A realistic, straight-forward approach to exploring one's faith and doubts, and talking with the next generation about important spiritual issues. A child's spiritual pilgrimage begins from the earliest moments of life and is shaped by the significant adults in the child's ever-expanding world. Yet often adults have an inadequate or unclear understanding of their faith, and are unsure how to impart their own Christian beliefs to their children in a credible and meaningful way. Oppenheimer offers guidance for adults who seek ways, for themselves and for their children, to "live with the questions" with a faithful openness and deep sincerity. She presents the possibilities for adults to "become as little children" in their faith, without naivete, and for children to "grow in wisdom and stature," without the need for dogmatic certainties. An encouraging book for those who face the challenge of living out the Christian commitment--of maintaining the balance of being true to Christ while being true to one's self and one's children.

This is a book of clues... clues to the awe and immensity of God that will lead children to think about, rather than "learn" about, God. Instead of teaching in the traditional sense, it provides "clues" for a shared journey toward discovering the Divine Mystery at the core of the universe. The recent trend in Christian education has been to emphasize knowledge, and to make church school more fun and entertaining. But in our zeal to pass on the basics of the faith, we have often neglected to guide children into truly experiencing the full wonder of the almighty. We have taught them about religion, but we have not always helped them to establish a deep and meaningful relationship with God. This book approaches the mission from a different perspective - one that identifies and reaffirms the spiritual experiences young people are already having. Each chapter suggest numerous ideas for use in classes, as well as a "Time to Reflect" section for adults to recall and meditate on their own spiritual life as children. Teaching The Mystery Of God To Children is an essential resource for any parent or church school teacher who is interested in the spiritual development of their children. Subjects discussed include: The Bible Art Symbols Music Sounds Movement Words Poetry Nature Sacred Space Koans and Miracles Death Judy Gattis Smith is the author of more than a dozen books, including Teaching to Wonder, Planting Spiritual Seeds, and Developing a Child's Spiritual Growth through the Senses (Abingdon). She has also written three books for grandmothers, and she is a regular contributor to Episcopal Teacher magazine. Smith has led more than 200 workshops and seminars, and has been a keynote speaker at conferences throughout the United States.

In the New Testament, Jesus is explicit in communicating God’s heart for children. Yet what does it look like for that heart to encounter the contextual realities of life in the twenty-first century? This book explores the theological implications and practical realities of ministry with children in a globalized world. Affirming eight core beliefs regarding the place of children in creation – that they are created with dignity and intended to be placed in families, cared for in community, advocated by society, secured in hope, affirmed in God’s church, included in God’s mission, and engaged in creation care – this book traces the impact of such far-reaching issues as displacement, climate change, human trafficking, persecution, and gender discrimination on childhood development. Written by over twenty contributors from around the world, each section roots its premise in contextual theology, examines the implications for praxis, provides a case study, and includes questions for discussion and reflection. Through each chapter the conversation around childhood development is broadened, prioritizing the experiences of children and practitioners to truly reflect the realities of our changing world. This is an excellent resource for all those concerned with the current risks facing children, especially among the world’s most vulnerable populations, and what best practice looks like as the people of God work to bring God’s heart, and hope, to children in their communities and beyond.

These delightful stories give children unique insights into the way other children live in far-off places like India, Turkey, China, Ethiopia, and Iraq. Each introduces exotic places and wonderful customs and traditions, and also offers guidelines for "before reading the story," and questions, activities, and prayers for "after reading the story." Author Anne Neuberger takes storytelling to a whole new level.

“Epic Families not only identifies a problem within today’s church but presents suggestions that equip parents to raise kids who are passionate for Jesus and offers ways that churches can partner with and empower parents in this mission. Definitely well worth the read!” — Rev. Allen Perdue Lead Pastor, Jersey Life Church Today’s children are not raised in a bubble. Daily, they are bombarded with worldly wisdom and are tempted at earlier ages with things that would have stunned parents of previous generations. Epic Families strives to help parents reclaim their God-given mandate to raise their children to know and love Him. Developed through more than a decade of ministry experience as well as one-on-one coaching with parents and church staff, this book identifies ways that the church has taken over a role that was designed for parents. It offers suggestions to parents to help them confidently teach their children about the God who made them, loves them, and wants a relationship with them, while also suggesting ways that churches can partner with parents, while not usurping the parents’ role. Epic Families can empower parents to inspire their children to trust God and make wise choices. In the busy and sometimes scary world we live in, parents need to intentionally showcase God’s presence to their children and let Him permeate their lives; this book offers them a valuable resource to do that.

This resource provides 64 complete and ready-to-use sessions for children's worship. It will enable children to acquire a familiarity with the life of Christ and the events of the church year in a vivid and memorable way.

The themes, words, and concepts in children's literature speak to the whole Christian community. Virginia Thomas and Betty Miller have examined children's literature and designed an extensive annotated list of children's stories, poems, folk tales, and fiction that express faith, belief, theology, and Christian principles. This unique resource/reference handbook gives the church the opportunity to function as a united community of believers. Children and adults have the chance to study and learn together -- grow as a whole community.Thomas and Miller offer a practical approach to children's literature that gives background and theory, an evaluation of techniques, "how-to" guidelines, suggestions for use, lists of books, two annotated bibliographies, and indices: subject and themes, genre, and book awards. Explains: why children's literature is a good resource for Christians where to find good stories how significant themes are adapted for different age levels how to evaluate stories how to use them Parents, teachers, and ministers will delight with children in this new approach to sharing, learning, teaching, and worship. The bibliography of books for all ages is a treasure-house of information. Features basic book information, summary, and themes values. This is an educational tool that provides a new avenue to understanding our faith.

Greening the Children of God uncovers the theological roots of the growing ethical imperative to reconnect children to their natural environment. In their different traditions, theologians, environmental educators and psychologists all affirm that knowing their place in the natural environment helps a child develop an intersubjective ‘ecological’ identity that nurtures virtues of mutuality and care. During the Scientific Revolution this ethical harmony was threatened as science and moral theology began to adopt different epistemological methods, something the Anglican priest and poet Thomas Traherne was all too aware of. Traherne insisted that education should promote a child’s attention to the moral dimensions woven into ‘the tapestry of creation’, and professed that play, wonder, and a sensory relationship to diverse creatures play a pedagogical role in a child’s moral formation. Greening the Children of God establishes the contemporary significance of Traherne’s moral theory in conversation with child psychologists, educators, philosophers, and theologians who know that cultivating a place-based relationship to the local ecology helps children perceive creation’s deep mutuality and develop a moral identity in the image of a caring Creator.

The only sure thing you can count on when it comes to your kids . . . is that God has got them. As parents we strategize and agonize. We wish for secret formulas and surefire methods. But somewhere along the way, we discover that what our kids need most is for God to do in their lives what only He can do. This beautiful deluxe edition of The One Year Praying through the Bible for Your Kids is designed to provide you with a daily dose of parenting perspective and hope. Join trusted author Nancy Guthrie as she takes you through The One Year Bible reading plan, helping you to mine each day's passages to discover how the Scriptures speak into the triumphs and turbulence of parenting, as well as provide fresh ways to pray for each of your children. Day by day you'll find yourself worrying less and praying more as your dreams and desires for your kids are increasingly shaped by the Scriptures rather than the culture around you. Let go of fear, and expect God to work as you pray through the Bible for your kids.