Working With Children Part 2: The Meaning of the Passage

Last time we talked about setting your mind to think Bible Lesson. If youve done that, your whole approach to teaching children will be different.

Then there was the Progression of Events. Now I know that may have sounded patronising but there are valid reasons for doing that and they will become apparent but youll have to have patience as we consider The Meaning of the Passage

Ask God to show you what it means
This is important. You are going to teach what God wants you to teach not what The Book says. Yes, the book is a helpful guide, but perhaps this week, God wants the children in your class to know something different than what The Book suggests. Maybe something has happened in school or at home and a child needs to hear something special. You wont know and the book certainly wont know But God does. If you are open to the Holy Spirit, hell show you clearly what to teach. Believe me, when God shows you what the passage means, theres a buzz in your heart and the children will know because your lesson will be different and youll possibly meet some childs need because you took the time to Ask God what it means

Its almost time to look at The Book but not yet. Before you read The Book .

Read other Books
Get out the Bible Dictionary Read a good Bible Commentary get to know the background of the passage and what other learned scholars suggest. Then youre allowed to read The Book but only as a help, not as the be-all-and-end-all of your Lesson.

Jot down everything that seems relevant.
What has God shown you? What did the Commentators suggest? Have you gleaned something yourself? Jot down all the truths you can find: What does it tell you about God; About the Lord Jesus; The Holy Spirit; About the Church; Christian Living? Jot down everything and anything that seems relevant even if it seems silly and irrelevant

Compare all this information with the Progression of Events and slot everything into place into where it relates to the Progression of Events.

With the Progression of Events written out, when youve asked God what the passage means armed with all the background information and commentators thoughts, ask yourself .

What is God teaching me?
One of the most frightening (and yet exciting things) a Pastor has to face, is that, in his study, he, the Pastor, is the first person to get God’s message for that weekend. He has to apply it to his heart even before the church gets it. There’s no better feeling in the world than to hear God’s voice teaching right into your heart. When God speaks, it makes the passage live and change lives and in turn, it makes the sermon alive. 

It just as wonderful when God speaks to you as a children’s worker, charged with teaching God’s Word to boys and girls. Your lesson lives . and the children enjoy it even more. Not because you are a better teacher, but because God has given you something to teach. So ask yourself What is God teaching me?

Maybe it is just for you Praise the Lord! but you can adapt it for the children. Maybe there is a situation in your class or in their school and God wants to help his little children.  Maybe, prayerfully, God wants to reach out and save a child that week and The Book doesn’t cover that. Maybe a child has problems at home and God wants to comfort that child who knows? You will when you ask What is God teaching me?

It may not be the same as The Book. So what? Are you going to teach The Book or what God has given you! You must teach the answer to What is God teaching me?

You’ll need to go that extra mile you’ll need time to develop your own lesson That means more time set aside - You’ll maybe need to get your own visuals and/or Word Strips You’ll have to abandon The Book. Oh Horror!  But then, if God has helped you get this message for the children, do you not think he is able to help you teach it?

This part is the most wonderful part of teaching children; God meets with you regularly and speaks with you regularly and your own personal relationship with God increases and deepens So, be sure to ask yourself What is God teaching me?

I want to ask a question at this point. When should you begin preparing next Sunday’s Bible Lesson? The answer is On Sunday night!

Now that simply means get out your Bible, have a look at The Book to see what the next passage is (that’s all) and then take five or ten minutes reading next Sunday Bible passage.

On Monday - Read the Bible passage again a few times until you start to know it 30 minutes

On Tuesday, Write out the Progression of Events 30 minutes. Then go over it and put in what you missed - 15 minutes

On Wednesday - Ask God to show you what it means and meditate for a short time. 15 minutes

Then, still on Wednesday, start reading the other books Dictionary, commentary and The Book 30 minutes

Until nest time please understand, you probably wont hear Gods voice as soon as you start reading. It takes time and prayer. Thats why you need to read and re-read and ask “What is God teaching me?”

You’ll experience the joy of hearing God speak to you and when you come before the children, your Lesson will be on fire; and the children will listen and the children will learn and the children will want to know more and the more they know . The sooner they will be ready to trust the Lord as Saviour.

Until next time

Jackie