Tranforming Hearts and Minds

Teaching that Transforms!

PROVERBS 22:6

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it .”

If our kids learn all the bible principles in the world, and can repeat them back to us, but they aren’t transformed, our teaching is fruitless.  Afterall, the fruit of the spirit so far beyond knowledge.  How can we teach our kids in a way that transforms their minds and hearts – and gives them a deep unquenchable thirst for more?

Something that really helps the kids connect with deeper truths is to see that the passage has genuinely impacted our lives.  As parents, telling our kids about God and right behavior will only impact them as much as they see it in our lives.  The message is so much more powerful when they see us in the word each day, trying to interpret and work through the events in our lives using scripture passages, and talking to them about the Word of God as we go through the day together – as if it’s just the most natural thing in the world. 

As your children’s teachers, it’s the same thing.  We can tell them about the truth, teach them principles they can repeat back confidently, and make it fun to learn, but unless their lives are transformed by that information they haven’t learned it on a spiritual level.  As teachers, one of them most powerful things we can do is to study each passage personally before we teach it.  Then, we can share from a heart that has been touched by the word of God, a life that has been changed!  

As we’ve been doing this, teachers have often shared stories of how this has brought them a deeper connection with their students, as well as stories to share with each other!  They are having fun talking together about real life, and sharing stories about what’s happening at home, school, work, etc., and its developing a sense of authentic community – Praise God!!  The kids are sharing more about how its impacted them at home, and we’re noticing their little faiths (and sometime BIG faiths) growing so sincerely.  Making the Word of God relevant and real is key to bringing fun into it and helping them get to the place where they WANT a growing faith!  

Last year, in our Sunday School Program, we took 11 weeks to reflect on the beautiful design God’s given to creation – and to the children themselves.  They are fearfully and wonderfully made!  My background is in psychology and child development, and something that is always with me.  Brain and Behavior probably doesn’t get everyone as excited as it does me, but I hope the profound revelations written right into our bodies by God will inspire and encourage YOU!!  I find it faith building to see how what God expects from us biblically, he has also programmed us for.   Check it out!! I hope this encourages you as you train up your children in the way they should go!

In the last year I’ve been enamoured with God’s design for the limbic system – the part of the brain that processes emotion.  It contains pleasure centers (one of which is called the Septal Region).  The Septal Region is turned on when pleasant subjects are discussed, when we feel loved, or even when we see a picture of something beautiful - and when this happens it releases a euphoria experience.  When the pleasure centers are turned on, everything we experience gives us pleasure!  It’s part of our brain’s built in reward system.  AND, when the pleasure centers are turned on while learning, learning happens more easily because it feels pleasurable and rewarding.

As parents and teachers we see how our kids are motivated by fun.  They want it.  And they tend to resist anything they don’t see as rewarding.  We’ve seen how the entertainment industry, and what’s cool, draws them in – to the point that they’re fixated.  They will even fight for such things with great fervor and commitment.  We think:  if only our kids felt that way about God!  And we reason:  if fun and entertainment can draw them in to those things it can do the same thing for their faith.

There is a problem with reasoning though.  In this situation, while the attachment formed is strong, it is almost always short-lived.  It lasts only until the next shiny thing comes along.  Its not a good way to teach long-term commitment.  What we find is that the attachment is to the “flashiness” and not to the item or idea itself.   

Another problem is that the attachments formed are driven by a selfish desire for more – a lust for the things of the world and values of the world.  Fun is great, but if it’s the reason they’re staying, they’ll leave when fun isn’t central anymore – often when they reach Jr. High and join the regular service, or when they finish youth group if they connect well there. 

ROMANS 12:1-3

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

While pleasure is motivating, we must ask in what way?  And to do what?”  And what kind of pleasure will yield the truly desired outcome of a love for God instead of self-gratification, a lust for more, and a transient idea of “commitment.”  

It is of even more urgency to understand and make wise choices in the training of our children because the Elementary stage is a “critical phase” – a term in child development that means it will largely influence who they will become as an adult.  Things that aren’t built into them during the critical phase are much more difficult to build up in them later.  So, our biblical mandate is to “Train up a child in the way he should go” and it’s accompanied with the promise:  Even when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6)!   

Training is a task that takes discipline and intention (afterall, if you place a delicious, nutritious meal in front of a child, as well as a delectable dessert, and ask them which one they’d like to have, they will likely choose the dessert every time).  We are called to train them because God didn’t design kids to know what they need automatically – instead, it’s meant to be modelled and intentionally taught – and the biblical model for how to do this is key!  

1 Timothy 1:5 says, “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”  And he goes on to say that we are to set an example in “speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity [and to] show yourself an example to those who believe (1 Timothy 4:12).”  2 Timothy 1:13 says, “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”   

1 John says, “By this we know that we love the Children of God, when we love God and observe his commandments… and his commandments are not burdensome (5:2,3).”  The most pervasive theme in the Bible is love!!  

What is amazing is how God has designed us – physically – to be transformed by love!  What research shows is that love is a more powerful trigger for the pleasure centers mentioned earlier than fun is!  God knew this when he inspired the scriptures because he made us this way!!  Love literally lowers the threshold at which the pleasure centers fire and leads one into a more enthusiastic state, feeling optimistic about everything – a mental process called “globalization.”

According to scripture, this is how we are to be affected by the love of God, and, this is how we are affected by his love shown through the Family of God.  And this is how we are to impact the kids!!  As God’s love overflows from us we pour it into them, giving them the Joy of the LORD!  By God’s design, love has a globalizing nature.  And as such, it is a powerful catalyst for change while training up children in the way they should go.  Relationship is key!

Globalization also makes it more difficult to experience pain, displeasure, and aversion.  Literally:  Things that would normally bother us, no longer do.  As this happens it gives us an opportunity to develop new tastes.  A single adult may fall in love with someone they previously felt unattractive because the inner beauty has transformed their idea of physical beauty.  And the "repulsive bum" on the street or "sinner" you work with may rise up feelings of compassion within you instead of aversion – it makes possible a heart for the lost, the widow, the orphan, the child – the least of theses!

Northgate Baptist Church exists to see all people come to a reconciled relationship with God, themselves and others, through developing spiritually mature followers, authentic relationship, and missional living.  And what is incredible about God’s design is that because the pleasure centers fire so freely, one doesn’t just fall in love with an idea, or something attractive – He falls in love with the whole world – as God does!  John 3:16!!  

 

Lets give our kids the gift of The Love of God goggles - new lenses with with to see the world!!  Because plasticity (a neuropsychology term that refers to changes in the brain) is competitive, when a person develops such a neural network, it becomes efficient and self-sustaining, and like a habit, hard to unlearn.  Effects like this are more powerful in children because of the critical period of formation that they are in – by God’s design. 

As we partner together, families and the church, a relationship that demonstrates God’s love as we teach them the challenging truth of God’s word will model the way they should go – it will create that desire in them!  We pray with you that as your children reach the challenging teenage years that they will love the word, seek the truth, live for Jesus, be transformed to his image, and rely on the Spirit, as they disciple others and care for the lost and the poor.  Amen!

PSALM 78

My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
 things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us.
We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.
He decreed statutes for Jacob  and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children,
so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born,
    and they in turn would tell their children.
Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds
    but would keep his commands.
They would not be like their ancestors—  a stubborn and rebellious generation,
whose hearts were not loyal to God,   whose spirits were not faithful to him.