Grow as Jesus grew

Teach children who believe in Jesus to grow as Jesus grew:

(compare p. 1284 Children’s Ministry Resource Bible)

Luke 2: 52  “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

1.       Help Christian children to increase in wisdom: 

1.1   Teach them that knowledge of the Bible gives them wisdom.  Proverbs 9:10 teaches that God is the beginning of wisdom.

1.2  Help children to think like  wise people about the right things but be like children in the wrong things – 1 Corinthians 14:20.  Warn them about pornography and films that promote wrong things like crime and violence.

1.3  Help children to develop a God-centered worldview.  Make them sensitive to the fact that God is in control of everything

1.4  Teach children that God is the Creator of everything.  The macro-cosmos and the micro-cosmos.  He made man as His representitive to care for His Creation.

1.5  God is behind all technology, behind all history, behind literature.  Read to them stories of great people whom God used to play a role in history. 

1.6  Help children to pray for God’s wisdom and  the guidance of the Holy Spirit to see God at work in caring for them and answering their prayers and guiding them in making decisions.

2.      Help Christian children to grow in stature:

2.1  Help children to see that they grow mentally in wisdom, but also physically – they are God’s creation.  Help them to accept themselves and love themselves.  Help them to praise God that they are unique.  “Blossom”(compliment) them when they do things in the right way or do good in sport or in school.

2.2  Teach children that their bodies are “temples” of God. – 1 Cor. 6:19-20.  Therefore they must take care of  their bodies, by keeping them pure.  Do not use drugs or alcohol or be involved in sexual relationships. Challenge them to get exercise and eat the right foods.

2.3  Help them to pray for wisdom how to treat their bodies so that they can glorify God by what they eat or drink, think  or do daily. 

 

3.      Help Christian children to grow in favor with God:

3.1  Teach children who God is, what He did to give them salvation and how He wants them to live.

3.2  Teach them how to be a serious follower of Christ by communing with God, reading the Bible, pray regularly and witness about what God is doing in their lives

3.3  Teach them to look for ways to serve God – praying for missionaries, be missionaries themselves, help poor people, give what they can,  etc.

3.4  Teach children that God expects them to obey His teachings – the “Great Commandment” – love God with all you have and are, love your fellowmen as yourself!

3.5  Teach children that God forgives their sins when they do wrong things – He knows that we are still in a world with many problems  and sin and He understands us.  We must strive to live a life that will give God pleasure.

4.      Help Christian children to grow in favor with men:

4.1  Teach children to honour their parents.  To love their parents and to help their parents.

4.2  Teach children to respect other people and other people’s rights – also their brothers and sisters.

4.3  Teach children to be kind and love other people

4.4  Teach them to be good friends 

4.5  Teach children to pray for their friends, classmates, team mates and for their future husbands and wives.