levels of biblical learning: preteen - clover...

9
Levels of Biblical Learning: Preteen Inside— visual milestones to help you guide kids in their spiritual growth!

Upload: others

Post on 05-Apr-2020

24 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

range tobottom edge

range tobottom edge

L e v e l s o f B i b l i c a l L e a r n i n g : P r e t e e n

Inside—visual milestones

to help you guide

kids in their

spiritual growth!

Levels of Biblical LearningAt LifeWay, we work hard to know kids. We take

time to understand how they play and how they learn.

And we know you need resources you can count on to

connect kids to God’s Word—leading them toward knowing

Christ and growing in relationship with Him. That’s why LifeWay

Kids promises to offer foundational resources that are biblically

sound, age appropriate, fun and easy to use. These foundational

resources help kids hear God’s Word, know God’s Word, and do God’s

Word by learning to apply it to their lives.

All of the resources we offer are built on the information in

this document called LifeWay’s Levels of Biblical Learning. This

simple but important ministry tool was developed by experts

to provide you with visible milestones as you guide kids

in their spiritual growth as they hear, know, and

do God’s Word. It provides teachers, parents, and

ministers of preschoolers and children with milestones related

to biblical knowledge, skills, and attitudes at the designated

levels from birth through preteens. Levels of Biblical Learning

gives a coordinated approach from birth through preteens by

using ten concept areas—God, Jesus,

the Bible, Creation, Family, Self,

Church, Community & World,

Holy Spirit, and Salvation. In

developing Levels of Biblical

Learning, we had four

basic assumptions.

Adapted from the original introduction to the Levels of Biblical Learning written by Thomas L. Sanders. Thomas L. Sanders is Director of the Master of Arts in Christian Education: Childhood Ministry, Gary Cook Graduate School of Leadership at Dallas Baptist University.

The Bible as Our Textbook—The Bible is the basis for everything taught in Bible study settings. Bible content is also the basis for the development of all teaching procedures.

The Child as Learner—Preschoolers and children are the focus of our teaching. Their understanding, needs, and interests are important considerations in determining how to approach Bible content. Bible study resources must touch the head, the heart, and the hands (body) of the child to create life-changing experiences.

The Teacher as Guide—The teacher, whether teaching in an open or closed group Bible study, must focus on the five functions of the church—evangelism, discipleship, ministry, fellowship, andworship. The teacher must provide activities that will involve children in learning, will guide children to correct information, and will share the biblical revelation. In addition to teaching Bible truths, teachers must live out the biblical message in front of children and parents.

Parents as Primary Teachers—The primary responsibility for religious instruction of preschoolers and children belongs to parents. The Holy Spirit works through Christian parents as they teach biblical truths in word and action. The church and its ministries must assist and support parents as spiritual leaders by training them and teaching their children.

The ten concept areas offer a broad biblical framework for guiding parents, teachers, and LifeWay curriculum developers in teaching children from birth through sixth grade. It is important to see the correlation and connectivity of the concept areas. Teaching about God and Jesus in the early years play an important role in helping the child understand salvation later in life. The concept areas provide a biblical framework for laying a foundation that becomes the pathway to conversion, spiritual growth, and a biblical worldview. Eight of the concepts are foundational/prerequisite to the more advanced concepts of Holy Spirit and Salvation which are distinctive to first through sixth grade.

As you read the chart, it is good to remember that:  •   Although children develop spiritually in similar ways, the rate of that development will vary. Some

children may understand concepts at an earlier or later age than indicated on the chart.

  •   Certain concepts are introduced later when that concept and content are more useful and meaningful to the child.

  •   While God nor His attributes change, a child’s level of understanding and vocabulary does change. It is important to see that small nuances in words and slight changes in concepts are significant in the mind of a growing child. From an adult’s perspective, it may seem minor, but these small steps are important for the child’s understanding.

  •   When teaching or developing resources for broad-age groupings of children, concepts may be  combined or adapted to meet the needs of the group.

We hope you’ll find this ministry tool helpful. The Levels of Biblical Learning are another reason why you’ll find that year after year, LifeWay Kids is the choice you can trust.

1

2

3

4

Age - Group

Concept Area: God

Bible Passageand Story

Bible Truth

Life Application

Bible-LearningExperience

The following information will help you see how the concept areas of Levels of Biblical Learning can relate to individual sessions and specific activities in preschool and children’s curriculum materials.

Preteen

God’s care and concern exists regardless of people’s circumstances.

1 Kings 17:1-16God Helped Elijah

God provides for His people.

I can trust God to provide for me each day.

