One of the greatest tools I have gotten in discipling are the catechisms above. My son who is about 2.5 years old has learned a 2 verses and 3 questions. The books are broken out by age group. It is a bit more simplistic than the other Catechisms that are out and I believe the niche is that a two year old can begin to have his/her worldview shaped. The book has hymns, verses and questions and I can’t recommend it enough. I really have no dislikes or complaints. These can be purchased from Founders Press here Next up……
This is also a wonderful tool. If not the best tool I own. I will say upfront that most of the people including Adam and Eve are “White” and that causes a bit of a problem because there are many illustrations and some people of African American descent may not like this. The other could be the book seems to have Covenantal convictions and language flowing through it. This will be unnoticeable to many but I wanted to bring it up. You can pretty much read through this in a few weeks if you read nightly to your children. It does an unbelievable job keeping the narratives biblically and Christ centred. I say this because I keep “morality” driven Christian content away from my son. I actually dislike it a great bit. Things like “Veggie Tales”, christian superheros, “Adventures in Odyssey”, and whatever else you will find in the kid section of your local Christian bookstore I avoid. The Bible is Redemptive History and is all about Jesus Christ. I believe most of what they teach distorts this. Narratives like Jonah, David and Goliath, and the Exodus lose there Christocentric value and thus the Gospel becomes an add on. I will stop there. It can purchased here . I was actually blessed to get mine a bit cheaper from Grace Frisco Church a church in the Sovereign Grace Ministries Family.
So please purchase these tools. The last tool is your life. This is a bit more difficult, but there is no greater tool than them seeing your serve, repent, and lay your life down. However the reason you do these things have to be becasue of Christ. I hope this helps.
Lionel-
You said: I say this because I keep “morality” driven Christian content away from my son. I actually dislike it a great bit. Things like “Veggie Tales”, christian superheros, “Adventures in Odyssey”, and whatever else you will find in the kid section of your local Christian bookstore I avoid. The Bible is Redemptive History and is all about Jesus Christ. I believe most of what they teach distorts this. Narratives like Jonah, David and Goliath, and the Exodus lose there Christocentric value and thus the Gospel becomes an add on.
Hutch says: You have been gifted with great discernment; the problem with the isolated bible story narratives is that they are almost always presented as stand alone stories.
An excellent resource that you may wish to look into is a book entitled: Stranger on the road to Emmaus by John R. Cross. It presents Gods Word and the stories from Genesis on into their proper context of pointing to and their fulfillment in The Lord Jesus Christ.
BTW, in your recommended resource, does Jesus have blonde hair and blue eyes? Grin.
Hey Hutch,
Nah, he sort of looks like Seinfeld with long hair! LOL!!! Thanks for the resource. BTW where is your blog? I don’t see it anymore.
Too funny!
I took my blog down.
As you could see, there was not a whole lot of interest. Most likely because my posts where far too long.
My original reason for putting the blog up was for the benefit of my mother in law who lives in a remote village in Sweden. Christian fellowship is hard for her to find and she had been watching some programs on television sponsored by the Seventh Day Adventists. I posted the lessons on the New Covenant believer’s relationship to the Law of Moses for her study and benefit.
She has finished going through the lessons, so I now just come over to your blog to interact.
I have given some thought to posting sections of Ketcherside’s writings on the Royal Priesthood to see if anyone would like to interact with that theme.
But right now, I am mainly working on retooling the “Law Lessons” and the “Law of Christ Lessons” into a workbook/question and answer format for use in discipleship.
It is my conviction that a lot of the legalism that is invading the church is due to 1) Unbiblical church leadership models 2) false clergy/laity distinctions 3) a poor understanding of the priesthood of the believer as presented in scripture and 4) a misunderstanding of a believers relationship to the Law of Moses.
This project will keep me busy for quite a while especially since it takes me forever to type a document.
Lionel,
I must say both my husband and I enjoy your blog. (Husband Phillip Fletcher). I thought I’d comment on this one. It is close to my heart as a mother. I am ALWAYS encouraged to see men discipling their children in the word of God. I agree with allowing scripture to teach. There are some great stories for boys to embrace manhood in Christ, likewise for girls to be reverent and bold for Christ.
We have great examples of men of faith….Jacob whom God wrestled with, Joshua who was strong and courageous, Joseph a man of integrity who fled the adulteress woman (we need more men like that), David a man “after” Gods heart, Paul unrelenting in his desire for others to know Christ, and Abraham who was called a friend of God.
Our girls would have the conviction and courage of Esther, the strength of Mary and the wisdom to know when to rest at His feet, a heart to labor as Martha. Oh and my very favorite Jael…that their feminine appeal would be used for the Glory of God.
Nicolle
Thanks for stopping by Nicolle,
I am encouraged by your statement. Yes as we attempt to raise our children in a postmodern world and with a worldview in constant opposition to what they are accustomed to we can lift of Godly man and women, while also showing their shortcomings and showing them why Christ had to return. Even with David’s great accomplisments and his “great heart” God promises us a man who will not only unify the Northern and Southern kingdoms but one who will unify the world. And he didn’t do it from a throne but a cross (Ephesians 2-3). Tell Phillip I said hello. Can’t wait to meet you guys in the flesh.
These look like some great resources. You opened my understanding with the Veggie Tales statement. We’ve bought some of their CD’s thinking this will be good material for my kids to listen to. They like it so much, and I’ve even found myself remembering some of the songs. I didn’t think to investigate the doctrine etc. The last tool you mentioned is probably the most important. The best thing for a child to learn the way of Christ is to see their parent live the way of Christ. May His grace be with you.
Bro. Karsten Miller
Hey Brother KM,
Don’t throw them away. Just check them out. I will give you some examples.
1. There story on Noah’s Ark minimizes God’s wrath and the future wrath to come and salvation only found in Jesus.
2. There story on David and Goliath minimizes the wickedness of the Phillistines and what the story actually points to.
3. They make light of the Exodus account.
So my struggle is that they somehow make light of many of the dark truths found in scriptures. God was disgusted with the wickedness of the world, God was showing that He is the ruler of the world not some human Pharoh also the account in the desert isn’t to be made light of, and David is a type of Christ in the fact that 2 Samuel 17 points to a comin Messiah where the real king defeats a real foe and is now currently reigning on the throne as the perfect king.
As long as you keep these truths in mind I think you can still use them. We must understand that the bible is Redemptive History and the story must be told in light of what God has done in Christ.
Hey Lionel,
I stop by more often than I comment. It was nice to share this time. Your so on it with showing the human shortcomings and the need for Christ through these men and women of faith. That is the whole point! We too look forward to meeting you. Will your wife and son be coming also? I hope to meet them as well.
Nicolle
Hey Nicolle,
Thanks again. My wife may be coming. If my Grandmother comes from Michigan then yes, if not then no. Traveling with my son can be a bit of a task at times. He loves to be on the move (with his feet and hands). I have family in Little Rock/Mulmelle (spelling) that I will visit and my old pastor is doing a training at Fellowship of Little Rock. So I will try to seem them as well.