Bible Object Lessons For Children
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Bible lessons for children teach the youth of today about Gods miracles, love, and gifts, and can be presented in a variety of ways, most often in the form of Biblical stories and the interpretation of these as they apply to everyday life. Sometimes, however, children have a hard time grasping the concept of a lesson through the descriptive words used and require some sort of object to be compared with in order to make the connection with the information and the application to the view of the world. Bible object lessons can help describe a particular theme, or sometimes a truth that cannot be grasped by certain children any other way. The more elaborate themes will make better use of these object lessons. It is important, however, to be sure that this type of teaching is age appropriate for the group being taught.
Examples and illustrations are very important in this teaching strategy. An example of a Bible object lessons technique would be to hold up a utility knife for a group of middle to high school children. With each tool that ejects from the utility knife, a teacher would explain its individual purpose, and compare that purpose from the utility knife, to the purpose that each individual has in his or her own life within the church. When the older children can see that something as simple as a utility knife carries with it many different functions and purposes, they may be able to recognize that the family of God, the church, also carries with it many functions and purposes. This is an especially important message for a teenager, who strives to belong to a certain group, and in the process strays away from the true purposes and abilities that God has given. Bible lessons for children, especially older youth, really need to focus on the daily present activities of the child's life.
Those that are called to teach these messages and stories to the youth of the church need to understand the privilege and honor that is given to them to be able to mold young minds to the image of Christ. Aside from what children learn from parents, what they learn from teachers will stay with them forever. It is very important then to teach them in ways that make it easy for them to fully grasp the concepts taught in the Bible lessons for children. Bible object lessons are one of many diverse ways to reach the youth of today. In an age when TV, video games, movies and extracurricular activities are all continually vying for their attention, a Christian teacher needs to be able to reach their attention with the way they teach the lessons and the material introduced to them. The students need to understand, that any messages they learn about Christ and His church, are lessons that are the most important in life.
In order to represent Christ in the classroom, the teacher of must have full assurance that he or she is a child of God. This way, God can speak through them during any Bible object lessons. The Christian teacher can be characterized by one quality, change. The teacher lives in a changing world, but this world can be stabilized by a relationship with a changeless God. Teaching this to children, and allowing them to feel and know the peace, love and forgiveness of a God who was the same yesterday, as He is today, as He will be in the future; is the greatest gift one can pass down. God is an anchor of salvation that gives security and strength in a world that offers neither to today's children. Using diverse teaching methods is one way to impact a youth's life. After each lesson, the instructor for Bible lessons for children using the objects technique should offer the group some quiet time to reflect on what they have learned. Personal devotion, prayer, and praise to God is essential in learning about Him and living for Him.
The children should be told to silently pray to God during their quite time and request that He speak to their hearts in regards to understanding the days message. Many times, prayer and devotion time to God is more effective in learning about Him, than is the actual lesson. In addition to the Bible lessons for children, the teacher is encouraging the child to begin and continue a life of consistent daily devotion to God. Good teachers must practice this kind of walk with God themselves if they want their students to do the same. Depending on the human mind to effectively teach the messages and love of God will fail. The teacher, whether using Bible object lessons, simple memory verse techniques, or artistic presentations needs to seek the will of God before instructing and needs to depend on God for His ability to open the ears and the hearts of the children. Throughout life, all that is required is a focus, love and dependency on God the father. "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of His moth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous." (Proverbs 2:6-7)
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