Teaching for Signs & Wonders #3

I'm so excited. I feel like a little boy at Christmas that is sitting in front of the Christmas tree with a big, beautifully wrapped present resting in my lap. I am poised with my fingers gripping the wrapping paper anxiously waiting to reveal what is hidden underneath the paper. The great unveiling is just minutes away.

This excitement comes from what is happening in our children's ministry. Each week, the "Children Who Know Their God" teaching is removing the "wrapping paper" so that our children can see what previously has been hidden. As each new lesson builds upon the previous week's teaching, the children are receiving greater and greater revelation of their God and His ability to enable them to be strong and do exploits. I am literally going into the services anticipating the excitement displayed when the "paper" is totally removed and the children can see what is sitting in their laps!

Let's pick up this week where we left off in last week's blog and look at an overview of the next two child-sized portions (McDonald's Happy Meal Principle) of our theme verse, Daniel 11:32, as we begin to focus on actually knowing God.

Week #4 He Not Only Made You, He Wants To Connect With You
Genesis' creation story shows that God's sole purpose in creating the earth and all of its contents was so that He could form (sculpt, mold, squeeze into a form) and have a relationship with Adam and Eve. Creation had nothing to do with the beauty of the birds and animals or the magnificant skies and landscapes. Before anything existed, God foresaw the joy found in His daily walks through the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. That is still His heart today.

Week #5 Just Don't Know About Him!
Imagine this. Pharaoh ws surrounded by some 2 million Israelites. He daily witnessed their prayers. He daily watched their unusual rituals. He had constant interaction with their leaders. And yet, according to Exodus 5:2, we can see that Pharaoh just knew about their God and admitted to not knowing Him. Our Sunday school classes and children's church rooms are filled with children who know about God. They've heard the Bible stories over and over again. Many have memorized the weekly Bible verses taught in the services. Sadly, most if not all of these children know about God rather than actually know Him.

And, for those who have responded to a salvation altar call, praying the sinner's prayer isn’t the end of the relationship, it is just the beginning! Praying the sinner's prayer can be compared to being introduced to the President of the United States. You might be even be one of the fortunate ones who has the privilege of shaking hands with and saying a few words to the President of the United States. But, does that mean that you actually know him? While it is true that you've met him and even spoken to him, action must be taken to move the introduction into a relationship. The same is true with our heavenly Father. We've met Him through the sinner's prayer. We've actually spoken to Him. But, that is not the end. It is just the beginning of a relationship that should last a lifetime.

I'll pick up the next segment of this teaching series next week and share another more child-sized portion showing how children can know their God.