What Are We To Teach Our Children
In our last post in this series, we talked about why children need to be taught. There are so many things that children and adults need to be taught in their life. Some would say that math, science and technology are the most important skills for a child to learn. Others might say, reading is the most foundational skill that should be taught. Still others would emphasize music and the arts. All these should be taught, but none of them are the more important thing we are to teach. The most important thing we are to teach our children and others about is God.
What Are We To Teach?
We have clearly seen that parents are to teach their children about God, but what should we be teaching? It can be intimidating to navigate all the subjects available, but it doesn't have to be. If you are living your life for Christ, sharing Him with your children should come as second nature. But maybe you want to teach more. Maybe you want to start family worship, or reading scripture together, or a devotion and you don't know where to start. I am going to keep it simple and tell you, to start anywhere! All of the Bible is for us and our children. Yes, even the stories about war, peace, death, life, concubines', greed, offerings, adultery, and love. 2 Timothy 3:16 is a wonderful verse that exemplifies what Scripture we should teach our children.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God[a] may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
2 Timothy 3 reminds us that God's word is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training. Scripture's usefulness is both for us and our children. If we do not know God or his word how can we train our children? If then we are to be faithful to God's instruction to raise up our children, we must ourselves study who this God is. That means doing theology. There are many different beneficial foundations for studying God's revealing of himself in the scriptures.
The Whole Story
The first way we should look at teaching our children about God's love is through his entire story. We as parents, need to look at Scripture as an entire story. The beginning of God's story goes from creation, to rebellion, through redemption and looks forward to restoration. Those are the aspects of His story that we should teach our children. Now, our children may not be able to understand those words, but they can learn the story of God.
Creation
Starting in Genesis with the creation story is a great way to start teaching your children about God. One thing I would caution, is that you don't focus so much on what was made each day, but in how God made things. In the why did God make things. The creating of life is the beginning of our world, the story, and also the first that we learn about God our Father and the Word. We see from the start God's plan for our world and the beginning of a wonderful story.
Rebellion
Next, teach your children about the fall. The fall of Adam and Eve in teh garden but also the continual fall of man after. Share some old Testament stories with them about God's promises and how He reveled himself to the people. These stories are more than just simple Bible lessons for kids, they are stories of God and His promises. Stories like Abraham, Noah, Saul and David.
Redemption
The next part of the story is of redemption through the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. Tell your children about Jesus birth throughout the entire year, not just Christmas. Tell them how Jeusud fulfilled those promises that God made in the Old Testemant. Teach them about the resurrection.
Restoration
The last part of the story is restoration. Teach your children about Jesus' return. That He will come back and we will live in a new heaven and earth. Children need to be taught that death is not the end of life for a Christian. That we will be made new again with Christ.
But what is the best way to teach these things? For some of us, opening scripture and expositing what we read will work fine. For others, we may want story books and resources to help us teach our children. Both was are great ways to teach our children.
