By: Roberto N. Sonio
This book asks and answers seven critical questions for Educational Ministry. In this regard, we would like to focus our attention on these questions. First, why do we teach? We teach because we are engaged with our culture. We Christians are supposed to be holy for God is Holy. When we receive Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we have been sanctified or set apart and our lives should be well pleasing in the sight of God. We need to know more that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and it is our pleasure to share this with others. Not only that, Christians are a peculiar people called out from darkness into a marvelous light and they are to be the salt of the earth.
Second, what must be taught? We should teach worship, for the Lord taught us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. We should always remember that worship is not only done in the church, but rather it must be done anywhere. Marva Dawn teaches that the worship service is for worship, not for evangelism. The order of worship is designed for worship. However, my point of view is that doing evangelism during a worship service is also a legitimate part of worship. It is my conviction that evangelism must be included in the worship service. Often times we have visitors in our church and we don�t know whether a person is a believer or an unbeliever. Perhaps, they are an unbeliever and it is their first time to hear the message of salvation. If they leave after service, they might never have another opportunity to hear the gospel. In my experience Christians testify that they have accepted Christ as their savior at the time of the worship service and I believe that the Lord has been glorified in that. Even Jesus entertained sick people and healed during the Sabbath day, and because of this we can be sure that God will be honored if the spiritual sickness of the people is healed during worship service.
Based on her experience, the author asserts that it is advisable for children to join in the adult worship service. For me Dawn has a good point on this, but it is not suitable to all churches. In our church in the Philippines is not advisable because of the large number of children from the orphanage. The children are noisy because they are helpless to stay in the entire service and the worship service is distracted. So we need to have junior worship, which is designed for the needs of the children.
Third, when do we teach? The earlier the better, Deut. 6:1-9 and Ps. 78 say that we need to teach our children about the mighty deeds of the Lord so that we may know the wonders of the Lord. Samuel, David and Mary the mother of Jesus were all obviously well equipped at an early age. In Luke 2, Mary quotes a lot of scripture from the Old Testament because she was trained in her early years.
Fourth, whom do we teach? Both the Jew and the Gentile, that is, everyone! Cultural realities must not be barriers. But we need to be wise, we have to discern each culture in order to reach needs. We are to be �witnesses from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth� (Acts 1:8). We must consider the upbringing in the home, geography, socio-economic realities, the unique family culture, peer- kinds of relationships, the language and the nationality.
Fifth, where should we teach? Consider the holy day celebrations, such as Christmas, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Pentecost and others. Dawn talked about �Santa Claus is Coming to Town.� Most children during Christmas know about Santa. Claus. The role of the parents or Sunday school teachers is necessary in order to help children understand who is Santa. Claus. We need to encourage the children to know more about Jesus than Santa Claus, so that the children will focus their attention on the birth of Jesus our Savior.
Sixth, how can we teach? Our teaching must be cognitive, affective, and behavioral. That is to say, the head, the heart, and the hands must be reached. Most teaching today is primarily cognitive. So we must do our best to see that the learners receive not only head knowledge, but also training for their heart and their psychomotor skills. The author mentioned that media has a strong influence on the children and that parental guidance is greatly needed. She suggested that it is better if there is no TV for children, but the media has both a good and a bad influence. Violence and sex destroy the good personality of the children. I can say that understanding the youth culture is the best way save children from that danger. The teaching should start in the Christian home and community, while the role of our church is to minister to the next generation by helping to support the home and the community to do the teaching.
Finally, who can teach? The parents, pastors, church workers and even the congregation are the teachers. Psalm 78 explains to us that parents are the first teachers of their children. They are responsible to teach their children about the wonders of the Lord. In the church the pastor must also teach because he is the shepherd of the flock. Whoever has enough knowledge, and is already equipped and qualified to teach, should teach. Even among the congregation, every member of the church is also a teacher to the next generation of members of the church.
--rsonio '05