Treasure Hunt

My parents made sure I was in church every Sunday and at least once midweek. I remember telling a classmate in Kindergarten that she wasn't going to heaven unless she "had Jesus in her heart". But it wasn't until I began considering my own child's education that I recognized my own Biblical illiteracy.  The curriculum for my daughter's pre-K sunday school class covered the journey of the Israelites and went on to highlight other Jewish "Mothers and Fathers".  I suddenly realized, "These people are all related! And they're  all ancestors of Jesus!"
"So THAT's what the Old Testament is all about."

"Bits and Pieces" Sunday School lessons aren't enough. Sitting through every sermon isn't enough. Personal Bible study is essential to understanding the whole story.  My parents took me to church, but never read the Bible with me. I wasn't compulsive enough to read through it myself.

Not long after my epiphany, I was given (Thank God!) an audio presentation by Ray Vanderlaan  that rocked my world. He explains Jewish culture and contrasts with some of the false images that have crept into our curriculum.    For example:

Close your eyes.  - wait. keep reading-   Picture this:
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures...

What did you see? A serene bearded Irishman in "knee-deep alfalfa"?
The writer of that Psalm lived IN THE DESERT! Any green that shepherd found was probably just whatever grew overnight on the rocks! Provision was given just enough for ONE DAY! ("Give us our daily bread...)

Thank-you, Ray for the list of images to search for as I read my Bible.  It has become a treasure hunt! I'm glad I can pass that on to my children. 

TIPS FOR TEACHING CHILDREN:  Help him/her look for the big picture, so that the grown-up child will see the single story of God in History instead of shuffling disconnected snapshots in his/her head.  EVERY story from the Old Testament must be followed by,

1.  "What does this teach us about the nature of God"
2.  "How does this story point to Jesus?"

My daughter (pre-K) brought handout from Sunday School that said, "Jesus' helpers went to church..." WAITAMINUTE!
His disciples went to synagogue!
Doesn't that put a different image in your head?  Understanding the culture and education of the day puts such a different spin on it. Don't tell me the curriculum is "developmentally appropriate".  The images can be tweaked and kids will be on track to stumble across more layers of meaning as they are able to absorb them.

Listening to RVL's presentation I heard hours of jems like this:

Jesus was born in Bet-Lechem, literally, the House of Bread. The "Bread of Life" was "born in a bakery!"


"Taste and See that the Lord is good." Engaging multiple senses enhances the learning experience and helps to intuitively connect diverse scripture verses.
Bread
Honey
Water
Fruit
Light


Names have meanings. Barak (lightning) needed help from Devorah (bumblebee)!
Numbers have meanings.
Goliath's height: 6 cubits and a span
Goliath's armor: 5000 shekels
Goliath's spear:  600 shekels
We might translate these measurements into common units, but don't stop there! 6 is man's number. Man is imperfect and incomplete. These numbers don't just show how huge and strong he was, but identify him as the villain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_symbolism

What if Mary didn't ride a donkey?
What if the manger wasn't made for hay, but for water? (to hold the Living Water!)
What if the disciples were preteens? (You must become like a little child)

WHY WHY WHY does the evangelical church pay no attention to the Jewish Calendar- *God's Calendar* given to Moses at the Exodus?  Jesus in the Feasts printable Bible Study