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FAMILY RESOURCES
Catechisms
A catechism is a series of short questions and answers designed to summarize the principles of the Christian faith. One of the most famous is the Westminster Catechism, which starts with the question "What is the chief end of man?" The answer is "Man's chief end is to love God and enjoy Him forever." Sometimes the older catechisms can be a little complicated for young minds. We recommend the "Catechism for Boys and Girls" and the "New City Catechism." The New City Catechism has an app and has been put into song, which makes the concepts that much easier to memorize...for kids and adults!!! There is a simplified version for kids and there are instructional videos on The Gospel Coalition's YouTube Channel!
The New City Catechism
Children's Bibles
The actual Bible is always better than a summary because it is the Word of God. However, sometimes it can be a little confusing for young minds. It can also be difficult to see the overarching themes in the Bible. That is where children's Bibles come in. Here are some of our favorites. We have some on our book table for free!
"The Moonbeam Award Gold Medal Winner in the religion category, The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. At the center of the Story is a baby, the child upon whom everything will depend. Every story whispers his name. From Noah to Moses to the great King David---every story points to him. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle---the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together. From the Old Testament through the New Testament, as the Story unfolds, children will pick up the clues and piece together the puzzle. A Bible like no other, The Jesus Storybook Bible invites children to join in the greatest of all adventures, to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God's great story of salvation---and at the center of their Story too." - www.zondervan.com
"The Action Bible presents 215 fast-paced narratives in chronological order, making it easier to follow the Bible’s historical flow – and reinforcing the build-up to its thrilling climax. The stories in The Action Bible communicate clearly and forcefully to contemporary readers. This compelling blend of clear writing plus dramatic images offers an appeal that crosses all age boundaries. Brazilian artist Sergio Cariello has created attention-holding illustrations marked by rich coloring, dramatic shading and lighting, bold and energetic designs, and emotionally charged figures. Let this epic rendition draw you into all the excitement of the world’s most awesome story." - www.theactionbible.com
This "Children's Bible" is the actual Bible, but it has lots of color pictures to facilitate understanding. "The ESV Children's Bible is designed to help children ages 5–10 see Bible stories come to life. Included with the complete ESV Bible text are more than 200 vibrant, full-color illustrations of Bible events and characters. Additional content includes a dictionary, Old and New Testament timelines, child-friendly maps, and help in directing children to key Scriptures on various topics. The ESV Children’s Bible is a colorful Bible that kids will love!" - www.crossway.com
Family Devotions
We are big proponents of daily family devotions. They can be as simple as reading a bible passage and discussing it around the dinner table. Or you can use an established curriculum such as the ones listed below. Whatever you choose, plan it into your day and stick with it. The fruit may be slow in coming...but it will come. Our job, as parents, is to faithfully proclaim God's grace and truth to our children. God will take care of the rest. This is not a comprehensive list of what is available, but it is a good place to start.
Theo Presents is a collection of videos and books that are designed to make big truths simple for little minds. The website has free coloring pages, puzzles, and lesson plans available. "Enjoy the stories and lessons of Theo, a student of Godʼs Word. Our animated series guides children and adults through a careful study of systematic theology, capturing the attention of young minds with humor and engaging animation. You’ll get to know Theo, who lives in a cozy corner of a quaint English village, and his two mouse friends, Luther and Belfry. Theo discusses topics such as the doctrines of salvation, Godʼs character, the Bible, and Godly living in a way that make children want to learn more about the Christian faith. Plus, Luther and Belfry always seem to find themselves in a fun adventure!" - www.theopresents.com
The Good Book Company is a publishing company in England. We are mentioning them here because they sell devotions curriculum for all ages. "Table Talk is designed to form the basis for a short family Bible time – maybe just five minutes at a mealtime. XTB (eXplore The Bible) is a range of Bible reading notes designed especially for 7-10 year-olds. XTB encourages children to understand, apply and pray through the Bible in an accessible and thought-provoking way. XTB also links in with Table Talk. Discover is a quarterly publication aimed at 11-13 year olds, packed full of puzzles, prayer points and application. Engage Bible notes have been written to help young people understand and apply the scriptures." - www.thegoodbook.com
Truth is for kids, not just for adults! So The Ology gives kids of all ages a beginner’s theology book to help them understand who God is and how we, as his children, relate to him. Arranged within a traditional systematic theological framework, each truth in The Ology is also connected to the larger redemptive story of Scripture. The Ology takes abstract theological concepts and makes them easier to understand with the use of creative examples, illustrations, and analogies. The goal is not to say everything that could be said about a theological topic, but rather to share the key thoughts behind a theological concept. The Ology is a starting point to learning theology and aims to create a hunger and desire in children to learn more as they grow older. - http://stores.newgrowthpress.com