Exploring the Bible with children and young people. Pauline Burdett Church and Community Development Worker, Families Ministry Consultant

Discovering the Bible with children and young people. Pauline Burdett Field Worker Devon and Cornwall, Families Ministry Development Worker

Exploring the Bible with children and young people. Pauline Burdett Church and Community Development Worker, Families Ministry Consultant

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1Why is the Bible important?Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionWhy is this important?2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God breathed ..God inspired the people who wrote it.the Bible reveals Gods thoughts, plans, truths, warnings and promises.Gods word is to be at the heart of life (Deut 6:6&7) to be cherished (Psalm 119:105)for today and the future (Isaiah/Jeremiah) to be identified with and obeyed (As Jesus did. John 15:14) to equip Gods people (2 Tim 3:14-17) God in action (Heb. 4:12)2God has given us the Bible so that we might have a relationship with him and learn through stories of His people.

SO how much do we know? Do quiz. Collect answers at the end here at front.

The purpose is:To be at the heart of life historyTo be cherished poetryFor today and future prophecyTo be identified with and obeyed gospelsTo equip Gods people epistlesWhat is the Bible about?Each individual story of the bible, fits into the bigger narrative:Gods story is about his relationship with the world creation, rebellion, redemption, restoration.Why explore the bible with children and young people?Psalm 78 and throughout OT told to tell next generation responsibility to pass on Gods storyExpect something to happen! Expect to hear from God.Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionExploring the BibleOur role We are role modelsWe are learners

3Role Models: enthusiasm is contagious so is our doubt, our apathy etcWhat is Your knowledge of the Bible like and what is your view of it?There is a need for us all to know our bibles better we have a responsibility in this but also for our own relationship with God suggest bible notes, Wordlive etcNeed to share our enthusiasm, our stories of how we have responded to Gods word might help to keep a journal or blog to note your thoughts can look back on this and see ways God has been working.Ask yourself how do I make time for Gods Word? How am I being transformed by what I read?Learners: Do Geography exerciseWe have a lot to learn and we can be on a journey with our children and young people in the exploration. Expect to find new things in the bible.Start with Gods perspective not our own try not to put our own interpretation of the world onto the story. Ask:What did the author intend?What does the text actually say?What do we understand it to mean today?When did we last learn something from reading or hearing the bible?

Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture Union

We have a lot to learn and we can be on a journey with our children and young people in the exploration. Expect to find new things in the bible.Start with Gods perspective not our own try not to put our own interpretation of the world onto the story. Ask:What did the author intend?What does the text actually say?What do we understand it to mean today?When did we last learn something from reading or hearing the bible?

4Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionExploring the BibleOur role We are role modelsWe are learnersWe are clarifiers

Take a look at the Explorers Guide to the Bible by John Grayston

5We are Clarifiers: Do Bible timeline together

Inevitably we will be asked tough questions and our task is to help to make things clear. How do we respond to questions which we do not have an answer for?Saying I dont know, but Ill find out is fine but if thats all we ever say, it may give the impression that the bible is unknown to us and very hard to understand, even for grown-ups.Saying I dont know, lets find out together and then compare answers is another optionOr having the answer is the third option!We need to research context, genre of writing, ideas, language, principles etcRemember, the world has changed but God remains the same.Take a look at the Explorers Guide to the Bible by John Grayston

Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionGods BIG story!

6Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionThe Bible is Gods BIG storyThe Bible tells the story of salvation from start to finish.Knowing the BIG story places Jesus firmly at the centre.The BIG story helps children/young people grasp the meaning of the individual stories as they connect to the BIG one.To know what it means to be lifelong followers of God, they need to see where they fit in the BIG story and where God is heading.

7Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionThe role of storyStory is part of everyone's lifeWere surrounded by storiesStories help us make sense of the worldThe Bible is full of storiesJesus told great stories!

8Importance of Story:Importance of story in everyones life: e.g. how are you? Is really saying whats your story?Surrounded by stories watching the news, TV programmes and films, telling about our dayStories help us make sense of the world help provide new information and new perspectivesJesus told stories most famously the parables also drew on peoples experiences and on everyday life.In Bible stories God is active in the story telling event so no only telling a story, but our prayer is that God is at work through the experience so affects both teller and listener.Choosing Bible Stories:What are the most popular stories told? SU survey see Must Know stories (adults, 8-11s and 5-7s)Jesus birthJesus death and resurrectionCreation Adam and EveThe Good SamaritanThe Ten CommandmentsThe Prodigal SonNoahs ArkDavid and GoliathDaniel and the Lions DenFeeding the 5000Are there any stories or parts of the bible that are unsuitable for your group?E.g. 2 Samuel 13 Amnon and his incestuous relationship with Tamar

Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionUsing the Bible with integrity.Do not start with your perspective. Start with Gods.What did the author intend?What does the text actually say?What do we understand it to mean now?Context.GenreUnderstand the ideas translations.Extract the principles.

Starting from our perspective is a recipe for disaster. If youre off women this week then Eves response to the serpent wioll only re inforce your mind set that all women are deceivers!

The intention of the author can only be appreciated as we place the words/story in the world of its day., how did people live? What was their situation? What sort was going on around them?Where does this passage fit in the big story? The books of the prophets are not placed chronologically in the Bible so where do they fit in the timeline?

Identify the genreThe Bible has 66 books, is what youre reading History or poetry, prophecy or wisdom, gospel or letters? When we know the type of writing were better placed to grasp what the words mean.

Understand the ideas.The Bible wasnt written in English. Translating from Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek means looking for words with an equivilent meaning. Using different translations will help shed light on the meaning of the words.

