Dear Sir,
It was encouraging and stimulating to read Chris Wright’s article on why younger Christians are less likely to be influenced by the Bible than older believers (‘Bible, boomers and below’, June EN).
I completely agree with the three principles he identified as playing a key part in fostering a deep and lasting biblical knowledge. However, one significant area that was not specifically mentioned is the church and, in particular, attending the weekly Sunday service.
A major way for children to grow in their knowledge of and familiarity with Scripture is by being with God’s people (for the whole service) Sunday by Sunday as the word richly dwells in our midst. This is not to say that Sunday Schools, Christian Unions and summer camps should not have a place in the discipleship of the young, but rather that their place should be to supplement and build on the ministry of the word in the weekly Lord’s Day service.
In the place where I currently minister, there are two churches — one that does not have any established Sunday school and another where a full Sunday school programme operates. What has been striking is how the children at the church without a formal Sunday school (unlike at the church with a full Sunday school programme) now regularly join in saying the Lord’s Prayer (albeit a bit slower and sometimes louder (!) than the adults) and they also now say bits of the Creed.
I am convinced that such organic growth of scriptural knowledge is the result of children being present throughout the service Sunday by Sunday and is something that is difficult to achieve in your average Sunday school setting. I wonder whether it is time evangelicals moved Sunday schools (and other such ‘extra-curricular’ activities) to their original setting, i.e. occurring at a different time to the weekly Sunday service, and then encouraging and training our children to join us in weekly Sunday worship?
Sincerely,
