7-Aug-17
The priority of Awana’s service is to deliver the Bible to children… and to nurture lifelong disciples.
Building the kind of relationships that allow us to share the Gospel and foster this discipleship requires effort. This effort entails more than just showing up to the club and waiting until the time is over while doing the bare minimum.
Relationships require conversation.
Below are three topics to discuss with children to show them how the Bible relates to their lives.
A good understanding of these topics will answer many of their questions.
1.Your imperfect world will not change into a perfect one. Many children in our clubs come from very different homes, places that many of us cannot even imagine.
One night several years ago, a boy from our “Sparky” program came to the club deeply upset. We found out that the police had come and taken his mother to jail, leaving him and his five siblings with an older brother who was only nineteen. We explained to him that trusting in Christ would not make his problems disappear, but that the Lord loved him more than he could ever understand, and that God would always be there to listen as he shared his feelings and what was happening around him. We wrote a verse for him on a piece of paper to carry with him (Hebrews 13:5) and told him that we cared about him and that he could talk to us. Children need to understand that not everything in their world will magically change. God does not promise to remove our problems but to walk with us through them.
2.You will always have big questions. Trusting in Christ is the beginning of understanding. You will continue learning from the Bible throughout your life. Even leaders are still learning. However, leaders can answer many of your questions, so feel free to ask us! (Proverbs 2:1-5; Romans 15:4)
3.You will continue to make wrong choices. (Romans 7) Even though you are now a believing Christian, you won’t always make the right choices. We still live in a corrupt world. You will continue to face temptation and sometimes give in to it. Even leaders (and pastors) make wrong decisions. Sometimes, we feel anger or yell at our children or get upset with a friend. One way to make better choices is to read the Bible, talk to the Lord, and connect with others who desire to make the right choices.
When you make a wrong decision, talk to the Lord about it. Tell Him that you know what you did was wrong, and thank Him for the forgiveness He offered you through the cross.
We need to continue speaking to children once they place their trust in Christ. Children, especially those with non-believing parents, may not answer or may not be able to answer their questions… they can quickly feel confused. The first step toward discipleship is helping children understand their faith.
We will not hide them from their children, but will declare to the next generation the praises of the LORD and His might, and the wonders He has performed. (Psalm 78:4)
For further benefit: read and meditate on the passage (Proverbs 4:20-27).
