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Teaching children about God
- This topic has 8 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 10 months ago by
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My husband and I have been saved for 2+ years. We are growing in leaps and bounds and have recently found a new church that suits us better. We’ll be able to participate more in this new church so we are excited! This is the first time we’re able to attend sunday school too. So a quick background on me…I grew up Catholic (12yrs school too) and hated it as a child. It wasn’t taught/practiced at home and no one in my family is saved. I seem to have a fear of teaching my children about God. Not that it’s anything like when I was growing up and learning about it but rather that I don’t want them to hate it like I did. We live by the Word each day so we are practicing it at home all the time! They see us reading our Bibles and they love sunday school and church.
We see how important it is to raise godly children and it’s a little overwhelming at times.
There are so many choices for curric. that I don’t really know where to go from here. They know a lot of the stories, not nec. the details of why/who/what, etc. but they are familiar with them. This year I was going to use “Jesus Storybook Bible” along with “Leading Little Ones to God” along with our scripture memory system. Is that enough? They aren’t ready to read straight from the Bible yet. My dc are 6, 5, 2, baby in June.
Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Blessings,
Leslie
At their ages, I think that is plenty. The main thing I think is to include them in your walk. We attend a church in which the kids stay in service with us and go to mid-week Bible study which is all ages (though they do have their own classes Sunday morning too). Just being in Bible study with other adults who are not their parents and hearing how they discuss the Bible and pray has been one of the things we value most for them. I also recommend some sort of “family worship” most days. We do ours after dinner. My husband reads a Bible passage, asks the kids what happened in it, then we all take turns praying and then we sing a psalm.
Nebby
My kids are 5, 3 and 1. With the preschoolers we read JSB, but that is a little light for my 5 yo. We also read through the Egermeier Story Bible. It’s much more in-depth, but still in an easy to understand language.
We also have a prayer board that we do every day. We have different family, friends, missionaries, govt officials that we pray for each day of the week. We do one at breakfast, circle time, lunch and dinner.
Leslie, this is something that weighs on my heart every day. I am Catholic, actually, and my husband and I pray that we will raise our children to know God intimately, and to serve Him in their lives.
I’m definitely no font of wisdom on the topic. My husband and I were not raised to know God and we came to the Catholic church about 12 years ago. We were raised in families that were nominally Christian, so we didn’t have a personal relationship with God or anything like that.
I was just listening to Sonya’s talk “Discipleship Is” and it is really encouraging me:
http://simplycharlottemason.com/store/discipleship-is/
My kids are older, so we do a lot more in-depth activities than would suit you right now. I think your plan sounds great. Make sure you are an authentic witness for them, too. Let them see you pray, let them see you serving others, etc.
I think that sounds like plenty for their ages. My DC love reading children’s story Bibles at night (we have quite the collection)…The Jesus Storybook Bible is a favorite here! We also do a short family devotion each night…right before brushing teeth and going to bed. It’s become a habit for sure and I can’t recall the last time we missed one! We also try to pray before each meal, but I have to confess that this often gets forgotten…I’m usually busy dishing up food and DH is often running late.
Going to church is another habit…if we are sick, we listen on the radio. For school, we have our Bible readings, hymn study, scripture memory, and a short morning devotion (when we don’t have a Bible reading).
We use this series: http://www.amazon.com/365-Family-Devotions-Little-Visits/dp/075860291X/ref=pd_sim_b_3
Dear Leslie,
I think it’s wonderful that you are intentionally thinking about ways to help your children to know God. What a blessing it will be in their lives!
I recently wrote about this very topic on my blog, with lots of ideas for little ones. Perhaps it may be of some encouragement to you:
http://wheremytreasureis.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/mothering-monday-introducing-our-children-to-god/
~Anna
Leslie,
It is wonderful that you are desiring to train your children in the Lord. What you are planning to do sounds great. I would also encourage you to use this time when your children are young to immerse yourself in studying the Bible. And keep on going as they get older!
I have found the SCM Bible studies to be very profitable! Maybe you could choose one of them to work though. And start your own Discovering Doctine book. Especially as a new Christian this would help you to work out what you beleive about the major doctrines.
Above all, keep praying for wisdom from the Lord as you parent and train your little ones.
Jenny
I think what you are doing right now is fine for the ages of your kids. As they grow older you can add &/or change what you are doing. One of the things I found great is the SCM history modules that incorporate Bible study right into the history teaching. It has been years since I had read all the bible stories and it was so nice to go through them with my children. I think sometimes I should look for a different history but the bible part of it always brings me back to SCM.
We also are doing the GOAL bible study as well this year.
I just wanted to mention one other thing; as your children get older and you are able to, become involved in church. You will have a better chance of keeping them in church and in the faith if you and they as they are able, can be involved in things. Some of the things we do, are to help with cleaning the church, my husband is very involved with the audio/video aspect and my oldest son (age 9) helps with the cameras. We sometimes sing a solo or duet as well. There are many ways to be involved. Read the book ‘Already Gone’. It is a frightening look at what is happening in todays church sunday schools and with our kids. By staying involved, my husband and I believe we can help combat that problem.
In my opinion the most important thing is that you follow the advice in Deut 6:5-9 that your kids see you live it and you talk with them about not only the “facts” of Christianity but also your personal experiences each and every day as part of your daily routine. If you use a curriculum for that then fine, but most importantly *talk* to them about all the heart issues that come up all the time. Also, give them opportunities to *live* it themsleves by helping with some ministry, serving the poor, etc. Help them own it so when they get older they won’t walk away from it!
Going to church is another habit…if we are sick, we listen on the radio. 
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