Child Spiritual Development Resources

By: Charles Steiner

Today I’d like to let you know about a couple of resources that I am recommending to parents to assist in the spiritual development of your children who are in preschool or elementary school.

The first is a worksheet I have made available in the foyer of our church building called “My Worship Notes”. Many times it is such a struggle for parents with small children during worship, both in behavior and in helping them to learn to be active participant in worship. I hope this worksheet will help with both of these struggles. The worksheet asks children to write down the numbers of the songs we sang, their favorite song we sang, the number of times words like God and Jesus were said and it also includes a place for them to write down the lesson title, Bible verses, and a box where they can draw a picture that describes the sermon that was preached. The feedback I’ve received so far has been great. This worksheet is already helping several of our children learn and participate during worship.

The second resource I’d like to recommend is a book called The Beginner’s Bible. It is a Bible storybook for young children that help introduce them to the stories and characters of the Bible. More than 90 Bible stories are included with illustrative cartoon pictures that help the stories of the Bible come to life. It would be great if parents read at least one story out of this book and prayed with their children each day. Then as they get older, this pattern could be continued with an actual Bible and resources that are more appropriate for older children and teens. The Beginners Bible can be purchased locally in Tuscaloosa at Barnes and Noble or at Lifeway Christian Store. It can also be purchased online at Amazon.com with the current price being $8.17 for a new copy and $1.37 for a used copy. Order the Book Here The book is also available on the kindle and other ereaders if you prefer this.

Both of these resources can be used to further the spiritual development of your child. I hope they will be put to good use. 

Foolish

Scripture calls five of them wise and five of them foolish. That division would not have taken place if the bridegroom had not tarried. If he had just come at the right time, all “ten” would have been ready. There would have been no descriptions of the “foolish.” When Jesus told about these virgins, He wanted to be sure we understood our “readiness” does not need to be based on a “moment” but on a “lifetime.” We need to live every moment of every day ready for the bridegroom to come. The ones called wise prepared themselves so that they would be ready. On the other hand, five ladies are called foolish because, even though they would say they wanted to enter the feast with the bridegroom, they somehow convinced themselves there was a “moment” they were sure He was not coming. The bridegroom tarried. The five acted foolishly. They assumed He was not coming. At least, He was not coming now….And He came! They went into a state of panic. The wise were not going to give up their readiness! The foolish found themselves on the outside looking in. The bridegroom closed the door. They wanted to be ready. Surely He would not come now. Foolish.

All the best and I hope this gives you “Help for Today”

Clark

 

 

Hear Him (Luke 9:28-36)

 



 On many levels, I can appreciate the excitement and sentiment of Peter as he witnessed a conversation between Jesus, Moses and Elijah. After all, this was a collision of his worlds. This was a conversation between two names he had known and heard his entire life. For a Jewish boy in Biblical days, the names just do not get more prominent than Moses and Elijah. These names were a part of the history of God’s people. These names were a part of Peter’s history. Here they were on the mount called Transfiguration in conversation with Jesus, the one he had dropped his nets to follow. I can have an understanding of what he meant when he said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” It was at that point that the Father made clear a powerful reality to Peter, Clark and the rest of us. He made a statement of priority, preeminence and who the one and only one is that is His Son! A voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” Moses and Elijah were wonderful men who contributed much to the history of God’s people, but let us be very clear. If Moses and Elijah are saved eternally, they will be saved through the blood of Jesus Christ. There is no one like Him. No one compares. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow! Hear Him!

Clark