Getting children into theology

Are we short-changing children with the teaching we give them? There is a risk that we are, according to Andrew Bradley, who runs the children’s work at the Keswick Convention, just about to get underway.

“Often when dealing with young children, there is a danger our teaching doesn’t move beyond the ‘Jesus loves you’ stage. Many of the children who come to the Convention are from well-taught homes and on occasions they know the details of the Bible stories so well that they will tell team members details they have omitted.

“I passionately believe that we need to stretch our children and introduce them to the whole counsel of God. We plumped for a systematic theology this year, and are determined to tackle it across the age range 3-11! It is in reality too much to do in five sessions, but we are going to be covering The Bible and God; Man and Sin; Jesus’ life, death and resurrection; The Holy Spirit and the Church; and The Last Things – Heaven, Hell and Judgement.

“We want children to leave Keswick having got a bird’s eye view at least of the main strands of Bible teaching and, although these will be built round Bible passages, we will move away from the ‘familiar’ ones.

“This is perhaps the most radical with the youngest groups. Overall the aim is to stretch the kids’ minds, excite them with the truths of the Bible and equip and encourage them to live out the Gospel.”

* What do you think? Are we stretching our children enough at church and in the home? Mail info@cfnetwork.co.uk or put your views on the Bulletin Board (menu above right)

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