Children and Families - Scripture Union NZ

Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world. It has been attacked many times, and has had lots of different people living in it. The walls that we see today are not the walls that Jesus saw as he headed to wards Jer usa lem. Th e photo above is of a model of Jer usalem in the time of Jesus . It is a large model, and it sho ws the temple, the houses and the gates. Je rusalem had big thick walls to protect it, and gates to enter in and out of the city. The photo below is o f one of the gates in the wall that you can see today.T he walls are dented from years of fighting. T hese walls are scarred by bullet holes.  Jesus and his friends have walk ed a long way up the hill. As they arrive at the city, they get caug ht up in the crowds. Its hot and dusty with people pushing the ir way through the gates. Lots of people are arriving in the city to be there for the Passover feast. This is the feast celebrated by the Jewish people to remember how God saved them ...

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...