EXPRESS YOURSELFChoice 2: “God Will Meet My Needs” Radio Commercial

Preteens will begin by using the learner guide to distinguish between some of their wants and needs as they work to learn that God’s care and concern exist in spite of people’s circumstances. Then they will look at the memory verse, Philippians 4:19. They will look at needs of preteens in general and will write a radio commercial script that identifies some needs that may not be common to all preteens, but are circumstances in which today’s preteens need God’s care. Preteens are encouraged to use the memory verse as part of their “hook” line at the end of the commercials.

Talking to Children About SalvationWhen talking to a child about salvation: *  Ask follow-up questions. When a child asks a question, often he does not know exactly what to ask. Get

clarification before deciding how to answer a question. For example, you might say, “Tell me more about what you are thinking,” or “What made you ask that question? Where did you hear about this?” Remember, many times the question a child asks may not be the actual question for which he is needing an answer. Avoid asking questions that can be answered with “yes” or “no.”

 *  Avoid giving more information than a child needs. Adults can be tempted to tell all they know on a subject. When a child asks a question, only answer what the child is asking. If a child asks for more information, be more specific with your answers.

 *  Don’t jump to conclusions. A child may ask, “Why did Andy get baptized?” This question may be only a request for information, not a request for the gospel presentation.

 *  Speak in clear terms. Avoid symbolic analogies that may distract from discussion and understanding.

 *  Use simple wording. Rather than using the phrase “accepting Jesus into your heart,” say the words “becoming a Christian.”

Steps in talking with a child about God’s plan for salvation:1.    God loves you and has a great plan for you (Psalm 139:13-16). Talk about these truths: God made the world,

God made people, God made you, God wants to have a relationship with people, and God wants to have a relationship with you. Say, “Tell me one way you know God loves you.”

2.    We have all sinned (Romans 3:23). Everyone must understand that he is separated from God. Sin is best understood as choosing to do things our way instead of God’s way. (Give some examples of sin such as disobedience, ungratefulness, untruthfulness, etc.) Then ask the child: “Have you sinned? What does God think about sin?” Point out that everyone has sinned.

3.    Even though we choose to sin, God still loves us and offers to forgive us (Romans 5:8). Ask, “How do you think it makes God feel when you sin?” Focus on the fact that God loves the child even when he sins. Say: “God promised that one day a Savior would come and not sin and would die for all people. Do you know who that Savior is? Did you know that He died for you?”

4.    Jesus died for us (John 3:16). Talk about John 3:16 and explain that because sin separates people from God, everyone needs a Savior. Ask, “Do you know why Jesus died?” Say, “Jesus loved you so much. He willingly died for you, so you could be with God forever.” If the child is old enough to understand the resurrection, say, “Jesus rose from the dead, so we could have eternal life.”

5.    You can become a Christian by confessing that Jesus is your Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9).  Ask, “Would you like to be a Christian?” State that the word confess means to say that Jesus is your Savior and that you must: Admit you have sinned Believe that Jesus is God’s Son Confess that Jesus is Savior and Lord

6.    Review and follow up. Encourage a child to tell you in his own words what he understands and believes. Either ask the child to repeat a prayer after you or help the child know what to say in his prayer. After the prayer, read Romans 10:13 and remind him that this verse is a promise. Jesus will be his Savior forever.

About Baptism:*  Always make distinctions between baptism and becoming a Christian. Point out that becoming a Christian

comes first, and then baptism follows because it is a way of showing he has become a Christian.

 *  Avoid emphasizing the emotional side of the baptism experience. Keep in mind that public recognition should not become a motivating factor for making a decision.

Pre

teen

God

Jesu

sB

ible

Crea

tion

Fam

ily

The

Bibl

e is

ete

rnal

.

The

Bibl

e is

God

’s m

essa

ge

abou

t Him

self.

The

Bibl

e is

the

only

wri

tten

W

ord

of G

od.

The

Bibl

e te

lls m

e th

at s

alva

tion

thro

ugh

Jesu

s is

God

’s gi

ft.

The

Bibl

e ap

plie

s to

per

sona

l an

d so

cial

issu

es.

The

Bibl

e te

lls m

e ho

w p

eopl

e’s

lives

wer

e af

fect

ed b

y th

eir

resp

onse

s to

God

.

The

Bibl

e is

for

peop

le o

f all

lan-

guag

es, e

thni

citie

s, a

nd c

ultu

res.

Crea

tion

can

be c

redi

ted

to

God

onl

y.

God

cre

ated

peo

ple

in H

is

own

imag

e.

