Children and Families - Scripture Union NZ

I recently went to Disney on Ice with my 9 year old niece. I was surrounded by Elsa's, princesses dressed in sparkly blue gowns and fake diamond tiaras. It was a couple of hours of beautiful ice skating, which was great! We both loved it. It was also a couple of hours of fairytale accounts of how the world works. Beautiful princesses who captivate handsome princes on white horses.  Our children experience competing narratives about the world and how life works. Is it a happily ever after?  When it comes to the Bible they face the same challenge. At some point in their life the question will arise:  Is it real or is it a fairytale?  How do we help children navigate this question when it arises? How do we equip them with the tools they need to find the answer for themselves? Because it is not simply enough to tell them just to trust and obey.  “Whether the biblical story becomes primary in the lives of our children will be powerfull...

“The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a parochial school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples, over which the teacher had written a sign that said, “Take only ONE. God is watching.” Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of warm chocolate chip cookies. And over this plate, a child had written a note: “Take all you want. God is watching the apples.”   Sandy Eisenberg Sasso. Theology is a daunting kind of a word. It conjures up university lectures and large dust covered books filled with long words. But theology is the study of God. And we do theology all the time.   We do theology every time we talk about God .  Every time we ask, ‘I wonder what that means?’ when we open the Bible. Every time we ask 'Why?' Every time we witness miracle or mystery. Theology is not reserved for those with bookshelves filled with NT Wright and Hebrew textbooks.We are theologians, and our children a...

This is a cool activity and so easy.  1. Line ten ice block sticks up in a row. 2. Stick two together with masking tape, then turn over and stick the next two on the other side. Turn back and repeat. 3. Use felts to draw a picture of Jesus’ death on one side, and a picture of the resurrection on the other side. 4. Fold the sticks up. (See the third photo.) 5. Show the children how to use it to tell the Easter story to their friends and families. While the children are making their picture it's a good opportunity to help them think about Easter. Try asking using these questions. -Why did Jesus choose to die? -What happened when Jesus came back to life? -What is your favourite part of the Easter story? Why? -What do you think the most impo rtant part of the Easter story is? Why?