into the following classificatioris: 1. Stories of children: The Boy Samuel, Jesus as a Baby and as a Boy, Ishmael, Young Timothy, Little King Joash, etc. 2. Animal and nature stories: Cre ation, Flood, Daniel in the Lions’ Den, Jesus Riding on the Don key, The Donkey that Talked, Storm on the Sea, etc. 3. Stories that show how God loves and cares for His people: Baby Moses, Manna in the Wilder ness, Water from the Rock, Food for Elijah, Food for the 5,000, etc. 4. Stories about the Lord Jesus (His life and ministry). Children of preschool age are not too young to memorize Scrip ture provided the passages are filled with meaning for them. Sunday school teachers can repeat over and over in the telling of a Bible story the passage selected as the memory verse if it fits well into the story. This helps the child to surround the verse with plenty of meaning and makes learning easier. As a general rule it is best to select segments of verses for mem orization which are five or six words long. Small children speak in short sentences. Many of our Scripture verses are composed of complex sentences and children are apt to get lost in the maze of phrases and clauses. Many preschoolers repeat Scrip ture verses in the language they understand. They will say “ He cares for you” and “ He makes me lie down in green pastures” rather than the King James “ He careth for you” and “ He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.” There fore it might be well to use a mod em translation for memory work and transfer to the King James dur ing the primary years. During the early years of the child’s life it is important to develop an attitude of reverence and respect for God’s Word. The child should learn to handle it carefully and put it in a safe place. But too often little children feel that the Bible is just that— a book for them to handle and revere— and nothing more. We as teachers and parents must reveal to t h em t he w e a l t h o f t r u th , strength and enjoyment which is found only in God’s infallible Word.
sing praises unto our God. He causeth his wind Sailboat on to blow, and the wa-
He g i v e t h to the Animals or beast his food, and to *>i,<*s eotm9 the y o u n g r a v e n s which cry. Sing unto the L ord w i t h thanksgiving; sing praises unto our God. He giveth snow like Snow scene wool: he scattereth the frost like ashes. Sing unto the L ord w i t h thanksgiving; sing praises unto our God. He casteth forth his Snow and ice
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ters flow. Sing unto the L ord w i t h thanksgiving; sing praises unto our God. Praise ye the L ord .
As we consider the characteristics of young children we realize that there are portions of the Bible that will be of greater interest to chil dren and from which they can be taught lessons needed on their par ticular level of development. For the adult “ all scripture is profit able” but for the child certain por tions must be reserved until later. Those who have studied and worked with preschoolers agree that stories of greatest appeal fit
ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? He sendeth out his word, and melt- eth them. Sing unto the L ord w i t h thanksgiving;
W e thank Thee, Lord, for pastures that are green — Thy Word, to feed Thy people like a flock, The tender herb for hungry ones who glean Beneath the shadow of the sheltering Rock. W e thank Thee, Lord, for waters that are still — Thy peace so freely given in our stress: Our empty cups we bring Thee now to fill — Restore us at Thy spring of righteousness. W e thank Thee, Lord, that when we walk through shade Of death’s dark wilderness, there shall befall No evil threat; we shall not be afraid — Thy Shepherd-love is standing over all. And so, in this our life we give Thee praise; Thy goodness is enough, Thy grace, to keep . . . And we shall dwell, through never-ending days W ith Thee, our blessed Shepherd of the sheep.
— Ruth Margaret Gibbs
JUNE, 1956
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