God

’s cr

eate

d or

der i

s go

vern

ed

by H

is la

ws.

God

help

s peo

ple

to d

isco

ver,

unde

rsta

nd, a

nd u

se H

is

reso

urce

s.

God

wan

ts m

e to

feel

sec

ure

beca

use

He

mad

e th

e w

orld

, is

stil

l at w

ork

in it

, and

car

es

wha

t hap

pens

to m

e.G

od w

ants

me

to p

rais

e H

im fo

r H

is c

reat

ion.

Fam

ilies

are

par

t of G

od’s

plan

for

prov

idin

g m

y ph

ysic

al, s

piri

tual

, m

enta

l, so

cial

, and

em

otio

nal n

eeds

.

Unde

rsta

ndin

g th

at e

ach

fam

ily m

embe

r is

a p

erso

n of

sig

nific

ance

an

d w

orth

can

hel

p m

e re

late

to h

er.

God

’s pl

an is

for p

aren

ts to

lead

fam

ilies

ac

cord

ing

to H

is W

ord

and

will

.

Each

per

son

in m

y fa

mily

has

a

cont

ribu

tion

to m

ake

to th

e fa

mily

.

God

wan

ts m

e to

hel

p le

ad m

y fa

mily

in

wor

ship

.

God

wan

ts m

e to

sho

w lo

ve, r

espe

ct,

coop

erat

ion,

and

con

side

ratio

n fo

r al

l pe

rson

s in

my

fam

ily.

God

love

s an

d ca

res

for f

amili

es in

all

kind

s

of s

ituat

ions

.

My

fam

ily c

an s

how

God

’s lo

ve a

nd c

are

to

othe

r pe

ople

reg

ardl

ess

of th

eir

circ

umst

ance

s by

min

iste

ring

to th

eir

need

s.

God

is e

tern

al, h

oly,

and

perf

ect.

God

the

Crea

tor

is to

be

wor

ship

ed, n

ot H

is c

reat

ions

.

God

is o

mni

pres

ent.

God

kno

ws

the

desi

res

of

my

hear

t but

stil

l wan

ts

me

to p

ray.

God

’s ca

re a

nd c

once

rn e

xist

re

gard

less

of p

eopl

e’s

circ

umst

ance

s.

God’

s lov

e is

not

lim

ited

by ti

me,

sp

ace,

cul

ture

, or e

thni

city

.

God

pro

ved

His

unc

ondi

tiona

l lo

ve fo

r pe

ople

thro

ugh

the

sacr

ifice

of J

esus

Chr

ist.

God

wan

ts p

eopl

e to

wor

ship

H

im w

ith a

ll th

eir

hear

ts, s

ouls

, m

inds

, and

str

engt

h.

Beca

use

God

des

erve

s re

spec

t, ob

edie

nce,

and

hon

or,

God

nu

rtur

es a

nd d

isci

plin

es

Chri

stia

ns.

God

is o

mni

pote

nt.

God

is r

ight

eous

.

God

is o

mni

scie

nt.

Peop

le b

elie

ve in

diff

eren

t god

s,

but t

here

is o

nly

one

true

God

. G

od is

God

the

Fath

er, G

od th

e So

n, a

nd G

od th

e H

oly

Spir

it (T

rini

ty).

God

pla

nned

for

Jesu

s fr

om th

e be

ginn

ing

of ti

me.

Jesu

s w

as b

orn

of a

vir

gin.

Jesu

s w

as G

od in

hum

an fo

rm.

Jesu

s ta

ught

that

true

w

orsh

iper

s m

ust w

orsh

ip

in s

piri

t and

trut

h.

Jesu

s ta

ught

abo

ut fa

ith, t

rust

, an

d ob

edie

nce

to G

od.

Jesu

s pe

rfor

med

mir

acle

s be

caus

e H

e is

God

’s So

n.

Jesu

s w

ants

peo

ple

to b

e tr

ansf

orm

ed b

y H

im.

Jesu

s’ cr

ucifi

xion

, bur

ial,

and

resu

r-re

ctio

n w

ere

a ne

cess

ary

part

of

God

’s pl

an fo

r th

e fo

rgiv

enes

s of

sin

.

Jesu

s is

the

Mes

siah

and

Sav

ior,

and

God

sen

t Him

to fu

lfill

His

pro

mis

e of

red

empt

ion.

Jesu

s is

hol

y an

d pe

rfec

t.

The

asce

nsio

n de

scri

bes

Jesu

s’ re

turn

to h

eave

n.

Jesu

s w

ill r

etur

n to

ea

rth

som

eday

.

