Bible Discussion Thread

Hi, i would like to know which part of the bible is best to teach a 12yr old child with low attention span whom knows the basics of the beginning of the bible and hoping you can guide us through this learning experience. Thank you for your time!

Sincerely yours, Bianca S.

Let us hope that your child can be like Samuel growing up with the sons of Eli. We are all "taught of God" and have our gifts and calling. The question is; if the great truths of the Bible as the Living Word are made alive to your child-and if that is indeed the case that he/she has a vision for their generation to see the truth preached. Of course you are a living example; hopefully of someone who honors God; exalts His greatness; and trusts Him and the validity of the authority of God in everyday living. It goes without saying that we often learn from others rather than our immediate family; and hear from God that way. I can kind of relate myself having a short attention span when I was young. There can be signs of discernment in youth; as well as understanding what is to come. Again; in my experience I started with the Book of Revelation as to understanding. At that age; awareness of sin at the "age of accountability" tends to set in. I guess what I am saying here is that what we want with children (although I never had any of my own); is for them to learn as we would from practice and expect them to understand the way we do. As we get older; of course to function in society and mature in the Body of Christ certain refinements need to happen. I am just suggesting that those subjects of interest are explored if; as you say perhaps Genesis is of interest. There are scientific apologists who are believers that help to validate scripture; if that angle helps attention span. Prayer and meditation becoming a real part of life may work better than rote memorization. I pray that your child can find a way to communicate with the Lord and establish a relationship there so you can have common ground for communication about the Lord. Agape; Rich P.

Dear Bianca Solazzo", there is no reason to wrap up learning form in children Gigi. So I do not completely agree with you there. Because all the Apostles have nothing boring about them. Rather, it is an active way of believing. The works of the apostles can also be good. This is Christianity in practice. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John are the best school.

Think what a nice thing to hear about Jesus from a person who loves you. God bless you and good luck on your journey in the Bible with the greeting from John 8:31-36. Jesus loves you and yours.

Dear FREE,

I understand your thinking. I agree that there is nothing boring about the apostles. I do know that the apostles have written about teaching and holding to the taught doctrines (which is the same as teachings or beliefs) of the faith ( 1 Timothy 4:16 22; Titus 1:9; 2:1), so the early Gentile believers did not have the Hebrew Scriptures to read, but were taught by their elders the essential of their faith following their conversion by the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit. They did not simply read the letters Paul wrote and not teach what they mean. Thus the believers were taught the way I suggested. There is evidences of this being so in the early church writings in the 1st and 2nd centuries.

Also, FREE, a 12 year old is very different from an adult believer. The writings of the Bible are definitely written in adult language and most 12 year olds would not understand a large amount of the terms used and the context, phrases, and metaphors used by Paul. I ask myself, which is more important for a 12 year old to know and study? Verse by verse of the Old Testament books or even the New Testament or the meaning of the Gospel and the basic doctrines of faith held in common by those that Paul and elders taught them from the pulpit during worship services and group fellowship. I say the latter.

12 year olds will profit more from systematic instruction in the beliefs of the faith that in reading through who begat whom in the OT or many of the stories in Judges, or the Law in Leviticus. I do think that the Word is indeed profitable for believers. And any doctrine taught needs to be aligned and taught with the Word that supports it. But I do think that what I suggested is quite appropriate and desirable for the instruction of young teens. After this instruction, as I said, a study of the Gospels is more important than studying the OT or the epistles because the Gospels center on Jesus, His life, His teachings, His words, His action, His sacrifice.

Yes dear Gigi it is so, why dont u wright that yesterday? I was 12 years when i got my first Bible. And it was a big bok. Study i did not. But it was a good and exiting reading. I learned about Jesus and all the things He do!

So be happy and glad. I should not have mentioned anything, becouse i do not want to disturb u at all.

Love u all with gretings from Acts 18 Jesus is still the same.

FREE,

Thank you for your responses.

In response to your 1st response, I felt that further explanation was in order. This is the beauty of peaceful conversation between believers. We add to one another's knowledge and wisdom of the God in the Word. In your 1st response I realized that other believers may not be familiar with the idea of what a catechism is. It contains and teaches from Scripture the essential main doctrines (teachings/beliefs) of the Christian faith. Such instruction in these doctrines is beneficial for any believer, especially those new to faith or youth entering the time in their life where their young faith will be challenged/tested by exposure to many worldly/false ideas in multiple venues in their teen years.

FREE, I am not bothered at all that you responded to my 1st post on this thread. It pressed me to further explain my thinking to someone I know to be honest. Thank you for doing so. We "sharpen" one another with our conversations. It is a good thing.

Jd 20-21

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

Eph. 4:11-16

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ, till all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we should no longer be children, tossed to and for and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things unto Him who is the head-Christ-from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." (NIV)

Hi Bianca, My suggestion as a former teacher would be to obtain copy of a Christian catechism that outlines the basic beliefs of the faith with Scripture references and teach him from these points. This way, he will be given a firm foundation for the faith he professes. 12 years old is a common age for those in denominations that do so to learn this in a Confirmation class which is intended to teach this foundation to "confirm" as true the faith they profess. If you cannot obtain a catechism, then look for a basic Christianity book such as John Stott has written and use this to guide you in presenting Scripture to your son. For young teens like him, I think it is better to teach this way than to work through books of the Bible. Most teens will become disinterested with such an approach because it does not present an overall view of the faith that is immediate within them.

That is why I suggest as I have. After teaching the foundations of faith from the Bible, then I would suggest reading and studying the gospels so he can learn more deeply who Jesus was when He lived His earthly life and what he was like and taught.