In the Bible, storytelling is an important means to pass on the revelation of God. God repeatedly commanded the people of Israel to tell his mighty acts to the next generation. Invariably churches follow this mandate and use biblical narratives as a means to transmit God’s self-revelation to enable transformation. The author, Dr Annie George, listens to the voices of children in order to understand their perceptions of how storytelling of biblical narratives help them in their spiritual formation. Dr George’s research highlights the importance of evaluating the impact of biblical narratives from a child’s perspective as well as emphasising the need to give the same priority to the spiritual transformation of children as with other areas of study and ministry.
In the Bible, storytelling is an important means to pass on the revelation of God. God repeatedly commanded the people of Israel to tell his mighty acts to the next generation. Invariably churches follow this mandate and use biblical narratives as a means to transmit God’s self-revelation to enable transformation. The author, Dr Annie George, listens to the voices of children in order to understand their perceptions of how storytelling of biblical narratives help them in their spiritual formation. Dr George’s research highlights the importance of evaluating the impact of biblical narratives from a child’s perspective as well as emphasising the need to give the same priority to the spiritual transformation of children as with other areas of study and ministry.
How do children experience and understand God? How can adults help children grow their life of faith? Throughout more than a decade of field research, children's spirituality experts Catherine Stonehouse and Scottie May listened to children talk about their relationships with God, observed children and their parents in learning and worship settings, and interviewed adults about their childhood faith experiences. This accessibly written book weaves together their findings to offer a glimpse of the spiritual responsiveness and potential of children. Through case studies, it provides insight into children's perceptions of God and how they process their faith. In addition, the book suggests how parents, teachers, and ministry leaders can more effectively relate to and work with children and pre-adolescents to nurture their faith, offering a helpful picture of adults and children on the spiritual journey together.
In A Child Sees God, Howard Worsley explores how we can all learn from a child's perspective of the world and shows how a child's eye view of the Bible reveals many interesting ideas about ethics and morality, and provides new ways of understanding these ancient stories. By asking families to read Bible stories to their children and discuss these stories with them, recording the ensuing conversations, Howard Worsley offers not only fresh insights into the meaning and significance of these stories but also reflections on how adults can use the Biblical text in the company of children at different stages of development. Following the theory that all stories ever written fall into one of seven categories, this book shows that the themes of the Bible are no different, dividing stories into sections containing texts of wonder, adventure and leadership, terror, justice and judgement, comfort and hope, comedy, and mercy and forgiveness. This fresh look at the Bible through the eyes of children will be a fascinating read for parents, teachers, ministers, and anyone with an interest in child spirituality or ethics.
Abstract: In a child's life, the church has minimal time to make a maximum impact. The time children are in church must not be wasted, but should be spent in valuable and life changing ways. Stories have long been included in Christian education, but is the practice of telling stories something that is continued merely because "we've always done it this way," or is there merit in continuing their use? Story is a wildly popular theme in Christian education today and children love stories, but there is more to a story than mere amusement? Parents and Christian educators wrestle with questions such as "How do stories have lasting meaning and life changing influence on children's lives?" "How can stories be used to affect children's spiritual growth?" "What kinds of stories should be included?" These are important questions to consider as Christian educators set pedagogical goals and specific methodology is followed. This research attempts to address these questions by investigating empirical, theoretical, and theological literature related to two domains: (a) what characterizes the spiritual life and development of children, and (b) how story can be used by Christian educators and parents to benefit the instruction and spiritual growth of children. Beginning with an analysis of the spiritual life of children, it will then be shown how story affects the whole person, rendering it a very powerful medium. Using Luke 10:27 as an organizing principle, story is analyzed as to how it affects the heart, the affective realm; the soul, the spiritual realm; strength, the behavioral realm; the mind, the cognitive realm; and loving neighbor as oneself, the social realm. These realms, together, comprise a faith that involves a totality of commitment. Recommendations are then made as to how parents and Christian educators can use the power of story to benefit the instruction and spiritual growth of children. The use of story can be a spark for children's spiritual growth and holds great potential benefit for the church and for the children who are a part of the community of faith.
Bible Stories That Teach Life Skills for Children, Youth, and Families provides activities for reflection and discussion. The goal is to understand how you can apply the lessons in the Bible story to your own life. You may use this book individually, as a family, or in a church setting. It is hoped that the questions, discussions, and activities will help you to "hide God's Word deep in your heart" and live by it. This book is the second in a series of materials to promote personal and spiritual growth through life skills based in scripture. Barbara W. Rogers, PhD, EdS., is a mother and grandmother who has served in various ministries since age 12. In addition to many years of ministry within congregations, she wrote Sunday school lessons for Urban Ministries, Inc. of Chicago during ten years as a stay-at-home mom. And, later, she wrote: God Rescues His People, and God's Chosen King, activity books, for the Herald Press Story Bible Series. As Founder and Director of Christian Life Skills, Inc. her passion is to provide resources to encourage children, youth, and families to develop lives pleasing to God in our challenging world. Barbara lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband, Dr. John A. Rogers. They have two children and four grandchildren. About Christian Life Skills, Inc. Christian Life Skills, Inc. was founded in 1986 to provide life skills based in scripture that will help children, youth and families live into their God-given potential, consistent with His Word. For information about additional resources available through Christian Life Skills, Inc. please visit www.christianlifeskills.org or contact [email protected]. Christian Life Skills, Inc. P.O. Box 8146 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 412-889-4065 [email protected] www.christianlifeskills.org We invite you to contact us for more resources that teach life skills!"
When children have a listening companion who hears, acknowledges, and encourages their early experiences with God, it creates a spiritual footprint that shapes their lives. Lacy Finn Borgo draws on her experience of practicing spiritual direction with children as she introduces key skills for engaging kids in spiritual conversations, offering sample dialogues, prayers to use together, and ideas for play, art, and movement.
Susie had taken care of her billionaire mother as long as she could remember. She'd run the household and kept the hired help from quitting in frustration. But learning her mother had gotten married...again...might just push her over the edge. Buck had taken care of his destitute dad as long as he could remember. If Buck didn't bring home his salary from working at the golf course, they wouldn't have a place to live or enough to eat. Now Buck has just been informed that not only has his dad gotten married, but they have to move by the end of the month. What happens when the adults act like children and the kids have to be the responsible ones? Luckily Buck and Susie are about to find that together they can do just about anything.
