helping kids apply bible truth

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truth Helping Kids Apply Bible Truth

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

What is it like to be a child today?

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

With all that children are faced with today, the truth is they still need

Jesus. We have the responsibility of equipping parents and children to

hear God’s Word, know God’s Word, and do (apply) God’s Word.

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

In order to help children grow spiritually, we need to discover how to lay foundations for them

To hear, know, and doGod’s Word.

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

Boys and girls are capable of growing spiritually.

Fact:

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

The purpose of childhood ministry in the local church is to build

foundations in the lives of boysand girls for salvation andspiritual transformation.

Fact:

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

Spiritual foundations are built in the lives of children as teachers

and parents lead them tohear, know, and do God’s Word.

Fact:

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

Salvation

SpiritualTransfor-mation

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

God has designed children to learn precept upon precept in a linear

fashion.

Fact:

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

Girls and boys learn in a prescriptive manner—first by hearing Bible truth, then by knowing and understanding Bible truth, and ultimately by applying

(doing) Bible truth.

Fact:

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

Hear God’s Word

As kids learn to trust parents and teachers, they listen and hear God’s Word.

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

But how can they call on Him

in whom they have not believed?

And how can they believe

without hearing about Him?

And how can they hear without

a preacher?

Romans 10:14

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

How shall they hear? Hear foundational Bible stories Hear foundational Bible truths Hear Bible verses Hear Bible story conversation

and discussion Hear & sing Bible-related songs

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

Hearing teachers and parents

tell them what God’s Word says

is an integral foundational stone

for the spiritual growth of children.

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

Hear God’s Word

in VBS 2010

Day 1: God Creates Adam & Eve Genesis 2:4-21

Day 2: Joseph Recalls God’s Provision Genesis 45:1-14

Day 3: Jesus and Zacchaeus Luke 19:1-10

Day 4: Jesus Our Example Luke 5:16; Luke 4:14-16; Mark 6:30-46

Day 5: Philippians 4:4-9

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

• Day 3 What is God's plan for me?

• Bible Story: Jesus and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)

• Life Application: God has a plan for me. I can have a relationship with Jesus.

• Bible Verse: For I know the plans I have for you – this is the LORD’s declaration – plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

• For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)

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LifeSpan Spiritual Development

Know God’s WordKids begin to know God’s Word as they understand and comprehend biblical concepts.

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LifeSpan Spiritual Development

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed,

knowing those from whom you learned, and that from childhood

you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you for salvation

through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 (HCSB)

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LifeSpan Spiritual Development

Knowing aboutabout God’s Word

is not the same as

knowing Godknowing God

and His Truth.

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LifeSpan Spiritual Development

How shall they know?Children begin to know God’s Word as they

understand and comprehend biblical concepts.

Children begin to know God’s Word as they have concepts introduced to them at appropriate ages and stages of development.

Children begin to know God’s Word as they hear words they comprehend.

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LifeSpan Spiritual Development

How shall they know? Children begin to know God’s Word as they

apply the teaching to their lives.

Children begin to know God’s Word as they see people in their lives living out what is taught.

Children begin to know God’s Word as they read and study the Bible.

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LifeSpan Spiritual Development

How shall they know?Children begin to know God’s Word as they

learn, discuss, and apply Bible verses.

Children begin to know God’s Word through engaging, hands-on Bible learning activities.

Children begin to know God’s Word as they participate in large and small group experiences.

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

• Day 2 Does God Care about Me?

• Bible Story: Joseph Recalls God’s Provision(Genesis 45:1-14)

• Life Application: God cares about me. I can trust Him no matter what.

• Bible Verse: Casting all your care upon Him; because He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)

• Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

How did Joseph

demonstrate

that he knew

God cared for him.

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LifeSpan Spiritual Development

Hearing and knowing God’s Word is not the same as

knowing God and His truth. For the spiritual growth of kids,

we fail them if we don’t encourage them

to apply God’s Word to their everyday lives.

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LifeSpan Spiritual Development

Do What God’s Word SaysKids exhibit a personal understanding of Bible truth as they do God’s Word by applying it to their everyday lives, including using Bible skills and becoming involved in ministry.

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LifeSpan Spiritual Development

But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror; for he looks at himself, goes away, and right away

forgets what kind of man he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of

freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts—this person will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:22-25 (HCSB)

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LifeSpan Spiritual Development

How shall teachers help children do what God’s

Word says? Model obedience. Create teaching situations that imitate

a child’s everyday experiences. Guide discovery learning. Encourage & acknowledge life

application.

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

living out what they are challenged through the Bible

participating in mission activities

sharing their faith with family members and friends

studying their Bible each day

praying

developing Bible skills that will strengthen their spiritual development.

Children do God’s Word by . . .

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

• Day 4 How can I be like Jesus?

• Bible Story: Jesus, Our Example• (Luke 5:16; Luke 4:14-16; Mark 6:30-46)

• Life Application: I can be like Jesus. I can follow His example.

• Bible Verse: Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5

• Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5 (KJV)

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Helping Kids Apply Bible Truths

Children who hear, know, and do God’s Word

have a foundation for knowing Jesus personally

and for having a life-long experience of growing like Him.

The task of parents and teachers is to provide opportunities

for children

to hear God’s Word,

know God’s Word, and

do God’s Words

by applying it to their lives.