Welcome to the WAY2GO magazine for people

who work with children in their church and local community. We are

including it as part of The Adventure so that you can see what else Scripture Union

does as well as get lots of good ideas for your children and families ministries. Pull it out

and pass it around or

reference.

I REMEMBER MY FIRST BIBLE. I was 8 and it came from my Aunt. I liked getting it. But after I’d looked at the pictures, I put it away. The problem was

that the text was quite small and hard to read. And anyway I felt like I knew what

was in it. I did give it the occasional outing to church on Sunday but most of the time

it stayed forgotten on my bookshelf. I found it boring.

Contrast that with the attitude of a boy I met when I was visiting a SUPAkidz Club in Wellington. “Ooh, the Bible,” he said when he saw someone getting it out. “Cool.”

Two children with two very different attitudes to the Bible. Wouldn’t it be great if all our children had the same attitude to the Bible as

the boy in Hataitai – if they found the Bible exciting? How can we help our children feel like this?

This edition of WAY2GO looks at some practical ideas to help children engage with the Bible so they come face to face with

God in ways that will change their lives.

Hilary Hague

Team Leader, Children and Families Ministry

“Ooh the Bible... COOL!”

CHILDREN TALK ABOUT THE BIBLEFind out what some of the children we know think about the Bible. Watch online at www.scriptureunion.org.nz

Maybe you could ask some of your children the same questions.

Issue 39

12 I sunz.org.nz

READING THE BIBLE WITH CHILDREN

Reading the Bible with children can be like doing a jigsaw puzzle. We can give them lots of puzzle pieces by telling

them the stories. But the pieces are not what it’s all about. Unless we engage them with the Bible in a way that helps them see God, they will end up with a muddle of pieces.

UnderstandingWe want children

know what is in the Bible

Let’s help them understand it and the context in

which it is set.

Curiosity Open ended questions are a great way to help

children to be fully involved in discovering the truth for themselves. They have no “correct” answer and they develop the ability to think and wonder about our amazing God. Ask questions like “What does this story

show us about God?” or “Why is it in the Bible?”

ReflectionLet’s help children

see their own life as part of

and draw their own conclusions. Ask questions like “Who else feels like me in the Bible?” or “What did God say to them?” Encourage them in their hard

and guide them towards good understanding.

RelationshipThe attitude of adults

is crucial to developing a positive attitude to the Bible in children. The way we feel about the Bible will speak loudly to our children. Let’s bring our Bibles

out and role model the way we use them.

Make space for God

Children need opportunities to respond to

God. Using the Bible in prayer and worship are an important part of this. Pray that God will use the

Bible to speak his living words into their lives. And then

make space to let him do it.

HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FOR OPENING THE BIBLE WITH CHILDREN TO HELP THEM MEET WITH GOD

READING THE BIBLE WITH CHILDREN

Reading the Bible with children can be like doing a jigsaw puzzle. We can give them lots of puzzle pieces by telling

them the stories. But the pieces are not what it’s all about. Unless we engage them with the Bible in a way that helps them see God, they will end up with a muddle of pieces.

UnderstandingWe want children

know what is in the Bible

Let’s help them understand it and the context in

which it is set.

Curiosity Open ended questions are a great way to help

children to be fully involved in discovering the truth for themselves. They have no “correct” answer and they develop the ability to think and wonder about our amazing God. Ask questions like “What does this story

show us about God?” or “Why is it in the Bible?”

ReflectionLet’s help children

see their own life as part of

and draw their own conclusions. Ask questions like “Who else feels like me in the Bible?” or “What did God say to them?” Encourage them in their hard

and guide them towards good understanding.

RelationshipThe attitude of adults

is crucial to developing a positive attitude to the Bible in children. The way we feel about the Bible will speak loudly to our children. Let’s bring our Bibles

out and role model the way we use them.

Make space for God

Children need opportunities to respond to

God. Using the Bible in prayer and worship are an important part of this. Pray that God will use the

Bible to speak his living words into their lives. And then

make space to let him do it.

HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FOR OPENING THE BIBLE WITH CHILDREN TO HELP THEM MEET WITH GOD

CHECK OUT WHERE OUR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY TRAINING WILL BE NEXT

AND COME ALONGThere are more details on our website

www.scriptureunion.org.nzor phone 0508 423 836

WAY2GO FOCUSED Christchurch 15 September

This training is free as a gift to the people of Christchurch and the surrounding areas.

WAY2GO FOCUSEDNelson 22 September

Explore how to strengthen your ministry with the children in your church and local community.

WAY2GO FOCUSED New Plymouth 3 November

Learn creative and innovative ways to work with the children in your church and local community.

