Heart of Urgency

As I mentioned last week, my niece and nephew were with us for almost a week, for what we like to call Camp Palmer Pines Jr. We took a little journey to the Billy Graham Library Teddy Bear Tea, and had fun staying in a hotel, with a tv in the bathroom mirror, I might add 😂 (The other TVs are no longer fascinating 😊)

After our little adventure, we had some “taking it easy” time at home. Each summer we have, what my nephew named, “Bible School.” Just 30 to 45 minutes of talking about Jesus and God’s Word, which we repeat, “The Bible is the MOST important book in the entire world. God’s words are in it. EVERYTHING in it is TRUE!” This statement came about when I first started having “Bible School” with my niece. (I will list my favorite things we have done at the end of this post) The past 2 summers they have been old enough that throughout the year they will ask questions, that honestly I can’t answer and need to dig deeper myself, and usually their questions become our camp “Bible School.” Last year we did like a mini-course on “Bible Basics,” Trinity, overview of the Bible, etc. (I will link at the bottom what I used.)

So this year they really challenged me! The lines in the Apostles Creed 😳. Let me give you a little background of my heritage. Mom’s side: Presbyterian and Methodist. Dad’s Side: Baptist. My story: Presbyterian, Baptist, non-denominational, Methodist, with a little Assembly of God 😊 with a hunger for hymns and liturgy, aka old soul.

Shew! Ok, my point in going into all that detail is this, there are different seasons, different traditions, but when it comes to the bottom line, we are all called to be the Church. Not a building, not one group of people, not a denomination, we are one Church, communion of saints. Also, growing up with all these backgrounds, I have a great appreciation for many hymns and prayers and liturgies.

But… what is the point of reciting these passages, if we don’t really take the time to understand them? The Apostles Creed, I will admit wasn’t one I necessarily knew by heart, but I knew enough to know there were some lines that made me think, “what does that mean?” And I was excited that a 7 and 11 year old were asking these questions. (I will link some resources I used at the bottom of this post)

The urgency of their hearts to know and learn, is what I want to really focus on today. I find that with each generation there is a misunderstanding of “young folk.” They continue to get discredited more and more. We either make excuses for them, or we discard them as “nuisance,” or “person to set straight,” or “they’re just ….” It makes everything in me tremble, mad, ignites the fighter in me.

Do you realize this IS the future?

Do you realize THEY are our next leaders, business owners, pastors, authors….?

Do you realize that they are HUNGRY and THIRSTY for the TRUTH?

Do you realize that they have far less life experience than you? Do you realize they are looking to you for help, advice, answers, guidance?

Do you realize that the same truth you live by, is the same Life Giving Truth that they need so desperately?

From infants to teens to young adults, we cannot underestimate them. You know why? If we underestimate them and lower our expectations for them, they do the same for themselves. BUT if we include them in conversations and ask questions, have age appropriate expectations, build them up when quality character is evident, and guide them when it is not, then they can actually walk with their head toward the sun, and truly believe God is faithful.

We have to begin with HIS WORD. Without His Word, there would be no reason for the Apostles Creed, there would be no Lord’s Prayer, there wouldn’t be any hymns. All these things help seal promises and truths in our hearts, but the foundation must be the Bible. Simply reading the Bible aloud can light a spark and make us thirst for more. Just try.

I promise you, which I don’t do often, BUT I know the power of God, start reading, singing, reciting scripture now. It does not matter if they are in the belly, or a day old, or if they are 2 or 5 or 12 or 30 years old. Make it a point for scripture to be read in your home. There is an urgency, always has been and will continue to be, an urgency for the hearts of all His creation, will you participate in sharing with ALL life? Ages 0+?

Below is: 1. Mini lesson on part of the Apostles Creed. 2. Resources and links to things mentioned above.

Apostles Creed: the lines that sparked the questions were these 2, “the holy catholic church, the communion of saints.” In my research I started noticing that many churches, their’s and mine too, do not recite “descended in to hell/or to the dead.” This disturbed me, so these 3 phrases I really dug into, and I would encourage you to also do.

But a mini lesson: “Holy catholic Church,” catholic = universal/one, holy = set apart FOR God, church = not a building, but God’s big family of a nations, languages, and cultures. “Communion of Saints,” communion = what we have in common, saints = what God calls his people that have been made right with Him through Christ. “Descended into hell/to the dead,” for Jesus to pay the payment for our sins, he had to die the perfect death. He experienced human death as all humans experience death, in body and soul. He did this for us, the only perfect payment for our sins. (this is the really short versions of our study, but I hope it will be a starting point.) And here is the scripture line by line that we studied:

Bible Basics: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bible-Interactive-Notebook-1345538?st=e39254676f5779b75d6926066f0ad5f0

Apostles Creed: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Apostles-Creed-Prayer-Pack-2096456

https://www.intoxicatedonlife.com/store/product-category/faith-and-family/family-bible-studies/

(the top picture- we copied scripture and creed and compiled notes into a notebook for memory sake 😊)

Other “Bible Schools” I have done and recommend:

whatsinthebible.com/vbs

https://www.christianbook.com/stories-women-from-bible-retold-girls/angie-smith/9781433680465/pd/680461?product_redirect=1&search_term=for%20such%20a%20time%20as&Ntt=680461&item_code=&ps_exit=PRODUCT%7Clegacy&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

I was given this Bible when Lucy was born, by a very precious friend. And I have enjoyed it so much!

https://www.christianbook.com/nkjv-childrens-ministry-resource-bible-hardcover/9780840785077/pd/0842?product_redirect=1&search_term=childrens%20mini&Ntt=0842&item_code=&ps_exit=PRODUCT%7Clegacy&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

One last thing, I have only had a chance to skim through this book, but it was recommended by an author I really like. If you are interested in digging more into the Apostles Creed ☺️

https://www.christianbook.com/descended-dead-evangelical-theology-holy-saturday/matthew-emerson/9780830852581/pd/852582?product_redirect=1&search_term=he%20descend&Ntt=852582&item_code=WW&ps_exit=PRODUCT%7Clegacy&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

Long post, but my hope is that your heart is encouraged and that it will point to the ONLY ONE we can place our hope in 100%!