Extract the principlesThe world has changed but God remains the same. Look for the principles about him and his world in the text rather than taking the text at just face value. Paul spends all of chapter 8 of 1 Corinthians talking about what to do when faced with food offered to idols. Not something I have ever been faced with however We need to work out what this might mean to us in the situations we face.

Light to live by: How to interpret the Bible, Richard Briggs.9Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionRetellingDramaNewspaper articleSong or rapDanceCartoon stripPhotographyDiaryPicturesFor non book YP or children5 SsSongStorySloganSymbol (image)Scheme (action)

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Eating a Passover mealPray outsideGroup learningMulti- sensoryTheme gamesPuppets10Retelling:Working out how to retell something they have heard gives opportunities to learn.Could make a photo story board give them digital camera images on laptopOr freeze frame moments acted out.Being a news reporter at scene or writing a newspaper article to retell storyPresenting a chat show with different guests who are characters from storyWriting a diary entry of someone in storyUpdating a parable modern versionExplore different perspectives in story ask how would I feel if?Art collage, making art or respond to famous works Rembrandts The Return of the Prodigal Son.ExperiencingConsider what could be experienced - what could they make/do? where could we visit? what could we listen to?e.g. The Passion of Christ could include: eat a Passover mealwalk and pray outsidelight a fire and remember Peterre-enact the trial of Jesus in church at nightwalk up a hill carrying a cross

Consider different learning styles:Dont need to have all in every story, but good to consider different ways of engaging.Broadly speaking visual (what we see), audio (what we hear), kinaesthetic (what we experience)Visual: props, pictures, visual aids, puppetsAudio: repeated phrases, noises, musicKinaesthetic: ways of joining in, audience participation, crowd involvement etcExploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionPICTURES AND SYMBOLS:

11Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture Union

Different Versions

12Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionGods my main manI dont need nothin else.He lets me chill to mellow soundsHe keeps me free from stressHe recharges my batteries,he keeps me doin what is right, so others can see God in me.

Even though life can be scary,I aint scared of nothin,Because my main man is there,guiding, protecting and leading the way.God, you keep me well fed and contentin front of those who dont like me.

You keep me looking great,I have more than I need.You will be lookin out for me every step I take for everand Ill be livin your way throughout.Translate it13Whats this? Psalm 23!!!!Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionWhats this about?:

14Whats the story here? What are the people seeing/feeling/experiencing. When might you feel up against it? Whats the Bible story? Whats it about?Moses or Joshua?

Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture Union

15Whats the story here?Hosea and Gomer

Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture Union

16Whats the story here?The Anglican Parish of Christ the King in the City of God in Rio de Janeiro is joining forces with international mural artist Joel Bergner and young people from the local community to produce three vibrant new murals. Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture Union

17Whats the story here?Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture Union

http://www.thebricktestament.com/Listen to it.

Watch it .

Resourceswww.facebook.com/submergebibleguide18Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture Union

At 48 secs19Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionThrough ..art and creativity:

the senses:

nature:

games

technology

20Make it relevant.Gods word has an impact on all our emotional, social, intellectual or physical issues, but young people and children need to see that the Bible is relevant to their daily lives at school, home, church and at leisure.Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionIts more than just telling stories.Make connections.Encourage questions.Use practical ways to respond clay, postcards etcTalk about your experience of the Bible. Ensure your passion for Gods Word and its effect on you is evident so that it infects the children and young people you work with.Encourage the habit of regular Bible reading providing tools to make that easier.Give time to reflect and listen to God.Pray

21Making Connections:Consider ways to connect with the whole person e.g. give 3 YP 5 to make money during a week return and see how they got on and tell parable of talents.where are the connections? Home, school, church, leisure timeConsider how to help children and young people access the story especially when it may contain details from another time and another cultureConsider how to find specific times in the year to encourage bible reading perhaps during Lent, YP used to giving something up but could be challenged instead to read through a gospel talk about this regularly, give encouragement, and support.Encourage Questions:* read a passage together and then compile a list of 5 questions that are raised. Spend time exploring the answers together challenge group to find answers during the week challenge them to ask particular people, perhaps others in the church, parents, RE teacher, friends etcUse Practical Ways to Respond:Give group clay or other art/craft material to make a model or sculpture etcPostcards to God expression of response to His wordSymbols and objects in passage (palm crosses, nail, seed etc) or a pebble, small cross, bookmark Psalm consequences see separate exerciseDesign and advert or new book cover for the bible how would they market it?Talking about our experience of the Bible:You and/or get others from church to do the same often part of peoples testimonies. Make it part of every day/weekly chat. Be non-judgmental with those who struggle with it. Be clear about the general message you give about the bible:Message is: The Bible is from God and it is valuable I want to hear from God through the Bible, The Bible is also about me and youGive time for the Holy Spirit to work:Give time for children and YP to respond Consider a reflective time to listen to God but persevereAnd pray continually that God will speak to the children and young people through his word, so that their lives will be transformed and they will be equipped to serve God.Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionFeed regularly on the Word, pray without ceasing.

Aeroplane example.22Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionExploring the Bible with children and young people. Pauline Burdett Church and Community Development Worker, Families Ministry Consultant

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23Why is the Bible important?Exploring the Bible with Children and Young PeoplePauline Burdett Scripture UnionThy WordAvalonAnother Time, Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics, track 3/152008Gospel & Religious238043.17Thy WordAvalonAnother Time, Another Place: Timeless Christian Classics, track 3/152008Gospel & Religious238043.17