- The Bible is full of fascinating people who were thrust into situations that would give even the smartest, and wisest, person pause. Several months of lessons can be spent on Joseph alone, with his inadvertently offending of his brothers and to his rise in power after being sold into slavery and cast into prison. Daniel's young life and dedication to God gives understanding to his struggle with obeying the lawful authorities who gave immoral orders. His biography points 10-year-olds to the tools they need when they face the same struggle. The biography of Nehemiah graphically shows what the concept of steadfastness means and what the costs may be.
- Another approach is to focus on a specific character trait each week and then find examples from the Bible where a person exhibited that trait. Noah building the ark, Abraham trusting for a son and Daniel in the lions' den all showed faith in the Lord. David facing Goliath and Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem give examples that a willingness to act upon that faith is equally important. Joseph's behavior with his owner's wife and the three children in the lions' den provide examples of how having courage to do what is right can lead to unjust punishment -- but that God will still provide.
- Words such as "adoptionism," "efficacious grace," "justification" and "predestination" may make adults throw up their hands in surrender to dry and dusty doctrine but to 10-year-olds these words are all new, and often new concepts too. The meanings behind the words are the church's foundational thoughts, and pulling back that curtain a little allows the class to see a deeper meaning to ecclesiology, the study of the Christian church, its structure, order, practices and hierarchy.
- The church's 2,000-year history is full of amazing triumphs. Pre-teens love a good adventure story, and church history has many about great men and women of God overcoming staggering odds to proclaim the Gospel. Missionaries such as the Apostle Thomas in India and Patrick in Ireland and more recent ones such as Hudson Taylor, Lottie Moon, William Carey and Jim Elliot all put God ahead of their safety and well-being. Many, such as Elliot, paid the final price for their faith. Showing the children that what motivated and powered people thousands of years ago is still working in the lives of people today gives them an opportunity to desire that motivation and power for themselves.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -