Knowledge of God’s Word
When we share the Word of God with children, we share facts, stories of God working in the past, and His plan for our lives today and in the future. The Bible is one of the best ways we have to learn about who God is, and who we are. To truly know God and His will, a child must hear what He has to say. As teachers, we make it clear to children that the Bible is the Word of God. As Christians, we model a burning desire to listen to what God has to say.
Applying God’s Word to the Heart
The Word of God moves and convicts each of us. When a child listens to God’s Word, he or she may respond with emotions of guilt, conviction, joy, trust, peace or compelling mercy toward others. As teachers, we should intentionally create opportunities for this important response and not just rush through a lesson. Listening to the children’s responses and encouraging vulnerability is essential to building community with the children as well as helping them connect to God.
Applying God’s Word to Everyday Life
A desire to act out God’s will in our lives naturally follows the child’s understanding of and emotional response to God’s Word. As teachers, we should guide children in exploring ways they can act on their new convictions and be obedient to God in thought, behaviour and action. For children to truly understand what they have learned about God and His Word, they must make connections between that new information and things they already know- such as experiences at school or home, relationships with friends and family, common feelings and challenges for their stage of life, etc.
Suggested Application Activities
1. Acrostic Applications
Materials:
Paper, pencil or pen
Description:
Choose a keyword (or words) and write the letters of the word vertically down the left side of the paper. Guide children in thinking of related words that begin with those letters. Click here to learn more.
2. Drawing Contrasts
Materials:
Materials are dependent on your ideas!
Description:
Choose two aspects from the story that the children can contrast, such as two characters, two choices, two kingdoms, etc. This activity often relates to the theme of the story. Click here to learn more.
3. Inductive Bible Study
Materials:
Bible, and other materials you would like to incorporate
Description:
An inductive Bible study encourages the child to read a Scripture from the Bible and then make conclusions and applications. Click here to learn more.
4. Lemons and Lollipops
Materials:
Lemons, lollipops
Description:
Describe situations that relate to the children. If the person in the situation makes a bad choice, the children lick the lemon. If the person in the situation makes a good choice, then the children lick the lollipop. Click here to learn more.
5. Situation Cards
Materials:
Paper/cards with written situations on them
Description:
Before the lesson, the teacher writes situations on cards. During the lesson, the children take turns choosing cards and reading the situations. Teachers guide the conversation as the children describe what they would do in those situations. Click here to learn more.
6. Things Matter (Conversations)
Materials:
‘Things’ to stimulate conversation and apply the lesson
Description:
A variety of items (things) are used to stimulate conversation and help children make an application of Biblical truths to their own lives. Click here to learn more.