The Bible For Normal People Episode 7: Pete Enns and Jared Byas - Teaching the Bible to Your Children
May 1, 2017
Teaching the Bible to children can be quite a challenge. The hosts explore the tension between children's simple comprehension and complex theological ideas using Noah's story as a prime example. They advocate for a curriculum that centers on Jesus and promote the idea of children enjoying stories without the pressure of literal interpretations. Honest dialogue about tough questions fosters curiosity, while teaching context and nuance helps avoid a fear-based understanding. Finally, they emphasize the importance of self-awareness in parents as children navigate their own faith journeys.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Children's Bible Simplifies Complex Theology
- Many popular children's Bible portrayals simplify or omit the harder theological points, changing the story's original intent.
- Kids get concrete images while the text often communicates abstract, ancient theological ideas.
Center Teaching On Jesus
- Start children's religious education by introducing who Jesus is as the center rather than beginning with Genesis or Old Testament narratives.
- Gradually introduce Israel's story and harder theological questions in middle and high school so kids can handle adult-level interpretation later.
Give Parents Context First
- Provide parents brief background material before children's lessons so adults can reframe stories theologically and historically.
- Use simple explanations to model context-sensitivity without overloading young children.