The Answer Book

Younger Kids: God’s Word says what is good and bad.
Older Kids: God’s Word is the standard for what is right or wrong.

Supplies Needed: Bible to teach from, paper, pencils or markers/crayons

Challenge listeners to draw what they hear. They may also choose to write down any questions they have or words that sound important as you speak. At the end, ask for questions, and allow at least a few to share their pictures and what they learned.

People knew Jesus was different from the other teachers. Jesus explained God’s Word better than anyone else, because He is God. He helped the Old Testament writers know what to say, so He knew exactly what God meant by the words they wrote (John 1:1–5, 14–15)2. This amazed people, and they would gather in huge crowds to hear Jesus teach.

One day…

Younger Kids: God’s Word says what is good and bad.
Older Kids: God’s Word is the standard for what is right or wrong.

Supplies Needed: Paper, poster board, or large paper; markers; scissors (optional); glue (optional); magazines or pictures (optional)

The following is adapted from Day 1 of The Answer Book: A Devotional for Busy Families (used by permission).

What is your favorite food? What kind of clothes do you like? Who is in your family? What is one thing you do at work or school (“homemaker” counts as work)? What is your favorite movie or actor? What games do you like? What is your favorite song or type of music? What is one thing you do every week? What do you like to do at church? Who is your best friend?

All these things shape what is called a “worldview.” Say that together: “worldview.” Does anyone in your family wear glasses? When someone sees things around them as fuzzy or blurry, he or she gets glasses, which helps the person see more clearly. Just like glasses, a worldview helps us see the world more clearly and make decisions more easily. It helps us decide what is good to eat, what to wear, what to do with our time, how to treat other people, and how to think about things. We learn how to do this from our family, friends, teachers, churches, and other things we see and hear, like TV, music, books, games, and movies.

God’s Word answers questions about how to treat others, how to use our time, and how to think about things. Often, the answers God’s Word provides will be different from what some music, movies, games, and people around us say. Remember that God always knows best. His Word, the Bible, is the standard for what is right or wrong.

Make a worldview collage. Cut out or draw pictures of different things that are part of a worldview. You may make one big poster or have each family make its own.

1 If learners are not also doing The Answer Book: A Devotional for Busy Families, please be sure to include the “Bible Focus.”

2 This is a difficult concept for adults to grasp, let alone children. Nevertheless, it is what Scripture teaches, and it doesn’t hurt to lay the groundwork early. Jesus is fully God and fully man. As fully God, He always was and always will be. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This refers to Jesus (see John 1:14–15). One of the things God does is give His Word, the Bible. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17, NIV). While Jesus is fully God, He is also fully human like you and me. How’s that for a brain teaser? “ For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:17–18 NIV). Philippians 2:6–11 is a famous description of Jesus’ two natures. When responding to kids’ questions, try to keep it simple. Jesus is fully God and fully man. Before He was born as a baby, He was still God. That’s when He spoke to the Old Testament writers as God.