Chur

chCo

mm

unit

y an

d W

orld

Pre

teen

The

chur

ch is

a fe

llow

ship

of b

aptiz

ed b

elie

vers

whe

re

all p

eopl

e ar

e w

elco

med

and

wan

ted.

The

func

tions

of

the

chur

ch a

re e

vang

elis

m, d

isci

ples

hip,

fello

wsh

ip,

min

istr

y, an

d w

orsh

ip.

Chur

ches

ord

ain

peop

le to

do

cert

ain

task

s.

Belie

vers

are

to ta

ke G

od’s

mes

sage

into

the

wor

ld.

Corp

orat

e w

orsh

ip is

the

resp

onsi

bilit

y of

all

chur

ch m

embe

rs.

Each

bel

ieve

r is

giv

en o

ne o

r m

ore

spir

itual

gift

s.

Belie

vers

use

spi

ritu

al g

ifts

to d

o G

od’s

wor

k. Th

e bo

dy a

nd b

lood

of J

esus

are

rep

rese

nted

in

the

Lord

’s Su

pper

.Ba

ptis

m b

y im

mer

sion

is a

sym

bol o

f Jes

us’ d

eath

, bu

rial

, and

res

urre

ctio

n.

Chur

ches

toda

y are

par

t of t

he m

ovem

ent b

egun

by J

esus

an

d H

is fo

llow

ers.

Beca

use

God

val

ues

peop

le o

f all

natio

nalit

ies

and

cultu

res,

I w

ill r

espe

ct a

nd v

alue

eac

h pe

rson

.

God

wan

ts p

eopl

e to

join

Him

in w

hat H

e is

doi

ng in

the

wor

ld.

All C

hris

tians

are

cal

led

to b

e on

mis

sion

with

God

.

God

wan

ts p

eopl

e to

pra

y co

nsis

tent

ly fo

r m

issi

onar

ies

and

peop

le g

roup

s an

d fo

r th

eir

pers

onal

invo

lvem

ent i

n m

issi

ons.

God

wan

ts m

e to

coo

pera

te a

nd w

ork

with

oth

ers

will

ingl

y.

God

wan

ts p

eopl

e to

look

for

oppo

rtun

ities

to h

elp

peop

le o

f al

l eth

nici

ties,

and

cul

ture

s.

Stew

ards

hip

of m

oney

, tim

e, ta

lent

s, a

nd p

osse

ssio

ns

help

s ot

hers

lear

n ab

out G

od a

nd J

esus

.

God

hel

ps p

eopl

e to

sha

re th

eir

faith

in J

esus

with

thos

e w

ho

have

diff

eren

t bel

iefs

.Go

d w

ants

peo

ple

to g

ive

and

acce

pt fo

rgiv

enes

s fro

m o

ther

s.

Self

Life

is a

gift

from

God

.

I can

app

reci

ate

my

valu

e as

a p

erso

n G

od lo

ves.

I can

take

res

pons

ibili

ty fo

r m

y ch

oice

s an

d th

eir

cons

eque

nces

.

God

will

hel

p Ch

rist

ians

kno

w a

nd u

se th

eir

spir

itual

gift

s.

God

wan

ts m

e to

com

mun

icat

e w

ith H

im

and

stud

y th

e Bi

ble

daily

.

I can

take

del

iber

ate

actio

ns to

gro

w in

Ch

rist

liken

ess.

I am

acc

ount

able

to G

od fo

r th

e w

ay I

trea

t ot

her

peop

le.

I can

live

with

joy

rega

rdle

ss o

f my

circ

umst

ance

s. I c

an u

nder

stan

d an

d fo

llow

God

’s sp

ecifi

c pl

an

for

my

life.

I can

ack

now

ledg

e an

d fo

llow

God

’s au

thor

ity

in m

y lif

e.

My

body

is G

od’s

tem

ple.

My

self-

cont

rol a

nd o

bedi

ence

to G

od c

an h

elp

me

stan

d up

to p

eer p

ress

ure.

My

self-

cont

rol

hono

rs G

od a

nd b

enef

its m

e.

I can

take

del

iber

ate

actio

ns to

ask

for f

orgi

vene

ss

and

rest

ore

rela

tions

hips

.

God

exp

ects

me

to r

emai

n pu

re in

all

aspe

cts

of

my

life.

