|
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock." (Matthew 7:24–25)"
Jesus frequently used common experiences to help people understand his message. Being a carpenter, a story using the construction of houses probably came naturally to him. A person might easily build a house in a sandy wadi. But when the rainy season came, water would gush down the wadi and carry the house away because it’s foundation was non-existent. A foundation of stone had to be deep and substantial. It required meticulous and intentional effort. But the house that stood atop it would resist the rains of winter. Jesus was comparing this wise builder with a life where his message was put into action. Both resulted in a strong foundation.
What this parable is saying is exactly what we want to offer our children. We want to help them build a strong faith foundation so that when the rains and storms of life assail them (and they will at some time or another), their house of faith will not fall away. It will stand strong and give them strength and shelter.
At each age level on every Sunday the children will be invited to a faith experience. It is during this time that they can come to a better understanding of God and what God calls them to do and be. They come to know Jesus as the Son of God and take his messages to heart. They seek where the Bible speaks to them today. Lessons will be intentionally written around this faith experience. Activities, crafts, stories, and games will contribute to this faith experience. At the end of the time together, the children will have had a chance to meet God and to open themselves for a life-changing transformation. This will be done in a variety of ways at the different age levels.
|