Parenting by the Book
STUDY 35
Text: Proverbs 2:6-8
24 February 2002
Dear Parents,
HOW DO YOU TEACH YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT GOD?
There are many ways of teaching children about God. What are some of the ways you have tried out and found effective?
Let us consider this text and learn how we can teach our children about God more effectively.
For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly,
He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints.Proverbs 2:6-8
TEACH CHILDREN THAT GOD HAS MANY ATTRIBUTES
Sometimes, we are quite guilty of painting a two-dimensional God. Our teaching about the Lord is confined to the printed page.
We should consider teaching about God in a three-dimensional way. This is what we see in this text. God is presented and spoken of as a Living Person, not just as a concept or a doctrine!
We must also teach our children that God can do many things. He is not restricted to simply being a passive God who sits on a heavenly throne but He does next to nothing in the world!
Look at the positive way in which God is being taught to children. He is portrayed as an active, interested and involved God.
1. He gives.
2. He is a shield.
3. He guards.
4. He preserves.
Look at the powerful verbs used by the writer. This is how we should teach our children about God. Let us not paint a picture of a weak and anaemic God. Let us teach our children that our God is truly alive and well, and that He desires to bless them with sound knowledge and wisdom.
Teach children to interact with the Lord. Point them to the Lord. Teach them how they can respond to God. Teach them to love the Lord. When we teach our children how to relate to God in dynamic ways, they would go lots further in their personal quest for spiritual knowledge.
Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie