“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” – Deuteronomy 6:6-7

“And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn (be converted) and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child in the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'” – Matthew 18:2-4

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Mr. Kimball was compelled to share the Gospel with a teenager who had been attending his Sunday school class. The teacher prayed. He was determined to see this needy student put his faith in Christ. One day, after agreeing to meet this young man where he worked, the teacher headed for the store to share what God had put on his heart. Finding the young man in the back of the store, he put his hand on his shoulder and told him about how Christ loved him and wanted him to return that love. Even though the teacher felt his witness seemed almost insignificant, the Spirit of God moved in that young man’s heart and that day D. L. Moody believed the gospel and gave himself to Christ. The importance of teaching the Bible in Sunday school and leading this young man to the Savior was realized years later when Moody moved to Chicago, IL, joined the Plymouth Congregation Church, and began filling five pews each Sunday with boys he brought in off the streets. He then began a Sunday school that grew so much he moved it to a new location where it became the largest Sunday school in Chicago. Moody went on to become an educator and an evangelist known throughout North America and Great Britain whose ministry was said to have “shook two continents for God.” Hundreds of thousands came to Christ because Mr. Kimball faithfully taught the Bible to his small class, and particularly with young Dwight.

Jesus Valued Children

The value Jesus placed on children and young people, as seen in Scripture, cannot be ignored. Consider D. L. Moody’s observation: “It is a masterpiece of the devil to make us believe that children cannot understand religion. Would Christ have made a child the standard of faith (Matthew 18:2-4) if He had known that it was not capable of understanding His words?” Jesus also said, “‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’” (Matthew 19:14)

Old Testament Scripture Commands Children be Taught God’s Words

God commanded that the children of Israel be taught God’s Words. Through Moses (Deuteronomy 6:6-7), God instructed the Israelites to teach their children all the words He had given (Deuteronomy 31:12-13). This is a model for teachers and parents today. You can be a Mr. Kimball to your students, teaching the Bible with the goal of seeing them come to faith in Christ (1 Timothy 2:3-4). It is the “sacred writings,” as mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:14-17, that reveal salvation to man (including children), and produces Godly followers.

Later, in the Old Testament book of Ezra, it says, “…Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). Like Ezra, study, live and teach God’s truth to your students.

“We will not hide them from their children but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and His might, and the wonders that He has done.” (Psalm 78:4)

Jesus’ Command to Teach and the Promise of a Helper in the New Testament

Mark 16:15 records Jesus’ command: “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’” Children are among the “whole creation.” Scripture demands children be taught God’s Words and the gospel. As a teacher, God has given you the right to teach children the Word of God.

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He promised His followers, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) You’ve been given "power from on high” (Luke 24:49). The might to teach God’s Word comes through the power of God’s Spirit.

Teaching Children is not self-Improvement

Children around the world enjoy a vast array of extra curricular opportunities: scouting, arts training, sports, home economics classes, choral groups, and musical bands. Gail attended a 4-H club to better understand the care of her pet sheep. Her brother, Art, picked up culinary interest at Scout camp where he learned how to cook on an open fire. Learning new skills, adapting to new social settings, developing values—all give clarification to education, all help build kids’ confidence and bring self-improvement.

But your Bible teaching is more than a “self-improvement” course for kids. The goal of your teaching is what the apostle Peter exclaimed: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69) God wants your students to believe and find salvation in Jesus (Acts 4:12) and grow in their faith. They may not become a “D. L. Moody” or a “Peter” or a “Paul.” But God will use them if you teach them diligently.

What Elementary-Age Children Should Know From God’s Word

For all the children that Sherry led to Jesus in her kids Bible club, she recalls discipling a Buddhist background Cambodian refugee. The truths from God’s word helped that girl grow to become a faithful church member and follower of Jesus Christ.

Bill remembers the searching heart of a boy in his Bible club in a low-income housing development. After taking the boy to a Bible club retreat, the child opened up about his horrid home life. A short time later, God provided a Christian family to foster that dear boy. He had fears to work through, but by living in a strong Christian foster family, God turned that boy around. Today, he is a faithful follower of Jesus Christ!

So, what should you teach your children from God’s Word? There are excellent Bible-teaching curricula available. Google www.christianbook.com to see resources available from a number of publishers.

Several chronological Bible curricula for elementary-age children are available from www.goodsoil.com.

• “The Story of Hope Kids” book contains 40 key event-lessons to learn the Bible's redemptive story and the Chronological Bridge to Life. A full page is dedicated to each of the 40 Bible event-lessons, allowing space for kids to write down the answers to the questions. This 64-page workbook also includes fun Bible map learning activities.

• “Adventures in the Story of Hope” curriculum is based on “The Story of Hope Kids” and is available as a free download. Perfect for a Sunday School or church children's program, "Adventures in the Story of Hope" is anchored in the chronological Bible format for which Good Soil materials are known. Complete with 48 lesson plans for the teachers.

• “Adventures in the Roots of Faith Kids” is an expanded curriculum covering 100 Bible event-lessons.

