Were you aware of a growing problem in our homes and churches that effect your children and students? I couldn’t believe what I was reading while digging through some reference material. Did you know that studies and recent polls show that over 60% of kids raised within the church abandon the faith after high school? Over 40% of those who remain in the church don’t actually believe that Christianity is true. This is why it is so important to equip kids not just to memorize scripture and learn Biblical principles but also to think critically and understand why Christianity is true.

There are most likely other factors that contribute to this dilemma, and they can all be solved by seeking God’s wisdom, prayer, the great power of the Holy Spirit, and exciting meaningful Bible study. The kind of Bible study that is simple, piques their interest, draws them deeper into scripture, and challenges them in ways we couldn’t. The key factor in all of this is the Holy Spirit.

I’ve studied scripture well over 40 years now, and I’ve learned nothing spiritually happens in our minds, hearts and souls unless the Spirit leads us, enlightens us, moves us, and impowers us. Bible lessons, as we all know from Sunday school, and basic Bible study or even the deeper studies we do can only be successful if the Holy Spirit does it. Follow these vital steps in your basic Sunday school lesson or any Bible study you do:

• Love them. Love lived out is a powerful tool in the hands of a faithful parent or leader.
• Prayer. Pray about the lesson you choose, pray for each child or student, pray for yourself.
• Scripture is of utmost importance. You need to read the verse. The child needs to read the verse and after some discussion or lesson time, the child needs to read the verse again. And again. If the verse is not being read, how can the Holy Spirit work through the scripture? Children’s Bible Teacher lessons try to put the scripture reading first, discussion second, the Bible character third, and life application last. The deeper study of verse terms and meanings have been done for you. Anyone can lead using these lessons.
• Discussion is vital. Discussion is vital because you will use it to gauge whether your child is listening and understands. Your job is to engage them and receive a response or acknowledgement. Discussion opens them up to real learning and understanding.
• Emphasize Biblical characters. The Biblical character ties it all together when you begin to see how he or she acts or responds in the verse or passage. What good thing did they do? Or what evil did they do? What did the character learn? This is application and you can use this to inspire your child to obey God through the power of the Holy Spirit through the scripture verse you are teaching.
• Review it often – repetition. Review is so important and most of the curriculum has lots of review in it.

There’s a lot more to be said about addressing this problem. I wish all of our children could seek God’s Word throughout their lives and be faithful to God, their church, and their family to the end. It may start with you.