theology of young people

Welcome to

2a Theology of young people

Theology“Theology is faith seeking understanding”Practical Theology in Action by Ballard &

Pritchard, 2000, p1

Theology = The Study of God

Recipe for theology:• Scripture• Tradition of the church• Human reason• Personal experience


TheologyWhat do you believe about…• Young people in the Bible - what is their role in God’s

work?• Are all children ‘in the Kingdom’? What about children

outside Christian families?• Baptism - for babies or believers?• Jesus and children - What did Jesus say and do?• Spirituality of young people

Do you believe that young people are a gift from God?Do you believe that young people can teach adults something?

Have reasons for your beliefs


TheologyJesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matt 19:14

"Truly I tell you," He said, "unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt 18:3

At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Matt 11:25

Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. Matt 19:13

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” Acts 16:31

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.Rom 6: 23

God has already done all of the work. All you must do is receive, in faith, the salvation God offers. Eph 2:8-9

Fully trust in Jesus alone as the payment for your sins. Believe in Him, and you will not perish. John 3:16

God is offering you salvation as a gift. All you have to do is accept it. Jesus is the way of salvation. John 14:6


TheologyBaptism

In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. Col 2:11-12

Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called . . . The Church and the parents would be denying a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth. Catholic Church

Arguments against infant baptism

Circumcision was a sign and seal of physical birth into the Jewish nation, and baptism is a sign and seal of new birth (born again).

Baptism is for the remission of sins, and infants are not capable of repenting.(Luke 3:3, Mark 1:4, Acts 13:24, Acts 19:4)

Infants can not outwardly express faith.

The Lord's Supper and Baptism are both sacraments or ordinances and are the same sign and seal, since the Lord's Supper may not be given to unbelievers, neither should baptism.

Baptism represents more than just physical washing, but being clean and good standing before God, and therefore regenerate (Romans 6).


TheologyVerses about Children

CHILDREN - A GIFT:Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court. Psalm 127: 3-5

CHILDREN - TO BE TAUGHT / TRAINEDImpress [these commandments] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6: 7

CHILDREN - COVENANT PROMISE‘Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.’ Acts 2: 38-39

Rebecca Nye - Children’s Spirituality -what it is and why it matters (2009)



TheologyCreate your own creed concerning young people.I believe…


TheologyA Christian Theology of Children (Marcia J. Bunge)

Children are vulnerable. This means we have the responsibility to look after, genuinely care for and provide for the needs of children.Children are gifts from God. This means we should respect them, rejoice over them and celebrate their intrinsic value as human beings made in the image of God.Children are still developing and sinful. This means that in all spiritual, intellectual and moral matters, we need to teach, guide and appropriately discipline them.Children are models of faith to adults. This means that children can teach us something about what it means to be God’s children and members of his kingdom.

https://www.youthworks.net/articles/developing-a-theology-of-children


TheologyThe mission of the church to children is not to try to get them converted from a sense of sin, but to encourage continual acceptance of the grace of God along the way.

(Jeschke 1983: 104-106; Bushnell 1967:4).

Jeschke, Marlin. Believer’s Baptism for Children of the Church. Scottdale and Kitchener: Herald, 1983 Bushnell, Horace. Christian Nurture. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1967


TheologyGod is in relationship – three in one.

Therefore, relationship is fundamental to all being, and relationships are at the heart of youth work.

(p55, Nash/Whitehead)

Welcome to

theology of young people

Education