Studying the Scripture together as a family is important. Studying the Scripture as a church is important. If you can combine those two things, you can make some significant progress!
We unite our church’s curriculum so that all ages are all learning the same thing at the same time. It’s so helpful for church and family discipleship to take place more naturally. As I learn in my group, I know what my kids are learning and we can stay on the same page throughout the week.
One night, I was asking my children what they knew about Creation, Eli (7) told me what God created on each day, Obadiah (7) told me that all things created were meant to give God glory, and Gloria (3) told me that everything God created was good. I think they were getting it!
“These Legos Must Have Built Themselves”
A few months ago, Obadiah told me that he was having a hard time falling to sleep. That’s common because he is a deep thinker and some idea will normally keep him awake for a while. He said he didn’t want to tell me what he was thinking about. I told him if he changed his mind, he could tell me in the morning.
The next morning, he decided to be transparent.
“Dad, yesterday when we were worshiping, I wondered what if we were doing all this for nothing? What if God isn’t real?”
That’s exactly the way you expect your 7-year-old to be thinking early in the morning…
“Well, Buddy, why do you think that?”
“Well, I’ve never seen God with my eyes. So how do I know he exists?”
“You know, I’m glad you pointed that out. Last night, I came into your room while you were sleeping to check on you. I do this every night, and last night I prayed over you because you had said that you were struggling. When I came into your room, I was shocked at what I saw.”
“What did you see?”
“I saw this Lego train on your table, and I was absolutely amazed!”
“Why were you amazed, Dad?”
“I just thought how cool it was that the Lego box opened up and emptied by itself in the middle of the night. The packages ripped open while you were asleep. All of the blue pieces then stacked themselves together. The wheels rolled over and put them at the bottom. The black pieces then formed the other parts. And then smoke was put on top. Without anyone helping, all these Lego pieces came together and formed an actual train! And just to think – all of that happened all by itself! Isn’t that amazing?!”
“No, no, Dad. That’s not what happened! I built that train!”
“No, you didn’t. These Legos must have built themselves.”
“No! I built it yesterday all by myself!”
“Well, I didn’t see you build it. I think those pieces just came together and made that train.”
“Dad, I did it! I promise! Plus, there is no way that those pieces could come together all by themselves. Someone had to build it!”
“Oh, really?”
And with that, I raised the window shade behind me and pointed to the beautiful morning awakening. Our vantage point let us see clouds, trees, and birds ascending into the sky.
With that, Obadiah’s eyes got big and he began to do that giggle he only does when he figures something out.
“Ah, you got me, huh?”
“Obadiah, if you think it is impossible for 100 Lego pieces to come together all by themselves to form a train, how could you ever imagine that all that you see outside that window just happened by itself? That is more than 100 Lego pieces. Let me show you something else.”
We rushed off to the bathroom mirror where I pointed out his permanent tooth coming in next to a baby tooth. We talked about head size and developmental growth, and how intricate those details are that allows him to eat. Just process baby teeth for a second. By chance?
We then looked at the scab on his leg. Scabs, people! You get a cut on your leg and your body begins to protect and heal itself! What kind of code is written in these bodies of ours?
In the Beginning, God Created
We had a great time that day talking about God’s creation. We love walking around outside and looking at how intricately God made things. And we love reading the Bible about how God created things.
In your family, maybe a conversation or an activity like this can help teach your children.
Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.