Group Study Guide

Session: Spiritual Growth in Children

Preparation

• Write each of the following points on sentence strips:
1. Children develop values and attitudes through example.
2. Children are capable of responding to Bible stories in a variety of ways.
3. Children often ask important questions concerning God's Word.
4. The Holy Spirit directs children when God determines the time they are called to a saving faith through Jesus Christ.
   
   
• Ask teachers to bring their teaching guides to this session.
  
  
• Write each of the following scenarios on an index card:

Teacher 1. That's your last chance. You are not allowed to sit by your friends ever again.

Teacher 2. Only those children who have perfect attendance are invited to the class party.

Teacher 3. I see that you are angry. Why don't you go to the rest room, wash your face, and calm down? You may join the group when you are ready.

Reflect and Practice

1. As participants arrive, ask for three volunteers to read the scenarios later in the session. Open the session with fellowship and prayer.
   
   
2. Attach the first sentence strip (Children develop values and attitudes through examples.) to the wall where everyone can see it.
   
   
3. Ask Teacher 1 to read his or her scenario. Ask the group, "Does this statement teach children about God's grace? What statement would better teach the concept of grace to children?"
   
   
4. Ask Teacher 2 to read his or her scenario. Ask, "Does this statement model the concept of acceptance for children? How would you change the statement to teach the value of acceptance?" Let participants reflect on experiences they had as children in the area of acceptance.
   
   
5. Ask Teacher 3 to read his or her scenario. Ask, "How does this statement express understanding?"
   
   
6. Divide participants into three groups. Give each group one of the three remaining sentence strips. Ask them to reflect on the statement on the sentence strip; then search their teaching guides for ways to implement that point during the next session with their boys and girls.
   
   
7. Allow the groups to work; then bring the whole group together for each group to share what they discovered concerning their point on the sentence strip.
   
   
8. Close the session with a time of prayer for their own spiritual growth and that of their children. Remind your participants to read the article(s) for the next session