WAY2GO April 2023

for everyone Someting

With 66 books; 39 in the Old Testament, 27 in the New Testament; the Bible is full of history, poetry, songs, letters, prophecy, laws, numbers (lots of them), mystery, intrigue, dreams (some more like nightmares), family life (for better or worse!), fruit (apples and spiritual)…… the list goes on! What a book! Something for everyone! Really? So, if there’s something for everyone, why do we find it so hard to pick up and engage with? Whatever the reason, it remains The Book, God’s Book, Our Book.

The Bible makes a large claim about itself:

There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped for the tasks God has for us. —2 Timothy 3:14-17, The Message

This edition of the WAY2GO magazine will look at some ideas to help us all engage with God’s Word and, therefore, with Him.

Liz Eichler Children and Families Team Leader, SUNZ

Where to sta rt?

So, you want to read the Bible but don’t know where to start? Here are two ideas to help get you going:

E100 THE ESSENTIAL 100 CHALLENGE is a Bible reading programme built around 100 carefully selected Bible passages that give the big picture of God’s Word and in the process help develop a daily Bible reading habit. 50 readings from the Old Testament, 50 from the New Testament. You can follow this with the Essential Jesus. Contact Liz at liz.e@sunz.org.nz for more info on these.

52 BIBLE READING PLAN from the Bible Society is a free downloadable resource that you will receive in your inbox each month. Exploring one chapter of the Bible each week; 52 takes

you through 28 Old Testament and 24 New Testament passages. Visit biblesociety.org.nz/bible-52/

OK,got tat. Now what?

Here are some simple ways to help you engage with the Bible passage you’re reading:

WONDERING QUESTIONS

Wondering questions are openended and designed to help children develop their own meanings. The storyteller does not answer questions. Often, the most appropriate response is to say, "Hmm, I wonder."

Jerome Berryman, who developed Godly Play, suggests these standard questions for sacred stories:

"I wonder what part of this story you like best?"

"I wonder what part of the story is most important?"

"I wonder where you are in the story? I wonder what part is about you?"

"I wonder if there is any part of the story we can leave out and still have all the story we need?"

LECTIO DIVINA FOR CHILDREN

Lectio Divina means ‘divine reading’. It’s a meditative way of reading the Bible in which we let go of our own agendas and open ourselves to what God is trying to say to us. Here it is adapted for children to experience.

1 Encourage the children to get into a comfortable position.

2

Say something like, “God can speak to us through the Bible.

Close your eyes and listen to what I read. Pay attention to what stands out for you or what you remember most. God may be speaking to you through that!”

3 Read the passage out loud.

4 Ask what part stood out to them and explain that you are going to read that part of the passage again. Or, you can read the entire passage again if you chose a short passage.

5 When you are finished reading the section of the passage again, ask, “What does that tell you about God?” “What does that tell you about yourself?” “Is there anything else you think God was saying through that Scripture?”

6 Pray and thank God for speaking to you.

FROM SIR, WITH LOVE: GLIMPSES THROUGH

A CLASSROOM WINDOW is the personal memoir of former SUNZ National Director Ken Edgecombe, reflecting on 21 years of teaching Religious Education at a private girls school in Wellington.

Ken reflects on the many questions he encountered from enquiring young minds and on their reactions to the topics that they met. This book is a must-read for all those involved in Chaplaincy and Religious Education in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Order direct from Ken at kennard. edgecombe@gmail.com, $25.00 per book + pp.

Thinking about a Holiday Club in the next school holidays? Scripture Union has a wide variety of resources available to help you with that. Take for example

THE RESTORATION STATION

At The Restoration Station, children will be introduced to Jesus as a restorer, using key stories from John’s Gospel. The children will discover how Jesus is the master craftsman who heals and restores. Comes with two different workbooks for the children.

Available for $25.00 from our web-shop www. sunz.org.nz/shop

God’s Good News transforms lives and gives hope for the future. This year our WAY2GO children’s ministry conferences will explore how we can help children and families to experience this for themselves, for their families and their communities. As we consider our changing world, how do we best approach this, as we seek to walk in the footsteps of Jesus who gave the greatest invitation of all?