It is not enough to simply teach our children Bible stories. We need to show them the significance of biblical truth for today. Here is one suggestion for parents.
Sunday (D.V.), I am preaching on Daniel 3. This is the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refusing to bow down to an idol.
Bearing in mind that I came through on Father’s Day with incentives (see here), our kids should really be stoked to study the text. But this time a little more work is required.
- Read Daniel 3 aloud. Parents you’re on the honor system here but do read the story aloud. Put it in your own words when necessary. But help your family see the text.
- Draw a picture of the story on an 8.5X11 sheet of paper (or email me a computer image of the picture if it is not that size). There are all kinds of images from which to choose including a fiery furnace, a giant idol, and FOUR men in the furnace.
- Draw a SECOND picture of something which can be an idol today. Remember – – idols are not just gold statues. And they don’t have to be things which are inherently bad. But if good things are put in the place of God, then they are idols.
So you should have read the text and done two pictures when you are done. The homework is due by June 29.
In regards to identifying idols in our day, keep in mind the words of Elyse Fitzpatrick:
Idols aren’t just stone statues. No, idols are the thoughts, desires, longings, and expectations that we worship in the place of the true God. Idols cause us to ignore the true God in search of what we think we need. Elyse Fitzpatrick
In my case, I like to read fiction. Reading fiction isn’t a bad thing per se. But if I started reading fiction to the neglect of Scripture – – -in essence looking for entertainment in place of God – – then it would be sin. I’m convicted even in writing this.
So help your child think through – – “What in our world might distract us from worshiping Christ with all our heart soul, and strength.”
Really love what you are doing here, Chris. You are surely a blessing to the families in your church.
Patricia – – I (and a lot of other people!) am just concerned about the rate at which evangelical churches are losing young people. We are working hard to connect them not only with children and youth ministries, but also with our worship service.
I am alarmed at the rate young people are leaving too. That was one of my biggest discouragements in youth ministry. And on of my biggest concern for my kids. They are young and love church and Jesus now. But I have seen so many leave the church and Biblical living.
I read a study – probably Barna – that stated the the most influential thing that kept churched children going to church as adults was sitting in the worship service with their parents each week. I really wanted to do that, but not growing up in church myself as a child, I had no idea how to do that. One week I sat next to a friend and their child in church. The child started getting restless. The Mom pulled the child close and held her the rest of the service. I had never had that done to me or seen anyone do that. I could not believe it could be simple like that.And it isn’t always like that either.
I think that many ways of parents teaching kids how to be self controlled and sit when not in front of a screen has been lost. Many people do want to go to church but have no idea where to start training their kids do sit through church.
My children are with me during church. It is hard. I do not get the whole message, but when it gets really bad, I just think that the payoff will be years and years of memories and stories of Sunday church. From kids playing air guitar while standing on the pew or kids belting out the worship song or listening to my 10 year old critique the sermon at lunch. So this is long. But maybe Chirs you could help put parents in teaching kids how to sit through a service:-)
I heard Steve Brandon has a treasure chest if the kids fill in a sermon out line:-)
Heidi, Stay with it. . . I suppose every child is different, and learning how to help each child sit in church is different too.
Just now a I googled “How to help children sit in church” and got an incredible number of hits. I would be curious if you think any of those offer good advice.
Thanks! I am looking at it now:-)