Teach Your Children Well

Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord. (Psalm 34:11 NIV)

I have had the joy this week of watching our Vacation Bible School run. I'm basically there to take pictures so I have the opportunity to watch the kids very closely. I absolutely love this curriculum! It is designed to bring all ages of children together.

The kids are put into tribes named after the tribes of Israel. Each tribe has two youth leaders and the tribe members range in age from preschool to 5th grade. It is awesome how each tribe works like a family... the older ones looking after the younger ones. The older kids don't cut up and act "too cool" for Bible school because they instinctually know that they need to set a good example for the little ones. The youth are leaders, but get to participate fully in the program and are learning as much about the Bible stories as the little ones. The adults are in the main teaching roles and ask the kids questions about the Bible story in conversational ways throughout the evening.

I wish church worked like this all year long! Isn't this pretty much what we promise to do as a faith community every time we witness a baptism? Shouldn't the adults be talking to the children more about what we believe? Shouldn't the youth be more involved in leadership roles, and shouldn't they be encouraged to set good examples for the younger kids? Wouldn't it be great if the little children were this excited about God all year long, fully participating in worship instead of squirming in the pews?

Shouldn't a major part of church be about passing on the faith in ways that draw our children in instead of holding on to tired traditions that don't speak to our youth?

Father,
Help us to teach our children to love you, even when it means sacrificing tradition. Amen.

Joys: Vacation Bible School; fresh, ripe mangoes...yum!; long summer days