Children's work - always start with the passage

Most children’s groups use some kind of published teaching syllabus. An intrepid few write their own. But the beginning point is the same for everyone: Always start with the passage.

Published teaching material will have chosen the passage for you. So you open the manual/website just long enough to find out the passage; then shut it again.

If you read the leader’s notes and session outline at this point, you’ll be looking at the passage through someone else’s eyes. But you don’t need their eyes. If you’re a Christian, if you’ve put your trust in Jesus Christ, then you have the Holy Spirit living in you. And one of the things He does is help us understand God’s living Word. So don’t start with the manual – start with the passage.

Here are a few practical suggestions to help you do this:

• Use a good adult version for your preparation, such as the NIV or ESV. If you use a simplified Bible with the children, you’ll need to know the language it uses, and any changes it makes – but for your own prep an adult version is important.
• Pray. This is God’s book – ask His help to understand it and apply it to your own life.
• Read the passage through three times. This is especially important if it’s a well-know story – you may well find things in the passage you never knew were there!
• Jot down anything that surprises, puzzles or interests you. These are things you may want to include in your teaching – or to ask someone about.
• Apply this simple rule of thumb:
  If the story or passage is about God, the main point will be about God.
  If the story or passage is about Jesus, the main point will be about Jesus.

Just because something has been published doesn’t mean it’s always right. If a session’s stated aim or teaching point doesn’t fit with the rule of thumb, don’t assume it’s you who’s wrong. This might be a good moment to ask for some help to see if the material has got the main point right. Try asking your pastor or homegroup leader for help. They’ll be delighted that you’re serious about teaching the Bible faithfully to the children on your group. They’ll be less delighted if you leave it until 10pm on Saturday night to ask them!

Having thought about the passage in this way, you’re now ready to read through the manual, or check the website, to see how it suggests building a session around the passage. More on that next time…