Is it really important for children to know the Bible? Is it just history? Can the Bible change your children? Let me answer those questions  with a story.

Fields were on both sides of the road I had traveled for years. Lush crops of Chinese cabbages were planted and harvested on the fertile fields almost all year long. But not this year. Instead of the straight rows I had become so accustomed to seeing, dark green weeds stole the nutrients from the soil where cabbages had grown in previous years. I observed two things from that field:

  • Something is going to grow in the field.

  • If you want cabbages to grow you have to plant cabbages.

 

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Galatians 6:7 NIVI am absolutely certain the farmer did not plant the weeds in those fields. The weeds grew because the fields had been neglected. Something is being planted in the life of your children. If you neglect the job of planting the Word of God in your child’s life then something else will grow.

 

A good intention does not grow cabbages. Hoping for a good crop does not produce one either. If you want to grow cabbages you must plant them. If you want your children to know the Bible and the God of the Bible then you must deliberately plant seeds of truth in their lives.

 

 

 Tips for planting God’s Word in your child’s heart: 

  1. Although the church should be a support system, it is your job to teach your children.
  2.  Make Bible Study a priority in your home. This may mean realigning schedules and activities. It may mean turning off the TV or eliminating activities that consume too much time. Remember the most important thing is for your child to know God.
  3. Set a time and a place for Bible study. Be consistent, yet flexible. You may discover the back porch has too many distractions for your family, so try a different place. You may find your children are too sleepy for bedtime Bible Encounters. Discover what works for your family.
  4. Understand as with any discipline, getting started is not easy. There will be distractions. Children will not want to sit still. It will take training for them to listen to you if you have never done it before.
  5. Make it fun. Laugh together. Involve the children. The puppet skits in this unit are designed for the children to perform. Let them read or tell the Bible story, character story or object lesson.
  6. Make it age appropriate. It doesn’t have to be long to be effective.
  7. Don’t substitute moral values only for the Word of God. Base the values on the Word of God.
  8. Go over the weekly memory verse every night. Use variety as you go over the verse. Let your children use puppets or stuffed animals. Say the verse with a silly voice, really soft voice or squeaky mouse voice. Let them mimic the voice of their favorite cartoon character or let them suggest a voice to use for the memory verse.
  9. Sing a song that emphasis the truth you are teaching. A song is a great way to remember anything.
  10. Pray with your children. Pray for your children. Teach them to pray. We have verses for you to pray and ideas to help you teach your children to pray in other units.
  11. Play Christian music in your home. Worship God in your home. Use a wide variety of music styles. Help them develop a taste for different types of Christian music.

 

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