We know we love ‘em. We know we want them to know and love Jesus. We know that Jesus loves them; he gathered the little children to Himself and used their simple trust to demonstrate what pleases our Heavenly Father.
So knowing that we love them, knowing Jesus loves them, and knowing that we want them to know and love Jesus, let’s take a look at what the Bible says about teaching them!
What Does The Bible Says About Teaching Children?
In this space it would be impossible to undertake an exhaustive study, but we could start by looking at a couple of points the Scriptures reveal about teaching children: children need to be taught what God has done and what God has said.
1. Children need to know what God has done.
Psalm 78:1-4 begins with the psalmist’s intention to teach . . .
“things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.”
Children come to see the character of God through the exciting accounts in the Bible of what He did! Through these stories they learn to admire His glorious deeds and His might. The histories of the Bible reveal His acts of mercy and love, as well as His demonstrations of holiness and just judgment of sin. Children need this full-orbed view of God! And they get it through the stories of the Old and New Testament that tell what God has done.
2. Children need to know what God has said.
Deuteronomy 6:6,7 gives the timeless charge:
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
It should never be assumed that children will catch on to God’s commands by spiritual osmosis! They must know what God has said in order to obey Him. From the Ten Commandments to the Sermon on the Mount, teach the children in your care what God has said.
How Can You Teach These Bible Truths?
Practically speaking, we teach children what God has done and what He has said simply by reading the Bible to them. Remembering that the Bible is about what God has said and done (and not primarily about characters and events of the Bible) helps us remain focused and God-centered as we teach.
A steady diet of this will, as the Holy Spirit works, whet your children’s appetites to know more and more about this great God, and point their hearts to their need of, and the good news about, the Savior. This is God’s prescribed way to teach children to know and love Him, to come to understand and value what He has done for us in Christ, and to treasure Him above all!
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I have seen an amazing change in my grandson, His mother was brought to tears when talking about the improvement of how he speaks to her. He said that he is learning in bible study that life is all about choices and cosequences- If we do good we receive God’s Blessings- Granting us a more peaceful and joyful life. If we do bad God’s Blessings are taken away- Causing our lives to become more difficult. He said that the answer to receiving God’s Kingdom – His Light in us and forever is hidden in Jesus’ more than sixty Parables found in the four Gospels. If you find them, learn them, and live them, you will live forever.
He also said that Many people will go to heaven, but only a chosen few will be able to enter into the Kingdom in heaven on the last day of all life on earth- Judgment Day- The “Bride” – Only those that are wearing a wedding garment- God’s mature Light- Earned from their good deeds- Righteous Acts- God knows what each of us are capable of.
Have you heard of any of this before? I have not, but the change in him is real. What do you think?
Sincerely, Pam
Thanks for sharing your question. It’s always exciting to see people changing, but I am a little concerned about what you wrote. Rom 3:23-24 talks about the Gospel as God’s power for salvation, but in all that you wrote it didn’t sound like he was talking about the sin-covering death and new-life-giving resurrection of Jesus.
Is he attending church? What kind of religious material is he reading.
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