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At The Gospel Coalition national conference in Chicago, IL, BibleMesh conducted three panel discussions. Above is the final of the three, entitled “How to Teach Children and Youth the Gospel Story,” which was held at 12:30pm on Thursday, April 14 in Chicago. Greg Thornbury of BibleMesh led the discussion, which featured panelists Russell Moore, David Helm, and Kimberly Thornbury.
The discussion ranged from particular obstacles that pop up in teaching our children the gospel, how to teach parents to understand the Bible in order to teach their children, and helpful resources. Below are some of the resources mentioned:
- Kimberly Thornbury mentioned Ethel Barrett books that are out of print, but can be easily found used. A good example is Barrett’s Abraham: God’s Faithful Pilgrim (Great Heroes of the Bible Series).
- David Helm, Big Picture Story Bible (Crossway)
- Sally Lloyd-Jones, Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name (Zondervan)
This is wonderful. I wonder if material from GoodSeed International was brought up. They produce adult and children’s material for teaching the gospel in a chronological manner. See http://www.goodseed.com/
I’ve just listened to this panel and appreciated what has been communicated. I wonder what other listeners thought about David Helm’s comment about our children’s problem being internal and not external. I would agree that our children’s main problem is their heart but doesn’t scripture also teach things about external influences? E.g. evil company corrupts good maaners and friends should be chosen carefully because the wicked lead the righteous astray? As a consequence wouldn’t the application of such verses be to protect our children until they’ve learnt to how to discern right from wrong? I appreciate that such a format doesn’t always allow all parts of a question to be answered fully but wanted to bring this up all the same.
A dad with two young daughters.
Cglover – Well – given that I was the one who asked the question (and is still feeling the wound of an apt word rightly spoken)… 🙂 In the context of some of the main sessions (especially Matt Chandler’s on Youth in Ecclesiastes), and the context of this particular audience (people like me – Reformed, youngish, zeal to right all the theological wrongs of the previous generation), it was a good word. We have to put verses like the in the context of all of Scripture – Our good morals are only good if their source is a regenerate heart. There is definite temporal help in knowing each child’s bent and protecting them from things which lead them away from Jesus, instead of towards Him. But there will always come a day when we’ll no longer have that privilege. We have to keep our primary focus on the roots of faith (our sinful hearts, our need for a Savior), rather than its fruits.
What is the Gospel Story in a nutshell?
“Although known as gospel people, Evangelicals no longer share any consensus on the Gospel’s meaning.”
-Eminent Evangelical Church History Professor and author, Dr Carl Trueman
“The Real Scandal of the Evangelical Mind”
Therefore, doesn’t the Nicene Creed, the universal Gospel in a nutshell for over 1,600 years, remain the Gospel summary?
[Ref. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicene_Creed%5D
How could one be considered a Christian and disagree with it?
Since no Reformation creed has supplanted it, doesn’t the Church who gave us the Nicene Creed, retain the Gospel?
Good comments, all. The Nicene creed is treasured by a wide range of Christians, including the team at BibleMesh, Anon. Cglover–you’re surely right that external influences help lead to sin, and I don’t think anyone on the panel would disagree. Amsk, here’s hoping that word continues to get out about that material.