I often struggle with how to teach concepts of scripture to my kids in ways that are simple and appropriate for their ages, and I feel I am weak (yet growing) in asking better questions of what I am teaching them. It is not for a lack of material that this takes place, for while we are with an abundant amount of poor literature teaching the fundamentals of the faith – we are also at a unique point of receiving the benefit of many excellent, biblically rich works. The difficulty therein, for the parent, can often simply arise in translating the vernacular to a plain, simple manner for children to understand. For parents who wish to be faithful in their roles, this means we must do more work than rehash the Sunday school lessons.
While catechisms are excellent tools to train children, the goal is obviously one beyond rote memorization of the facts; the goal is for heart transformation and gospel receptivity. For some, it can be a daunting task to bring home personal applications for their young ones – at least in respect to every single core doctrine of the faith. This book, in what I’ve read thus far, really helps out in that respect. It frames things the way young kids will understand more difficult concepts like God’s sovereignty, His nature, the state of man, the Trinity, Hypostatic Union, etc., and helps frame questions in ways to foster and steer a conversation about those things. But I would say this is a book that can grow with the kids as they get older. There is plenty of content to go back through – and if you use this as a framework to build off of, it can be incredibly helpful to bring more teaching into the process.
As you read it, your kids will likely ask questions that you haven’t fully thought through yet just because of how thorough it is in the way of a systematic theology, but that is a good thing. Beyond this, they will ask questions you haven’t thought through as of yet simply because they are children and think of these things like children do. Embrace that and run with it; use this as an opportunity to get into more difficult concepts of Systematic Theology with your kids – and if that means more work for you as well, good! Ultimately, it is a resource tool to equip you in the God-given role you have as the primary teacher of your children.
The sections are short enough to go over a few at a time over dinner (or before bed), give the foundations of the concept, a few scripture references, an illustration, and some have activities built in for helping bring home an application. Often, children’s Bibles or reference materials are cheesy, leave out vast portions of the text (due to difficulty in how to teach them or fool-heartedly thinking it is inappropriate for children to learn at their age) and frankly, heretical. Out of the many books I seek to review, children’s and women’s literature are often some of the most damaging things published as Christian lit. Yet beyond orthodoxy, we must look for accessibility within something like this.
We live in an age with the ease of accessibility for binge-watching television shows on Netflix, and subsequently, low-attention spans. Yet children have attention spans nonetheless; they will listen to the voices speaking into their lives. Whether that is a children’s show, book, teacher, neighbor, etc. – they will take stock in the things pouring investment into them and capturing their imagination. The point being – someone will invariably teach your children; be sure that you are the primary voice and that you do what is in your ability and power to train them effectively. If you have difficulty taking up that task, there is absolutely no shame in utilizing an orthodox resource to do so.
Think of this as only a resource though. Don’t use it as a crutch or refer your children back to it continually; teach your children to consult the biblical text (this is, after all, the goal of the author). However, if you view it as a tool to help equip you in equipping them, you will do well. It will take work, diligence, and most importantly, time. I take things like this very slowly with my kids, in part because they are all under the age of 5 and there are various other things we utilize in order to teach our children. I am convinced that while extremely helpful, this is not a resource that will prove to be the litmus test for their faith. It is simply a book that is designed to point back to scripture as the litmus test, or rule, of their faith if the Lord is pleased to grant it.
For all of these reasons, I heartily recommend it. It is one of the best children’s resources I’ve come across for the purpose it is intended for. Skip the pizza this week and buy it.
Disclosure: I received this book free from New Growth Press through the media reviewer program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
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