{"id":5896,"date":"2023-11-07T12:06:40","date_gmt":"2023-11-07T19:06:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wonderink.org\/?p=5034"},"modified":"2023-11-07T12:06:41","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T19:06:41","slug":"kings-and-prophets-sharing-gods-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wonderink.org\/kings-and-prophets-sharing-gods-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Sharing God’s Work with Kids: Through the Kings and Prophets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Many nights at bedtime, I sit at the foot of my 13-year-old son\u2019s bed and read. When he was younger, I wasn\u2019t sure how long he would let me read to him, and, frankly, I\u2019m a bit surprised that it\u2019s lasted this long. But maybe I shouldn\u2019t be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good stories have the power to transport us, to quiet the noise of the day, to take us to worlds where evil dragons lurk in caves and underdog hobbits just might save the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most westerners (including me!) expect the most important information in life to be delivered through statements of fact. When I taught middle-school English, I emphasized the importance of writing clear topic sentences. If it\u2019s important, we think, state it plainly. But so much of the world doesn\u2019t think this way. Perhaps that\u2019s why over 40% of the Bible is narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Jew, Jesus grew up in a Hebrew culture that understood the power of story. The ancient people of God knew that deep truths\u2014about who God is and who we are\u2014are often hidden in stories. From a young age, Jesus Himself would have heard the true tales of Saul and David, Solomon, Elijah, Josiah, and Jeremiah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And two thousand years later, we get to tell the same stories to the kids in our lives, trusting that through each one, God will reveal that which is most important!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ancient people of God knew that deep truths\u2014about who God is and who we are\u2014are often hidden in stories. <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kings and Prophets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Old Testament stories in Wonder Ink\u2019s Kings and Prophets series will ignite kids\u2019 imaginations, transporting them like a good bedtime story. Only instead of characters like Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey, these adventurers are real\u2014kings and prophets of old. As we explore God\u2019s big story, we see ourselves in these ancient people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit:Getty Images\/DigitalVision\/MoMo Productions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

More importantly, we see God seeing them, responding to them, being present with them, and we know that He sees us too, responds to us, and is present with us! Centuries and millennia may pass, but the God who was with David, Elijah, and Jeremiah is with us too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We invite kids into God\u2019s big story not merely to entertain them (though some of the narratives in the Kings and Prophets series are downright wild!). We invite them into His story so they can know who He is, see what He is like, and, in turn, recognize Him at work in their own stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So how can we invite kids into God\u2019s story during the Kings and Prophets series?<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t

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Wonder Ink\u2019s 3-year, 52-week children\u2019s ministry curriculum offers kids space to fully find their place in God\u2019s Big Story. Children discover they are Known by God, Loved by Jesus, and Led by the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

A Larger Narrative<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

God\u2019s Big Story<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For starters, we can help kids understand that their stories are a part of God\u2019s bigger narrative by sharing our own testimonies of how God is at work our lives. Look through the lesson Wonder Truths, and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how God is working in each of these ways in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We invite kids into God’s big story so they can know who He is, see what He is like, and, in turn, recognize Him at work in their own stories.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Where has He shown His sovereignty in your life\u2019s circumstances? How has He helped you, been present with you, delighted in your obedience? Then tell your kids! And give them opportunities throughout the series to pause and think about where they see God in their stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God is the main character, the hero, and He is always working, even when we don\u2019t stop to look for Him. So, train kids to pause and ask, \u201cWhere do I see God in this situation?\u201d Then practice sharing your stories!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kings and Kingdoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Next, talk with your kids about kings and kingdoms. Practically speaking, most of us are pretty far removed from the reality of ancient monarchies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, in order to understand what it means that God is King and that, as Jesus declared, \u201cThe kingdom of God has come near\u201d (Mark 1:15, NIV), kids must first understand what a king is and does. Kings are in charge of their kingdoms. They get the final word. So even when God gave His people what they asked for\u2014a human king\u2014and that human king failed, God was still the One in charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit:Getty Images\/DigitalVision\/MoMo Productions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wonder and Imagination in The Kings and Prophets Series<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, God has woven into every child a proclivity toward wonder and imagination. The Kings and Prophets series is a perfect opportunity to tap into kids\u2019 natural curiosity! As you prepare for the series, think through how you might create an immersive environment where kids can encounter God\u2019s big story through multiple senses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few ideas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n