we do not pull verses out of context but rather present our friends or children with an accurate picture of who God is and how He wants to change us.

Christian women respond: teach the Bible accurately and encourage other women to trust Jesus.

www.WomenRespond.com

Related posts:

1. How Christians Should Stop People Falling Prey To False Teaching We continue to have many  teenagers, who are not yet Christians, visit our home every...
2. Biblical illiteracy This morning my husband Martyn went to a meeting to discuss how high schools can...
3. Preaching the Bible: Tickling Ears or Proclaiming Truth? This evening  I will be  one of five people at Pomerado Christian Church to meet...
4. Seek God’s protection I enjoy watching nature programs. They are usually much less offensive than many other TV...
5. Evolution: Different Views I was at a boarding school in England when I was a teenager. My school...

 Email This Post