A Bowl, A Spoon, and A Pitcher March 22, 2011

One of “seven laws of teaching” I quoted in Old Paths For Little Feet( p. 97) is “Use the known to teach the unknown.” The Bible is real good at this. It uses the tangible to teach the intangible. Something from everyday life to illustrate a spiritual principle. Here is an example:

‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is ‘born’ again he cannot see the kingdom of God. …Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.” The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit (John 3:4).

Jesus was showing Nicodemus the role of the Holy Spirit in one’s salvation experience. Without the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts none of us can know God. He used the wind to help Nicodemus understand the work of the Spirit upon the heart.

Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will put my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams (Isaiah 44:2-4).

In this Old Testament passage, the Holy Spirit’s work is illustrated by water. He is like a stream or flowing water bringing blessings upon dry, parched hearts.

God’s sovereignty is always balanced with the truth of man’s responsibility. The two truths are like parallel train tracks, running along beside each other, but never intersecting or crossing the other one out. The Holy Spirit actually renews our hearts, gives us faith, but we are to watch our hearts carefully, and observe the fruit it is producing.

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23).

Sometimes we have to stir up our hearts to serve the Lord Jesus and to love him more. We do this through praying, reading and studying our Bible, singing, and serving.

USE THE TANGIBLE TO TEACH THE INTANGIBLE. USE THE PHYSICAL TO TEACH THE SPIRITUAL.

Try this with your children: Put some flour in a large bowl. Let them stir the dry flour. Keep repeating “STIR.” Then let them pour water into the bowl. Keep repeating POUR. STIR, POUR, DRY, WATER. Start with simple vocabulary. “Look what happens to the dry flour. It becomes soft and moist. Our hearts are like this. They are dry and hard. God has to pour his Spirit upon us so our hearts will soften and love him.”

Then, read these verses quoted above out loud, sing a song, and pray. I did this in Children’s Church with ages 5-10. We are learning to sing “O Can It Be” by Charles Wesley to stir our hearts so we can love, worship, and obey God more.

Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me?
‘Tis mercy all! Let earth adore, let angel minds inquire no more.
‘Tis mercy all! Immense and free! for O my God it found out me.

Grandsons Are Fun May 21, 2009

Here is a good teaching tip from a reformed perspective:

As you are cleaning a kid up a million times a day, say:

“Clean face,

Clean hands,

New heart!”

You can add “Clean feet” when you need to!

Why do this? You are laying a foundation in the child’s mind to accept the biblical principle of the Holy Spirit’s sovereign work in salvation.  And you are reminding yourself of this doctrine of  our salvation and our need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”  (Romans 5:6)

“”As it is written, “There is noe righteous, no, not one.  They are all gone out of the way,they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.’ ”  (Romans: 3:10

“And you hath he quickened, wo were dead in trepasses and sins.  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ;  (by grace you are saved.)”   ( Ephesians 2:1, 5)

“…I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”  (Jeremiah 31:33)

You need this doctrine too!  How else are you going to raise this kid unless strengthen, encouraged, revived to do it?  Stop now,  thanking God for His work in your own heart and praise Him for His whole plan of salvation.  Or ask Him for a new heart for  yourself or plead with Him for the salvation of your children.

And don’t forget that children are fun.  We are to delight in them and their childishness.  Keep your balance.  They are little sinners but aren’t they cute.  My grandsons sure are.