Leve

ls o

f B

ibli

cal

Lea

rnin

g

Pre

teen

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

is th

e co

mfo

rter

.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

was

pre

sent

in J

esus

’ life

and

min

istr

y. G

od’s

Spir

it w

as a

ctiv

e in

cre

atio

n.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

help

s pe

ople

kno

w, u

nder

stan

d, a

nd

rem

embe

r al

l thi

ngs

abou

t God

.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

urge

s pe

ople

to a

ccep

t God

’s sa

lvat

ion.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

is p

art o

f the

Tri

nity

.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

ente

rs th

e Ch

rist

ian’

s lif

e w

hen

he

acce

pts

Jesu

s as

his

Sav

ior

and

Lord

.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

insp

ired

Bib

le w

rite

rs a

nd b

reat

hed

God

’s W

ord.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

help

s be

lieve

rs g

row

in th

eir

rela

tions

hips

with

God

and

with

oth

ers.

The

Hol

y Sp

irit

empo

wer

s be

lieve

rs to

tell

othe

rs a

bout

Je

sus

and

His

pla

n of

sal

vatio

n.

Hol

y Sp

irit

Salv

atio

n

God

had

a p

lan

for

salv

atio

n be

fore

the

begi

nnin

g of

tim

e be

caus

e H

e lo

ves

me

unco

nditi

onal

ly.

The

Bibl

e te

lls m

e G

od s

ent J

esus

, so

I can

hav

e a

pers

onal

rel

atio

nshi

p w

ith G

od.

Salv

atio

n is

a g

ift fr

om G

od.

With

out a

Sav

ior,

the

puni

shm

ent f

or s

in is

ete

rnal

de

ath

and

hell.

Jesu

s to

ok th

e pu

nish

men

t for

eve

ryon

e’s

sin.

Whe

n th

e H

oly

Spir

it co

nvic

ts m

e of

my

sin,

I ca

n tr

ust

Jesu

s as

my

pers

onal

sav

ior.

Chri

stia

ns c

an k

now

that

Jes

us w

ill b

e th

eir

pers

onal

Sa

vior

fore

ver.

I can

und

erst

and

I nee

d a

pers

onal

and

gro

win

g re

latio

nshi

p w

ith J

esus

. I c

an e

xper

ienc

e jo

y w

hen

I rec

ogni

ze G

od is

at

wor

k in

my

life

and

in th

e liv

es o

f oth

er p

eopl

e.

Certain stories are so important that they must be taught frequently during childhood so that the child will understand not only the facts of the story but the biblical principles that it communicates. Listed below are examples of foundational Bible stories that preschoolers and children will study. Boys and girls will learn biblical concepts through these and additional Bible stories.

Foundational Bible Stories

Babies–KindergartenGod Made the World and Everything in ItAdam and Eve’s Choice*God Made FamiliesNoah and the ArkJosephMiriam and Baby MosesRuth’s FamilyHannah’s Prayer and Boy SamuelDavid Helped His FamilyDavid and JonathanSolomon and the TempleGod Helped ElijahElisha’s Friends HelpedDaniel Obeyed God and Chose Good FoodJesus’ Birth and Related EventsJesus Went to ChurchJesus Chose Special HelpersFour Friends Who HelpedJesus Fed the PeopleA Woman Gave Her MoneyThe Good SamaritanJesus Visited Mary and MarthaThe Man Who Said Thank-YouZacchaeus Met JesusJesus and the ChildrenJesus Talked to the Woman at the WellChildren Sang for JesusJesus Is Alive! *Breakfast with JesusPhilip and the EthiopianTimothy Learned About GodPaul Taught Lydia About JesusChurch Helpers* Introduced in Kindergarten.

range tobottom edge

range tobottom edge

Grades 1–6All stories listed for babies—kindergarten and the following:

Cain and AbelAbram’s CallGod’s Covenant with Abraham **The Sacrifice of Isaac ***Isaac and the WellsJacob Tricked EsauJoseph’s StoryMoses and the Burning BushThe Plagues and the ExodusThe Ten CommandmentsJoshua and CalebThe Fall of JerichoDeborah, Gideon, or SamsonDavid and GoliathElijah and the Prophets of BaalNaaman’s HealingDaniel’s Friends in the FurnaceDaniel in the Lion’s DenEstherJesus’ Birth and Related EventsJesus’ Baptism and TemptationsThe Sermon on the MountJesus Performed MiraclesJesus and the StormThe Transfiguration ***The Prodigal SonThe Raising of LazarusJesus’ Crucifixion and ResurrectionJesus’ Post Resurrection AppearancesJesus’ Ascension **The Jerusalem ChurchStephen **Peter’s EscapePaul’s Missionary Journeys** Introduced in Grades 3-4 ***Introduced in Grades 5-6