Reaching Into The Home
Hopefully, the families in your neighborhood are so concerned with their children's Bible knowledge and spiritual growth that the parents make certain their children are in Bible class each and every week with Bibles in hand and memory verses memorized. Sadly to say, most families are more concerned with soccer or sleeping in late on Sundays than taking their children to Bible class. Granted, many of your Bible students may be raised in Christian homes where the children are being "brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). That is wonderful and exactly what pleases the Lord!
However, you may have some children who are being raised by worldly parents who have no or little knowledge of the Bible, the church, or Christ. Realizing that you may be the only "Bible" that your students' families are reading, you could be the only reflection of Christ that they have ever seen! So, what have they seen these past few months? A love for their child? A respect for the Scriptures? Consistency in teaching? Bible verses on activity sheets each week? When we develop our Bible materials, we should be thinking beyond teaching the child. When the student comes home enthused about the Bible, most parents will listen. We are indirectly teaching the parents week by week. May we think soberly about this noble task that we have undertaken (James 3:1). We have great influence. May it be a strong influence for the Lord.
Here are a couple of ideas that may help nurture that good relationship between the Bible teacher and the families of your students:
- Showing kindness and genuine concern for a child who has missed a week of Bible study can reap great rewards for Christ. Parents need to know that the Bible teacher cares if the student is in class or not. How do we show that concern? One way is to mail a note to the child, expressing concern about their welfare the past week and a little encouragement for the next week's Bible class. A few pennies in postage can motivate and inspire!
- Not a writer? A phone call will work just as well. You only need to show concern for the child in order to let the parent know you sincerely care.
- At the end of a theme or section of the Bible, write a letter to the parents, thanking them for the opportunity that they have given you in teaching their child. Take a look at the third paragraph under February 2014 - Extra Helps which goes into more detail about parent letters. Keeping the line of communication open is huge in any good relationship.