For the 2023-2024 school year, I worked with a small team of men to lead a Bible Study for middle and elementary school children as we learned all about the Gospel of John. Last year I was a men’s group we studied the Old Testament Kingdom of Israel and how it succumbed to its own corruption.
The Gospel of John is a key work included in the New Testament that provides multiple evidences in support of the divinity and earthly mission of Christ. In the summary stated in John 20:31, “[this is] written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
I was impressed by the interest the students had for the lessons every week. Even though some of the points were difficult to understand, after iterations of discussion and activities to explain the various truths involved, they were able to grasp the key points.
Much credit needs to go to the parents who support these kids. The dads attend the adult Men’s groups so as a family they can discuss the many relevant points of the study. We’re looking for a Women’s group leader so the whole family can stay together in the same church location.
While I can easily imagine every one of the middle school and younger children is a born-again Christian, I cannot say for sure. Only God knows someone’s heart with certainty. They seem quite comfortable affirming their beliefs and I can respect that. In return, I relate to them as a fellow believer in Christ, just at different parts of our journey.
***
MIddle School Reflections (1975)
I was a member of the Dazed and Confused generation, the tail end of the baby boom, I remember when I was a kid in middle school in Palo Alto, (about 1974-1975). I had what’s known as cars and girls on the brain. Nevertheless, I noticed there was a group of kids who hung out together during lunch who were part of the Christian group or a Bible study group. I remember feeling like they were sharing special in nature, but something I was unfamiliar with and, more or less speaking to my own insecurity, felt they were somehow unapproachable (not that I tried). At that time in my life, while I may have attended church at times, I was much more into learning about how earn enough money to buy a Dodge Challenger, how to make engines make more power, and being awestruck by certain girls at school. Christ had little or nothing going on in my conscious thoughts.
Had I had a comparable learning experience at their age, there were several events in my life from clearly miraculous death avoidance experiences, to an event that had the earmarks of a classic spiritual conversion had I understood how God works in a person’s life. Being of a secular mindset, I continued attributing these experiences to worldly reasoning. God would have to continue to deliver me from difficult circumstances, idolatry, and my own stupidity until I finally surrendered, at the age of 59. While I consider myself a late bloomer as a Christian, I have a growing confidence in God’s providence.
***
Be curious in the search for the truth and test the truth for evidence
Now, I would encourage all kids, and all adults, not to be afraid to ask honest questions to any of your Christian colleagues, classmates, or family members. It’s good for you to reach out and it gives them an opportunity to exercise the beliefs and dig deeper into their faith. You might benefit from the experience also and make new friends or develop stronger and more meaningful ties.
Many people are turned off by the close-minded or the hypocritical image Christians have been dealt because of real injustices done now and throughout history in the name of Christ. Unbelievers then project their prejudice, and sometimes bigotry, against anyone or anything with a Christian label. While this is an unfortunate vicious cycle, if you understand human nature and some psychology, it makes a lot of sense. There is so much resistance to the gospel message of Jesus Christ and it’s just not a surprise.
ThIs is one of the reasons I believe studying the Bible, especially for these school-aged children, is really important. Before they go headlong into the world, they should have a better idea what is true Christianity based on the life and teachings and nature of God as revealed directly from the Bible. It is not unusual that people can be led astray by the heretical filter of someone, even if they wear the symbols of clergy or pose as a Christian group but who are more about self-interest and self-aggrandizement rather than the teachings of Christ.
Another benefit I see for these young people getting a foundation of the truth of Christ as revealed by the eye-witness accounts of those who discipled under Jesus is that, when something great or miraculous happens they can begin to build on the fact that God works in their lives and give the glory to Christ.
Conversely, when things go bad, for any reason, they can seek the greater wisdom of God through the Holy Spirit, and also they may seek council from prayer, from other believers, and from the Scripture. The result should be greater spiritual maturity, self awareness, continued striving to turn away from their sin nature, reliance on God, and to glorify God and not themselves or other people or things.
One other reason that I think how this benefits the students is they will eventually run into religions and philosophies, and they would be best to have some Bible knowledge to begin with in order to assess the evidence of the truth claims of any other system of belief.
For a believer in Christ, in order to have some foundation to hang your hat on in a debate, any supporting information that confirms the resurrection of Christ is of critical importance. It would be a good thing to know more about why your faith is not a blind faith. Moreover, Jesus Christ does not call us into a religion, He calls us into a personal relationship.
***
Prayers for the future
It’s a full school year commitment on Tuesday evenings with leadership meetings on Saturday mornings. Lord, give me the energy and wisdom to be upbeat, relevant and sensitive to building up each student in effort to draw them closer to Christ while drawing closer to Him myself.
Next year’s study of The Book of Revelation
For a detailed explanation of who Jesus Christ is from the Bible’s perspective go to the video in this website , “Who is Jesus Christ?”
For a review of the Ten Commandments: https://www.challenyee.com/the-ten-commandments/
CKY
typos and all, I do not use AI. I can only write so much every week and I have to limit myself.
Sunset photo is from my personal stock.
Copyright © 2024 ChallenYee.com Some Rights Reserved