This weekend we taught the children the biblical story of Jesus in the desert. We helped the children children recognize that Jesus faced choices about whether or not to obey God. And we taught the children to ask for God’s help when faced with important choices.
In today’s society children face bullies, guns, and the pressure to have sex and take drugs. No school systems are immune. These problems happen in public and private schools, inner city and suburban or rural schools, and in Christian and secular schools. And children of increasingly younger ages are experiencing these pressures. Children, just as adults, have to make choices between good and evil.
In this weekend’s lessons, we taught the children the biblical story of Jesus in the wilderness. We told them that Jesus faced choices about whether or not to obey God. This lesson is a very important one in teaching children that they, like Jesus, can ask for God’s help when faced with difficult choices. Children want to make good choices because they want to please their parents, teachers, and other authority figures. Even older children, whose focus is often on impressing and pleasing their peers, still desire and need the affirmation of their parents and other adults.
Think about a time when you made a poor choice, either when you were younger or as an adult. What led you to make the poor decision? Was it not having sufficient information, peer pressure, lack of confidence or low self-esteem, eagerness to please others, to avoid conflict, or perhaps another reason? As you consider your reason, more likely than not your children have made poor decisions because of similar reasons. Now think about any mercy shown from God and others in the midst of your poor choice. God is always gracious and willing to forgive. God forgives, and you have to forgive yourself as well. Sometimes we have a difficult time forgiving ourselves. Now think about the times when you made good choices. What helped you to make the right choice?
This week as you interact with your children provide opportunities to encourage and affirm them. Let the children know God will give them the strength to do what is right. Also, let them know that God offers forgiveness when they make poor choices. Help the children learn that God is a source of unending love, as well as a source of guidance and strength.
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor”. Luke 2:52
This weekend we helped the children learn the biblical account of the boy Jesus in the Temple. We also helped them learn about God and grow in their faith too.
An Irish proverb says, “You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.” This proverb sounds comical, but there is much truth to it. If we apply this saying to our spiritual lives, then we have to take the initiative and responsibility to learn about God and to grow. Yes, corporate gatherings such as worship, Sunday school, and fellowship are vital because we need one another. Yet we play a major part in nurturing our spiritual growth as well. One part is simply having the desire to learn and to grow in our relationship with God. In this weekend’s lesson, the children connected with this biblical account of the boy Jesus in the Temple.
As a parent, you are instrumental to the spiritual growth of your children. The children not only listen to what you say, but watch and see how you respond and act. As you nurture the faith of your children, make sure to take the time to nurture your own faith. Set aside quiet time to talk and listen to God. You might want to use a book of devotions and the Bible. Also, solicit the prayers of others for you and your children. If you are a new parent, seek the guidance and wisdom from “veteran” parents. As the family of God, we are members of the body of Christ, so we can help one another. At the same time, we need time apart from worship settings to have our own personal sabbaths. Growing in Christ and the knowledge of God is a lifelong process.
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor”. Luke 2:52
This weekend we continued teaching the kids about the awesome account of Jesus’ birth and the events that took place around it. We specifically taught them how the wise men honored Jesus with their gifts. We also showed them the various traditions that people around the world use to honor Jesus. In Poland, the people honor the star of Bethlehem, and they do not begin the meal (the “Wigilia”) until the first star is spotted. In Bethlehem, Christian homes honor Jesus by painting a cross over their door and by placing a star on a pole in the village square. These are just a few ways people around the world honor Jesus at Christmas.
This weekend we taught the children how the wise men honored Jesus with their gifts. Many of us are very familiar with the wise men’s gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We talk about these three gifts of honor and, indeed, we should. Besides, these gifts allow us to focus on the Christ Child. The gifts are for him. Yet there is a fourth gift the wise men gave to honor God that we may not recognize as a gift. That fourth gift is the gift of listening to God: “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road” (Matthew 2:12). Their adherence to the dream’s warning was a gift as well. God used this dream to warn the wise men. By being attentive to this dream, they listened to God.
This week as you interact with your children remember that like the wise men, you also offer the children the powerful gift of listening, listening to their laughter, their responses, and their concerns. This week take the opportunity to be attuned to the presence of your children by listening to and celebrating with them how people honor Jesus around the world.
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor”. Luke 2:52
