SENDING KIDS TO BATTLE WITHOUT SWORDS - Preteens Aren’t Looking to the Bible for Answers.
by Keith Poletiek (08/21)

I saw many great things happen in the hearts of kids this summer as I toured and spoke at camps, conferences, Bible studies and retreats. God worked amazingly and many lives decided to make a stand for their faith or ask Jesus to be the Lord of their life for the very first time. The Holy Spirit worked overtime at some places and I was privileged enough to see lives change and for the good! Amen!

There was, however, one alarming trend I noticed as I traveled the west coast, California and Arizona to be exact; a trend that disturbed me greatly. It was the absence of Bibles during the teaching time of many camps and conferences where I spoke. Kids strolled in empty-handed at the scheduled time to discuss a message from God’s Word, and not many had His Word with them to agree or dispute what was being shared. I could have told the kids that Jesus said, “He is the WINE and we are the RADISHES.” And not many would be able to contradict me, at least not in written form.

I usually chalk up the lack of Bibles at the first evening talk to kids just settling in and being shuttled around from cabins to introductions of staff, ground rules, a quick meal, etc., but when I suggested that when talk two rolled around, they needed to be “packing,” I was met with not much of a change or new-found zeal to dig into the Gospel. There they were, those same kids with their big smiling faces, looking up at me wondering what I might share this time, and again, their hands were empty and they didn’t seem to care that I looked at them a bit in disgust.

My next glance was to try and spot their leader. Their spiritual guide, the one that helps keep them on the path marked out for them. Had he or she put up an amazing fight to try and get them to bring the “Good News” with them or was the “Good News” that he or she never got in their kids face about anything, making them “so cool” in the eyes of these young ones.
Well, I don’t think it’s cool sending kids to battle without swords. I think that is only going to lead to defeat. We are trying to bring up a generation of “world changers” and if we send them out there empty handed and empty headed when it comes to knowing Scripture, the world is going to give them the beating they don’t deserve.

2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man [or child] of God may be equipped for every good work. (NIV)

The preteen is primed and ready for some God-based teaching, training and rebuking and we need to take hold of the fact that we should be about the business of equipping them for every good work. Let’s get excited for the Word of God ourselves again. We can all still use some good training (and rebuking). Let’s send this next generation onto the battle field armed, ready and carrying a Sword that can defeat whatever evil comes their way.
I suggest that you do some Bible trivia or Bible games where kids are being taught where the books of the bible are and why they were written.

Brian Dunn, Youth Pastor at Crossroads Church in Corona, CA, does an excellent seminar on the entire Bible. He teaches a complete knowledge of the makeup of the Bible in a way that kids and you would enjoy. If you are interested in more information about Brian’s approach or to check his availability to come and speak to your group, let me know at keith@frogfinger.com.

Your kids will be blessed and want to be “packing!”