Sometimes in children’s ministry, we assume kids know things that they really don’t know. So when it comes to the Bible, start at the beginning and be clear.
When you stand before children with an open Bible in your hands, you are holding the divinely inspired Word of God and communicating what He has said. Teaching kids God’s Word is such an awesome responsibility, and why it is crucial that you only say what the Bible says and not add anything or remove anything from the Scripture. Instead, let God speak for Himself through His written Word.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV), the Apostle Paul says, “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”
As we teach boys and girls the Bible at church, we want them to know they are hearing the actual Word of God, not some fictional storybook. Make a clear distinction between the Bible and all other books because the Bible is the Source we use to teach kids about God. Children must understand that the Bible is God’s book, and it is all true. Therefore they can believe what it says and build their lives on it.
God speaks to us through the Bible, of which, He is the Divine Author. The Bible was written over 1,500 years by almost forty men whom God used as secondary authors to write down His divinely inspired words. Therefore, the Bible is God’s autobiography, and because of His Authorship, the Bible carries the full weight and authority of God Himself. That’s what makes the Bible different from every other book; it came to us from God.
When the Bible speaks, God is speaking through the written words. Therefore, we need to convey this truth repeatedly so that children will be attentive and respectful every time they hear God’s Word.
Children understand that God is in charge when they are taught the Bible, and when God speaks through His Word, kids begin to hear His voice through the pages of Scripture and learn to obey Him. God said everything He wants us to know about Himself in the Bible.
The Bible is a collection of 66 books presented in one volume. These books are divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The Old Testament contains 39 books that are divided into five categories: 1) The Law, 2) History, 3) Wisdom, 4) Major Prophets, and 5) Minor Prophets. The Old Testament reveals the history of Israel and the promise of the coming Savior. The first book of the Old Testament is Genesis, which tells how God created the universe by speaking it into existence. Then God closes the Old Testament historically and prophetically with the book of Malachi.
The New Testament concentrates on the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His church. The 27 books included in the New Testament were written after 400 years of silence. During that time, no prophet spoke or wrote any Scripture until the arrival of John the Baptist, who broke the silence and announced that the promised Lord and Savior had come.
The first four books in the New Testament are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, which are known as the Gospels because they reveal the story of Jesus. The last book of the New Testament is Revelation, which tells of Christ’s ultimate triumph over Satan.
Kids come to know and love God as they grow in their knowledge and understanding of the Bible. God uses His Word to convince and convert sinners and to help believers grow in Christlikeness. The goal of teaching kids the Bible is changed lives.
I want to encourage you to prioritize teaching God’s Word to boys and girls in your church, as this is the most important thing you can do as a children’s ministry leader.
FOR YOUR MINISTRY TOOLBOX
1) Purchase a study Bible for your own edification and to help you prepare to teach children. I highly recommend the MacArthur Study Bible or the Reformation Study Bible in the English Standard Version.
2) Make a commitment to daily Bible study and prayer if you are not already in the habit. You cannot teach children the Bible correctly if you are not into the Word yourself.
TAGS: 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Bible, Word of God, Scripture, God’s Word, Teaching
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