Today’s Good News Club® (GNC) brought me back to Sumner Elementary School, the first location I ever taught GNC. Over a year ago, the group had well over 30 bubbling energetic students. Today’s club had 7 children who had all changed a lot since I had last seen them. I was honored and excited that they all still remembered ‘Shaggy’ (the endearing nickname GNC and non-GNC students alike gave me because of my goatee).
I had my lesson prepared and was excited to teach the kids about Jesus turning the water to wine and trusting Him to be their rock (Isa 26:4) in whom they can trust. As I remembered, they were extremely curious and were constantly asking questions. I taught about how we pray to God and ask Him for things, like asking God to make moving easy for them instead of a possible selfish mindset such as asking Him to not let the house sell so they won’t have to move. One boy asked me if it was wrong to pray for help on tests. I was thoroughly impressed by the thoughtfulness and practical implications of the question. It is questions like these that let me know that the students are truly taking in what I am saying and thoughtfully processing it.
The Bible talks about the faith of a child. While children are not burdened by the worldviews every person develops during life in culture, they are not unintelligent about what they believe.
The Bible talks about the faith of a child. While children are not burdened by the worldviews every person develops during life in culture, they are not unintelligent about what they believe.
My ‘weak spot’ in teaching is my desire to answer questions. Today while teaching I fielded questions on and off (at least I have no idea how they connected the question to the discussion at hand) topic. They wanted to know if it was a sin to drink, because surely Jesus wouldn’t promote sin. They inquired about Jesus’ status as God’s son. Is Jesus God and separate from God as God’s son all at the same time? (I gave the best explanation I could, but let them know that at the end of the day even the brightest theologians end up like this when thinking about the Trinity:
. One girl asked what color Heaven and Hell were. One asked if people repent in Hell would God save them?, Did Satan kill Jesus?, Where did Satan come from?, Where did bad spirits come from?, Does the Signum Crusis (Sign of the cross) do anything?, and a few more.
It is at times like these that I am reminded to stay curious. Even at a Christian equivalent of an Ivy League school I need to be inquisitive. God is mysterious even after leaving the entire Bible for us to study and learn about Him. As growing Christians, may we never stagnate in our search for understanding of God, His glory, His nature, and all other doctrine. |
| (Mind Blowing) |
-Steven
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