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Welcome to the WAY2GO magazine for people
who work with children in their church and local community. We are
including it as part of The Adventure so that you can see what else Scripture Union
does as well as get lots of good ideas for your children and families ministries. Pull it out
and pass it around or
reference.
I REMEMBER MY FIRST BIBLE. I was 8 and it came from my Aunt. I liked getting it. But after I’d looked at the pictures, I put it away. The problem was
that the text was quite small and hard to read. And anyway I felt like I knew what
was in it. I did give it the occasional outing to church on Sunday but most of the time
it stayed forgotten on my bookshelf. I found it boring.
Contrast that with the attitude of a boy I met when I was visiting a SUPAkidz Club in Wellington. “Ooh, the Bible,” he said when he saw someone getting it out. “Cool.”
Two children with two very different attitudes to the Bible. Wouldn’t it be great if all our children had the same attitude to the Bible as
the boy in Hataitai – if they found the Bible exciting? How can we help our children feel like this?
This edition of WAY2GO looks at some practical ideas to help children engage with the Bible so they come face to face with
God in ways that will change their lives.
Hilary Hague
Team Leader, Children and Families Ministry
“Ooh the Bible... COOL!”
CHILDREN TALK ABOUT THE BIBLEFind out what some of the children we know think about the Bible. Watch online at www.scriptureunion.org.nz
Maybe you could ask some of your children the same questions.
Issue 39
12 I sunz.org.nz
READING THE BIBLE WITH CHILDREN
Reading the Bible with children can be like doing a jigsaw puzzle. We can give them lots of puzzle pieces by telling
them the stories. But the pieces are not what it’s all about. Unless we engage them with the Bible in a way that helps them see God, they will end up with a muddle of pieces.
UnderstandingWe want children
know what is in the Bible
Let’s help them understand it and the context in
which it is set.
Curiosity Open ended questions are a great way to help
children to be fully involved in discovering the truth for themselves. They have no “correct” answer and they develop the ability to think and wonder about our amazing God. Ask questions like “What does this story
show us about God?” or “Why is it in the Bible?”
ReflectionLet’s help children
see their own life as part of
and draw their own conclusions. Ask questions like “Who else feels like me in the Bible?” or “What did God say to them?” Encourage them in their hard
and guide them towards good understanding.
RelationshipThe attitude of adults
is crucial to developing a positive attitude to the Bible in children. The way we feel about the Bible will speak loudly to our children. Let’s bring our Bibles
out and role model the way we use them.
Make space for God
Children need opportunities to respond to
God. Using the Bible in prayer and worship are an important part of this. Pray that God will use the
Bible to speak his living words into their lives. And then
make space to let him do it.
HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FOR OPENING THE BIBLE WITH CHILDREN TO HELP THEM MEET WITH GOD
READING THE BIBLE WITH CHILDREN
Reading the Bible with children can be like doing a jigsaw puzzle. We can give them lots of puzzle pieces by telling
them the stories. But the pieces are not what it’s all about. Unless we engage them with the Bible in a way that helps them see God, they will end up with a muddle of pieces.
UnderstandingWe want children
know what is in the Bible
Let’s help them understand it and the context in
which it is set.
Curiosity Open ended questions are a great way to help
children to be fully involved in discovering the truth for themselves. They have no “correct” answer and they develop the ability to think and wonder about our amazing God. Ask questions like “What does this story
show us about God?” or “Why is it in the Bible?”
ReflectionLet’s help children
see their own life as part of
and draw their own conclusions. Ask questions like “Who else feels like me in the Bible?” or “What did God say to them?” Encourage them in their hard
and guide them towards good understanding.
RelationshipThe attitude of adults
is crucial to developing a positive attitude to the Bible in children. The way we feel about the Bible will speak loudly to our children. Let’s bring our Bibles
out and role model the way we use them.
Make space for God
Children need opportunities to respond to
God. Using the Bible in prayer and worship are an important part of this. Pray that God will use the
Bible to speak his living words into their lives. And then
make space to let him do it.
HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FOR OPENING THE BIBLE WITH CHILDREN TO HELP THEM MEET WITH GOD
CHECK OUT WHERE OUR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY TRAINING WILL BE NEXT
AND COME ALONGThere are more details on our website
www.scriptureunion.org.nzor phone 0508 423 836
WAY2GO FOCUSED Christchurch 15 September
This training is free as a gift to the people of Christchurch and the surrounding areas.
WAY2GO FOCUSEDNelson 22 September
Explore how to strengthen your ministry with the children in your church and local community.
WAY2GO FOCUSED New Plymouth 3 November
Learn creative and innovative ways to work with the children in your church and local community.
