While I have enjoyed "The Jesus Storybook Bible", I'm not sure that I would want to utilize a Sunday School curriculum based on it. There have been times when I felt that "The Jesus Storybook Bible" doesn't do God's Word justice; it oversimplifies some things unnecessarily and in a way that negatively changes God's Word. Perhaps the most pronounced example of this is at the very beginning when Sally Lloyd-Jones writes that God said, "Hello light...Hello sea...Hello sky". At first glance, this may seem like a small matter. However, upon further reflection, one might consider that saying "hello" merely acknowledges the existence of something. God's Word says "Let there be" -- not merely acknowledging the existence of some created thing, but commanding its existence.
A New Testament inaccuracy would be when Sally Lloyd-Jones repeatedly writes about the three wise men. Children are going to hear this myth that there were three wise men all throughout culture. When it comes to Children's Ministry, I want them to hear God's infallible Word. (Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy "The Jesus Storybook Bible" and read it with my children at home...substituting suitable words as we go because there is much to be gained from a careful reading of this Bible story book. ;)
For churches that have it in their budget, I would highly recommend New Growth Press's "Gospel Story for Kids" curriculum. It is theologically rich and doctrinally sound through and through. Like "The Jesus Storybook Bible", it does a great job of showing the one unifying, redemptive storyline of Scripture. Though it is considerably more expensive, it is a three year curriculum with three age levels (Preschool, Early Elementary, and Upper Elementary) and has daily devotions (5 days per week) that parents can do with the kids to prepare them for the Sunday lessons. It also has Scripture memory work that coincides with the weekly lessons.
If you were to compare apples to apples, the cost for "The Jesus Storybook Bible" (a one year curriculum that can be used with one age group) vs. "Gospel Story for Kids" (a three year curriculum that can be used with three age groups) is comparable. Children who enter the program in Preschool will be able to cycle through Genesis to Revelation three times, following the Redemptive storyline all the way.
(Just F.Y.I., I'm not affiliated with New Growth Press and don't have anything to do with it's publication, sales, etc. This is just a curriculum that I have come to love since coming to our church about seven years ago and going through the material with our children several times. It has been a huge blessing. From what I have observed, it would be a much better choice for a Children's Ministry curriculum...in my humble opinion. ;)
1 comment:
While I have enjoyed "The Jesus Storybook Bible", I'm not sure that I would want to utilize a Sunday School curriculum based on it. There have been times when I felt that "The Jesus Storybook Bible" doesn't do God's Word justice; it oversimplifies some things unnecessarily and in a way that negatively changes God's Word. Perhaps the most pronounced example of this is at the very beginning when Sally Lloyd-Jones writes that God said, "Hello light...Hello sea...Hello sky". At first glance, this may seem like a small matter. However, upon further reflection, one might consider that saying "hello" merely acknowledges the existence of something. God's Word says "Let there be" -- not merely acknowledging the existence of some created thing, but commanding its existence.
A New Testament inaccuracy would be when Sally Lloyd-Jones repeatedly writes about the three wise men. Children are going to hear this myth that there were three wise men all throughout culture. When it comes to Children's Ministry, I want them to hear God's infallible Word. (Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy "The Jesus Storybook Bible" and read it with my children at home...substituting suitable words as we go because there is much to be gained from a careful reading of this Bible story book. ;)
For churches that have it in their budget, I would highly recommend New Growth Press's "Gospel Story for Kids" curriculum. It is theologically rich and doctrinally sound through and through. Like "The Jesus Storybook Bible", it does a great job of showing the one unifying, redemptive storyline of Scripture. Though it is considerably more expensive, it is a three year curriculum with three age levels (Preschool, Early Elementary, and Upper Elementary) and has daily devotions (5 days per week) that parents can do with the kids to prepare them for the Sunday lessons. It also has Scripture memory work that coincides with the weekly lessons.
If you were to compare apples to apples, the cost for "The Jesus Storybook Bible" (a one year curriculum that can be used with one age group) vs. "Gospel Story for Kids" (a three year curriculum that can be used with three age groups) is comparable. Children who enter the program in Preschool will be able to cycle through Genesis to Revelation three times, following the Redemptive storyline all the way.
(Just F.Y.I., I'm not affiliated with New Growth Press and don't have anything to do with it's publication, sales, etc. This is just a curriculum that I have come to love since coming to our church about seven years ago and going through the material with our children several times. It has been a huge blessing. From what I have observed, it would be a much better choice for a Children's Ministry curriculum...in my humble opinion. ;)
Post a Comment