Reading The Old Testament To Your Kids, pt. 2 by Sojourn Kids Director Jared Kennedy

“God Is The Main Character” by Jared Kennedy
Reading the Old Testament story to your kids, part 2 of 5

If you browse through Bible storybooks at your local bookstore, you will quickly notice a pattern.  Many Bible teachers use Old Testament stories (e.g., David and Goliath) to teach moral lessons such as “Be courageous!”  Often, an author will accurately summarize the facts of the Bible story but go on to draw a “moral” from the story that the biblical author did not intend.  Often, these moral lessons (“do this” or “don’t do that”) mute the author’s real purpose-to show God’s actions in history to save humanity.  It is possible to miss the main point or purpose of a particular Scripture passage for the details (Saul’s armor not fitting, the five smooth stones and sling, David cutting off Goliath’s head, etc.).  We shouldn’t overlook or forget the details (see the next post in this series), but we must keep them in proper perspective.

When teaching any Bible story, remember that God is the main character.  David didn’t forget this fact:

“The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
(1 Samuel 17:37 NIV)

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty…  This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head… and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.  All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47 NIV)

At Sojourn, we believe that the stories of the Bible are not just moral fables-the adventures of heroic figures that lived long, long ago.  Even though we may remember Bible heroes, the story is ultimately about what God has done.  The Bible reveals God’s plan and God’s work to save the universe and humanity from sin through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

When you are reading Old Testament stories, don’t begin by asking, “What does this passage tell me to do?”  Instead, ask, “What does it tell me about God-who he is, how he works, what he does?”

Sources: A Vision for Ministry to Children and their Parents by David and Sally Michael (Children Desiring God, 2006); “Hermeneutics and Children’s Curriculum” by John Walton; SojournKids Guide to Family Worship by Rob Plummer and Jared Kennedy; “Teaching Bible Stories” by David Chilton.