You can teach the Bible chronologically (as in the Good Soil resources mentioned above) and you can teach the Bible in units that cover specific topics (prayer, giving, heaven/hell, service, etc.) or portions of Scripture (Psalm 23, the Ten Commandments, Gospel verses, book studies in Ruth, Esther, Mark, etc.). You can teach about key Bible people. Teaching the Bible chronologically is key, but these other methods are also helpful. No matter how you choose to teach the Bible, it is important to teach children the Word of God so that they come to know Christ as Savior and grow in their faith no matter what they face in life.

It is Important to Teach the Bible to Combat the Influences of the World

The Bible sets Jesus apart from all the world’s religious teachers. You can go to most of their grave sites. Only Jesus left behind an empty tomb. (John 20:1-18) Wherever you live in the world, when you teach the Bible to children, they will learn Who is seated on the throne in Heaven. It’s not Buddha, nor Muhammad, nor Confucius, nor any of the other leaders of religions. It is Jesus! (Revelation 1:8 & 18) Teachers must teach diligently the truths of Scripture that explain who Jesus is, what He has done, and how God desires people to respond.

Questions that challenge your right to teach the Bible to children:

1. “Why dislodge someone from their religious belief if they are happy as they are?”

Don’t be misled thinking spiritually lost people, including children, are “happy” just the way they are. Isaiah 67:20 speaks of the inner restlessness of a life without Christ. “The wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet.”

Joanne Shetler spent her life as a Bible translator with a remote tribe in northern Luzon, Philippines. Animism was the dominant religion. Continual appeasement offerings to Satan were attempts to keep him from taking the lives of their children. The tribal people were not happy.

One Balangao woman, Tekla, had, from a young girl, cried out to the God she did not know. She asked Him to send someone to tell her the truth. God led Joanne to leave the USA and go to Tekla’s village where Tekla became Joanne’s translation helper. The Bible began to answer her questions and those of the Balangao people: “Where did we come from?” “Why are we here?” “Why do we get old and die?” Those are questions of people in every culture around the world.

Tekla and others became believers in Jesus Christ when the Bible answered their questions. A church began, many people were converted, and the tribal leader himself spread the good news of Jesus to former enemy tribes. Now many of the Balangao people were happy because they believed in Jesus from reading God’s Word. (Multnomah Press, “And the Word Came with Power”; Bible Visuals International visualized missionary story, “Forever Changed by the Book”).

2. “All religions are the same. So how can you teach that there’s only one way to God?”

Because the Bible clearly teaches that “there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5) It is important that children understand this truth about Jesus.

“Christians, Jews, and Muslims claim that there is one God. Hindus say there are many. Buddhists and atheists say there is none. Christians say Jesus is the Son of God, but Muslims say God has no son. They can’t all be right, can they? When people give conflicting answers to the same question, someone must be wrong while someone else may be right. But it would be irrational to say that all answers were right…Jesus Christ has made it clear that the eternal truths of God may be known. Jesus Christ is the centerpiece. In Him, all of truth came together. So, while there may be aspects of truth elsewhere, the sum total of truth is in Christ.” (The Case for Faith for Kids by Lee Strobel and Rob Suggs; Zonderkidz)

Are all religions the same; do all lead to God? The Bible declares, “No,” and so must we. Let's learn a lesson from the people in the following story; how to protect our children from danger and show them the truth.

“The Ambulance Down In The Valley” by Joseph Malins (1895)

"Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed,
Though to walk near its crest was so pleasant;
But over its terrible edge there had slipped
A duke, and full many a peasant.
The people said something would have to be done,
But their projects did not at all tally.
Some said, "Put a fence 'round the edge of the cliff,"
Some, "An ambulance down in the valley."

The lament of the crowd was profound and was loud,
As their hearts overflowed with their pity;
But the cry for the ambulance carried the day
As it spread through the neighboring city.
A collection was made, to accumulate aid,
And the dwellers in highway and alley
Gave dollars or cents - not to furnish a fence -
But an ambulance down in the valley.

"For the cliff is all right if you're careful," they said;
"And if folks ever slip and are dropping,
It isn't the slipping that hurts them so much
As the shock down below - when they're stopping."
So for years (we have heard), as these mishaps occurred,
Quick forth would the rescuers sally,
To pick up the victims who fell from the cliff,
With the ambulance down in the valley.

Said one, to his peers, "It's a marvel to me
That you'd give so much greater attention
To repairing results than to curing the cause;
You had much better aim at prevention.
For the mischief, of course, should be stopped at its source,
Come, neighbors and friends, let us rally.
It is far better sense to rely on a fence
Than an ambulance down in the valley."

"He is wrong in his head," the majority said;
"He would end all our earnest endeavor.
He's a man who would shirk his responsible work,
But we will support it forever.
Aren't we picking up all, just as fast as they fall,
And giving them care liberally?
A superfluous fence is of no consequence,
If the ambulance works in the valley.

The story looks queer as we've written it here,
But things oft occur that are stranger;
More humane, we assert, than to succor the hurt
Is the plan of removing the danger,
The best possible course is to safeguard the source;
Attend to things rationally.
Yes, build up the fence and let us dispense
With the ambulance down in the valley.”

Let’s be busy building a fence by teaching God’s Word to children.

“If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God.”

– D. L. Moody

This blog is an excerpt from the book, Gaining Ground in Teaching Children. See below for the link.