FAITH FOR ALL AGESAuckland 3 November
Discover the why, what and how of intergenerational activities, including intergenerational worship.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY CERTIFICATEThames 10 November
A special one-off event covering all the topics in
KEEP THESE DATES FREE FOR WAY2GO 2013Registrations open in November
WELLINGTON – Saturday 2nd March
AUCKLAND – Saturday 16th March
INVERCARGILL – Saturday 23rd March
Give every child a table tennis ball, permanent felt and metal
pot scrubber. (These are available from bargain shops very cheaply).
Ask them to think of a person from the Bible who has helped them learn something about God, and draw their face on the ball with permanent felts. Help them use a
glue gun to glue the pot scrubber on for hair. They can arrange the hair by pulling it into different shapes.
Ask them to share who they have made and what they learnt about God from this person. Tell them that the Bible is full of
stories about people who can help us learn more about God.
Give every child a glass
of ice-cream. Let them sprinkle it with 100s and
a teaspoon and straw so they can enjoy it!
Explain that the glass of ice-cream is like our
lives and the lemonade is like the Bible. When
we add the Bible to our lives something
happens – God does something special
through it.
Share something special that God
has done in your life through
reading the Bible.
TRY THESE IDEASLE
CHECK OUT WHERE OUR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY TRAINING WILL BE NEXT
AND COME ALONGThere are more details on our website
www.scriptureunion.org.nzor phone 0508 423 836
WAY2GO FOCUSED Christchurch 15 September
This training is free as a gift to the people of Christchurch and the surrounding areas.
WAY2GO FOCUSEDNelson 22 September
Explore how to strengthen your ministry with the children in your church and local community.
WAY2GO FOCUSED New Plymouth 3 November
Learn creative and innovative ways to work with the children in your church and local community.
FAITH FOR ALL AGESAuckland 3 November
Discover the why, what and how of intergenerational activities, including intergenerational worship.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY CERTIFICATEThames 10 November
A special one-off event covering all the topics in
KEEP THESE DATES FREE FOR WAY2GO 2013Registrations open in November
WELLINGTON – Saturday 2nd March
AUCKLAND – Saturday 16th March
INVERCARGILL – Saturday 23rd March
Give every child a table tennis ball, permanent felt and metal
pot scrubber. (These are available from bargain shops very cheaply).
Ask them to think of a person from the Bible who has helped them learn something about God, and draw their face on the ball with permanent felts. Help them use a
glue gun to glue the pot scrubber on for hair. They can arrange the hair by pulling it into different shapes.
Ask them to share who they have made and what they learnt about God from this person. Tell them that the Bible is full of
stories about people who can help us learn more about God.
Give every child a glass
of ice-cream. Let them sprinkle it with 100s and
a teaspoon and straw so they can enjoy it!
Explain that the glass of ice-cream is like our
lives and the lemonade is like the Bible. When
we add the Bible to our lives something
happens – God does something special
through it.
Share something special that God
has done in your life through
reading the Bible.
TRY THESE IDEAS
Encourage Bible Reading at Home
Working with churches, Scripture Union aims to create opportunities for children and young people world.
Scripture Union in New Zealand – PO Box 760, Wellington 6140
[email protected] – 0508 423 836 – www.scriptureunion.org.nz
SNAPSHOTS THROUGH THE YEAR $29.99Each day children will discover more about God through a short Bible reading and a variety of other
letters, drawing pictures, thinking and praying.
GOD’S AMAZING PLAN $7.95This book has 20 weeks of Bible readings, fun activities, thought provoking questions and prayers for the whole family together that tell the story of God’s love for us right from the beginning of the world, until the end of time and beyond. We are giving it away to
TIDDLYWINKS
pages with a story for every day and extra pages of fun things to do. Join twins Lucy and Liam as they explore the Bible.
EXCITING RESOURCES TO HELP KIDS DISCOVER GOD SNACK is a Christian band for kids who write original songs which are contemporary, interactive and relevant
and can be used in schools, churches and outreach programmes.
Visit www.snackmusic.com.au to see and hear more about Snack and
to check out their music.
• EXCITE FAMILIES. Let them know how to help their children grow spiritually. Run workshops, loan them books and put ideas in your newsletter.
• ENCOURAGE FAMILIES to own a Bible - maybe the same Bible that you use in your group. Church people will often sponsor Bibles for children and then pray for the child that is given the Bible.
• EQUIP FAMILIES to read their Bibles together. You can buy these and other similar books at our on-line book store www.scriptureunion.org.nz or ring us on freephone 0508 423 836.