Telling the Children About Jesus

I'm not sure that I've ever blogged about BSF!  What a giant hole in the big picture I've given you of my life!

I started attending BSF back in the spring of 2005 when my friend Melissa invited me to go to the women's night class offered here in Waco.  The study was over Israel and the Minor Prophets.  I just caught the tail end of the study, so I look forward to going through it again in 2012-2013.

I returned that fall as a Discussion Leader in the night class (and I brought Caleb with me as I was pregnant and due in January).  We were doing a study on the book of Genesis.  There are lots of fun Bible history in that study...creation, Cain and Abel, Noah.  I took 6 weeks off after having Caleb.  When I returned I decided it was too much to continue my leadership responsibilities along with returning to work full time.  Sad day.

I waited until Caleb turned two to rejoin BSF.  So, again, I caught the tail end of a year long study, this time Matthew (spring 2007).  At that point, I was able to enroll Caleb in the children's program so that he would be hearing the same Bible stories that I was studying.  Isn't that amazing?

During the summer, I was asked to rejoin the Leadership Team as a Children's Leader for the following year, The Life of Moses study.  What a fun time to begin (with all of the stories of God's faithfulness to the Israelites) my time as a Children's Leader!  My partner Nancie and I really enjoyed each other and the children.

This past fall I did not return to BSF because of having Sarah in August (there is not a children's program for children under 2).  I was disappointed because that also meant that I would not have Caleb enrolled in the children's program.  But...lo and behold, they conducted a pilot class in San Antonio (I think) last fall and opened 2 new classes for children in Waco this spring, one for infants and one for toddlers.  Praise the Lord!

So, I'm back at it, with both kids in tow.  I am leading the infants class with a wonderfully sweet Korean (I think) lady named Hwasun.  We had quite a busy morning this morning, but we managed to tell each child this week's Bible story (John 9:1-41) and sing our hymn (My Best Friend Is Jesus).

Here's an example for you to get an idea of how we tell the Bible stories to the infant class.  This will usually happen in small groups of 2-3 children at a time or one on one.

Scripture:
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?" 3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me.  Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
6Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7"Go," he told him, "wash in hte Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him." But he himself insisted, "I am the man."
10"How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded.
11He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash.  so I went and washed, and then I could see."
12"Where is this man?" they asked him.
"I don't know," he said.

Infant Version:
There was a blind man who could not see.
He was very sad.
Jesus saw the blind man.
Jesus loved the blind man.
Jesus made the blind man see.
Jesus has the power to make blind people see.
The man was very happy.
The man told all of his friends about what Jesus had done.