FAITH FOR ALL AGESAuckland 3 November

Discover the why, what and how of intergenerational activities, including intergenerational worship.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY CERTIFICATEThames 10 November

A special one-off event covering all the topics in

KEEP THESE DATES FREE FOR WAY2GO 2013Registrations open in November

WELLINGTON – Saturday 2nd March

AUCKLAND – Saturday 16th March

INVERCARGILL – Saturday 23rd March

Give every child a table tennis ball, permanent felt and metal

pot scrubber. (These are available from bargain shops very cheaply).

Ask them to think of a person from the Bible who has helped them learn something about God, and draw their face on the ball with permanent felts. Help them use a

glue gun to glue the pot scrubber on for hair. They can arrange the hair by pulling it into different shapes.

Ask them to share who they have made and what they learnt about God from this person. Tell them that the Bible is full of

stories about people who can help us learn more about God.

Give every child a glass

of ice-cream. Let them sprinkle it with 100s and

a teaspoon and straw so they can enjoy it!

Explain that the glass of ice-cream is like our

lives and the lemonade is like the Bible. When

we add the Bible to our lives something

happens – God does something special

through it.

Share something special that God

has done in your life through

reading the Bible.

TRY THESE IDEASLE

CHECK OUT WHERE OUR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY TRAINING WILL BE NEXT

AND COME ALONGThere are more details on our website

www.scriptureunion.org.nzor phone 0508 423 836

WAY2GO FOCUSED Christchurch 15 September

This training is free as a gift to the people of Christchurch and the surrounding areas.

WAY2GO FOCUSEDNelson 22 September

Explore how to strengthen your ministry with the children in your church and local community.

WAY2GO FOCUSED New Plymouth 3 November

Learn creative and innovative ways to work with the children in your church and local community.

FAITH FOR ALL AGESAuckland 3 November

Discover the why, what and how of intergenerational activities, including intergenerational worship.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY CERTIFICATEThames 10 November

A special one-off event covering all the topics in

KEEP THESE DATES FREE FOR WAY2GO 2013Registrations open in November

WELLINGTON – Saturday 2nd March

AUCKLAND – Saturday 16th March

INVERCARGILL – Saturday 23rd March

Give every child a table tennis ball, permanent felt and metal

pot scrubber. (These are available from bargain shops very cheaply).

Ask them to think of a person from the Bible who has helped them learn something about God, and draw their face on the ball with permanent felts. Help them use a

glue gun to glue the pot scrubber on for hair. They can arrange the hair by pulling it into different shapes.

Ask them to share who they have made and what they learnt about God from this person. Tell them that the Bible is full of

stories about people who can help us learn more about God.

Give every child a glass

of ice-cream. Let them sprinkle it with 100s and

a teaspoon and straw so they can enjoy it!

Explain that the glass of ice-cream is like our

lives and the lemonade is like the Bible. When

we add the Bible to our lives something

happens – God does something special

through it.

Share something special that God

has done in your life through

reading the Bible.

TRY THESE IDEAS

Encourage Bible Reading at Home

Working with churches, Scripture Union aims to create opportunities for children and young people world.

Scripture Union in New Zealand – PO Box 760, Wellington 6140

supakidz@scriptureunion.org.nz – 0508 423 836 – www.scriptureunion.org.nz

SNAPSHOTS THROUGH THE YEAR $29.99Each day children will discover more about God through a short Bible reading and a variety of other

letters, drawing pictures, thinking and praying.

GOD’S AMAZING PLAN $7.95This book has 20 weeks of Bible readings, fun activities, thought provoking questions and prayers for the whole family together that tell the story of God’s love for us right from the beginning of the world, until the end of time and beyond. We are giving it away to

TIDDLYWINKS

pages with a story for every day and extra pages of fun things to do. Join twins Lucy and Liam as they explore the Bible.

EXCITING RESOURCES TO HELP KIDS DISCOVER GOD SNACK is a Christian band for kids who write original songs which are contemporary, interactive and relevant

and can be used in schools, churches and outreach programmes.

Visit www.snackmusic.com.au to see and hear more about Snack and

to check out their music.

• EXCITE FAMILIES. Let them know how to help their children grow spiritually. Run workshops, loan them books and put ideas in your newsletter.

• ENCOURAGE FAMILIES to own a Bible - maybe the same Bible that you use in your group. Church people will often sponsor Bibles for children and then pray for the child that is given the Bible.

• EQUIP FAMILIES to read their Bibles together. You can buy these and other similar books at our on-line book store www.scriptureunion.org.nz or ring us on freephone 0508 423 836.