Photo: Germán Póo-CaamañoLots of churches have had their summer holiday clubs for children - they do them as soon as term finishes. We do ours the other end of the summer - just after the bank holiday weekend.
(Quick plug: If you live in or near Kemsing, and have children who have just finished a year at primary school, we can probably still fit you in - 4 mornings starting Tuesday 27th August).
I'm looking over some of the resources we've got for the club. Never mind which one we're using, as I'm not wanting to make a point about any resource in particular. As it happens, I think the resource we're using for this year's club is excellent.
But even excellent resources have flaws.
No, I'm making a more general point about resources to help us with understanding and teaching the Bible.
In the West, in the early 21st century, we are spoilt for choice with resources. There are just so many. Bible reading notes for individuals (children, teens, adults), Sunday School resources, resources for toddler groups, resources for holiday clubs, commentaries, books of visual aids and sermon illustrations, and so on. No previous generation has had access to so much.
We should make good use of these. God has raised up the people who produced them; they are a blessing from him. And yet, we must use them cautiously. We must remember that we aim to understand, live out and communicate the Bible. Even the best resources will miss things at times. If a particular resource consistently misses the point of the Bible passage in question, it is probably time to find a different resource - there are enough out there that we can afford to be selective. But whichever we pick, please make sure that you study the Bible carefully, and don't follow the resource blindly.
And now to an example. One of the Bible stories we'll be looking at is the story of King Josiah, as found in 2 Chronicles 34. He became king of Judah at the age of 8. His grandfather was the worst king Judah had known to that point. The exile to Babylon, some 20 years or so after Josiah, was largely due to Josiah's grandfather's wickedness. Josiah's father was no better, and only ruled for 2 years. But Josiah feared God. He immediately set about rebuilding the ruined temple. As he did so, the book of the law was found, and it was brought to Josiah to read.
How did he respond?
According to the resouce I'm looking at:
King Josiah started to read the scroll and, as he did, his eyes lit up with delight.
Or you could read 2 Chronicles 34:19
When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes.
Not quite the same!
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