Monthly Archives: March 2016

Three Reasons Sunday School Should Include “Theological Study”

March 30, 2016

Here are some common words/phrases included in describing the contemporary children’s Sunday school class: fun, exciting, relevant Bible lessons, engaging, loving environment, energetic worship, hands-on activities, faith-building,…etc. All descriptions that may be appropriate—to a greater or lesser extent—and definitely welcoming to many a parent and child. But I wonder how many descriptions include some reference to “serious theological study.” Not for children? Think again. Here is a wonderful article by Pastor Jared Wilson titled, “Theological Study Is for Everyone.” (And yes, I think “everyone” applies to children and youth, too.) He gives three reasons why this is so. Here are some excerpts from the article:

First, theological study of God is commanded. Having a mind lovingly dedicated to God is required most notably in the great commandment: “You shall love the

Teaching Vision Encouragement Parenting

Do They Truly Believe?

March 29, 2016

The Easter sermons and lessons have come and gone. Hopefully, our children and the students in our classrooms have been presented with a clear, compelling Gospel message in the past weeks. The sermons and lessons may have explicitly called upon our children to “repent and believe the good news.” And, Lord willing, there have been children who give evidence to true, saving faith. But here is a note of caution—not meant to cause despair—but to help us be discerning in order that we might guide and direct our children toward a biblical understanding of what it truly means to repent and believe the good news of the Gospel. For example, consider these texts:

…“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but

Teaching Vision Events Encouragement Parenting Theology

Catechizing: Bring it Back!

March 28, 2016

This week, I’ve had the privilege of getting a sneak-peak at Sally Michael’s new seminar, “Catechism: Out-of-Date, or a Tried-and-True Teaching Tool of Eternal Truths?,” which she will be presenting at our National Conference (a mere two and a half weeks away!). It is an excellent seminar in which she draws upon the time-tested wisdom of our Christian forebears. Here is one sample of one such man. Sally quotes John Murray from his article titled, “Catechizing: A Forgotten Practice”:

The foundation of all religion, Isaac Watts reminds us, is laid in knowledge. Scripture attaches great importance to knowledge and gives a foremost place to the mind and understanding. It is through the mind that truth enters the man, influencing

Teaching Encouragement Parenting

Telling and Explaining the Story of Calvary

March 23, 2016

In yesterday's post, we talked about the importance of giving children a proper context in which to understand the significance of Jesus' death on the cross. Namely, they must understand something of God's holiness, wrath, love, and grace. But how can we do this without unnecessarily "weighing" the story down with lengthy, deep theological explanations? Here is one suggestion: Before or after telling the story of the crucifixion—the actual events—provide the children with a summarized context in which to understand why Jesus died on the cross. This summary could include some of the following truths communicated in age-appropriate language:

God created everyone and is the ruler over everyone (Psalm 24:1).

All people are to honor God as their Ruler by loving, trusting, and obeying Him (Deuteronomy 6:5; 10:12-13).

God is holy and righteous. He never sins or does anything wrong. His commands and

Teaching Encouragement Parenting Theology

Calvary: Holiness, Wrath, Love, and Grace

March 22, 2016

Yesterday's post talked about the importance of not allowing the story of Jesus' death on the cross to become a "flyover" as it were between Palm Sunday and Easter. But as we tell the story of the cross, we must also give children a proper context in which to understand what really happened. The crucifixion narrative is grounded in some huge theological truths. Consider this helpful statement from Jerry Bridges:

The love of God has no meaning apart from Calvary. And Calvary has no meaning apart from the holy and just wrath of God. Jesus did not die just to give us peace and a purpose in life; He died to save us from the wrath of God. He died to reconcile us to a holy God who was alienated from us because of our sin. He died to ransom us from the penalty of sin—the punishment of everlasting destruction, shut out from the presence of the Lord. He died that we, the just objects of God's wrath, should become, by His grace, heirs of God and co-heirs with

Teaching Vision Encouragement

Leaving the Classroom Scratching Their Heads

March 16, 2016

Do your students ever leave the classroom with more questions than they came in with? Do they ever seem perplexed by what they have just experienced? (No, I am not referring to the outcome of a disorderly classroom or a poorly taught, confusing lesson.) In fact, this apparent perplexity in your students might be a sign that something very significant is happening in the students’ heads and hearts. Here are some good words for teachers from Dr. Howard Hendricks:

Never forget that your task is to develop people who are self-directed, who are disciplined, who do what they do because they choose to do it. That’s why I suggest you spend more time questioning answers than answering questions. Our job is not to give quick-and-easy answers, patent-medicine solutions that never work in the realities of life. It’s far, far better to have students leave your class scratching their heads with questions they think and talk about, and with problems

Teaching Vision Encouragement Parenting

What Are Your Summer Plans?

March 15, 2016

With spring just around the corner, it’s not too early to start making summer plans…plans for vacation, plans for a garden, and maybe plans for a Backyard Bible Club or Vacation Bible School. If you’ve never done a Backyard Bible Club before, just think of the possibilities before you. Every member of your family or small group can participate—inviting children, teaching a lesson, leading in singing, helping with crafts or games, providing treats, or just making sure everyone feels welcomed and loved. Most Backyard Bible Clubs meet for five sessions. These could be five consecutive mornings or afternoons, or you could spread them out a bit. Invite neighborhood children, your children’s classmates, and the children of coworkers, friends, or relatives. Hold the club in your backyard or garage. Meet for as little as an hour, or as much as three hours, though we recommend an hour and a half. The group can be of any size and any age group, provided you have

Teaching Vision Encouragement Parenting Theology

Intellectual Faithfulness in Christian Education

March 14, 2016

As preparation for my seminar “Engaging Active Minds in the Learning Process,” I’ve been reading some really inspiring and challenging books and articles, which have led me to believe that the problems of our day are greater than I first assumed. For example, in the introduction to his excellent book, “Essentials of the Christian Faith,” R. C. Sproul makes the following observation:

I believe we are living in the most anti-intellectual era of Christian history ever known…I mean against the mind.

We live in a period that is allergic to rationality…We have become a sensuous nation. Even our language reveals it. My seminary students repeatedly write like this

Teaching Vision Encouragement Parenting

What Our Children and Youth Can Learn from Jerry Bridges

March 08, 2016

It was with mingled sadness and joy that I learned of Jerry Bridges' passing at age 86. One of the great legacies he leaves behind that I have personally benefited from was his emphasis on the biblical call to a Gospel-centered, grace-fueled pursuit of holiness in the Christian life. Toward that end, his writings repeatedly direct our attention to a rich, deep, grand vision of God—a vision too often minimized in contemporary children’s and youth ministry. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from his book The Practice of Godliness—Godliness Has Value for All Things:

It is impossible to be devoted to God if one’s heart is not filled with the fear of God. It is the profound sense of veneration and honor, reverence and awe that

Curriculum Teaching Vision Encouragement Preschool Theology

Children Need a Robust Doctrine of God

March 07, 2016

Imagine a preschool Sunday school curriculum that presents 64 chronological Bible stories from the Old Testament…all of them focusing on the character of God. Is there something wrong with this? Something missing? Doesn’t the whole Bible point to Jesus? Shouldn’t we make clear that every story points to Jesus? Before you respond to these important and valid questions, I would ask you to carefully read and ponder this quote from J. Gresham Machen:

…when men say that we know God only as He is revealed in Jesus, they are denying all real knowledge of God whatever. For unless there be some idea of God independent of Jesus, the ascription of deity to Jesus has no meaning. To say, “Jesus is God,” is meaningless unless the word “God” has an antecedent meaning attached to it…We are not forgetting