A Recipe for Teaching Your Child Biblical Theology

PREPARATION AND COOK TIME
– A lifetime

INGREDIENTS
– 1 whole Bible, Old and New Testament
– 1 heaping spoonful of attentiveness and faithfulness
– 1 overflowing cup of awe and wonder
– Immeasurable help from the Holy Spirit
– Salt and light to taste (learning from pastors and teachers)

1. PREHEAT THE OVEN.

What is biblical theology?

Biblical theology helps us put together the Bible as one story. From “In the beginning” all the way to “Amen,” the story of the Bible begins in Genesis and ends in Revelation. All the smaller stories of our creation, rebellion, redemption, and future hope have a place in the Great Story. Sixty-six books and over forty authors work together to tell the One Story of how God so loved the world and made himself known to us.

2. BRING THE INGREDIENTS TOGETHER.

What are some themes throughout Scripture?

Like all great stories, there are themes that run from the beginning to the end. The Bible has a few dozen major themes: king, priest, sacrifice, etc. This new series on biblical theology traces these themes for children to see how the smaller stories in the Bible are telling the One Great Story. Each book in this series follows each thread as they develop over the span of history.

Look, for example, at the Tree of Life. In Genesis, God placed the Tree of Life in the center of the garden of Eden. Whoever ate the fruit of this tree would live forever. When humanity rebelled against God, God cut them off from this tree (Genesis 2:9; 3:22–23). Having been cast out of the garden, the Bible revealed the way back: to “live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Psalm 1 brings up the image of the tree, telling us that the person who meditates on God’s Word day and night is like a tree, planted by streams of water (Psalm 1:2–3). In the New Testament, Jesus died on the cross—a tree—that we might have life (Galatians 3:13). The book of Revelation tells us about our hope for the dwelling place of God. It also tells us that the Tree of Life stands in the midst of the forever city, bearing twelve kinds of fruit (Revelation 22:2).

3. MIX WELL.

What is the purpose of biblical theology?

Biblical theology helps us see the wisdom of God, taste his goodness, stand in wonder, and bow in worship. God magnificently weaves these threads over the span of thousands of years to teach us about his faithfulness and steadfast love. Together, these threads come together to tell the One Great Story that gives life to all who will listen.

4. BAKE.

What is the purpose of tracing the theme of food in the Bible?

We trace the theme of food from Genesis to Revelation to see more clearly the goodness of God. In this world, food is a reward for doing something good. In contrast, the Bible gives the picture of God feeding his people as an act of grace and mercy. He invites sinners and rebels to his table to show them his goodness.

Food declares the steadfast love and faithfulness of God. Food was the first gift God gave to his creatures (Genesis 1:29–30). Even after their rebellion, God provided food outside the garden. The Lord loves feeding his people when we least deserve his kindness. The Lord prepared a table for the Israelites in the wilderness when they complained and distrusted him (Exodus 16). Jesus fed the thousands who followed him for his gifts (John 6:1–51). He fed his disciples before and after they betrayed and denied him (John 13:26–38; 21:12).

5. SERVE.

How do we teach our children biblical theology about food?

The Lord has given us parents visible things to teach our children his invisible attributes. In eating and drinking the Lord’s provision (visible), we taste and see his grace and mercy (invisible). At the communion table, we consume what is visible to remember our invisible God. The visible bread reminds us of Jesus giving his own body, and the visible cup reminds of his blood that was shed for the forgiveness of our sins.

We give thanks before meals, not only for the food set before us, but also for his grace and forgiveness. We bake manna cookies (recipe in this book) to remember how God provides for our every need. I warm up cups of milk and honey for my toddler. Not only is his body nourished and comforted, but he is also drinking deeply the symbols and stories from Scripture. In Exodus, the Lord is leading his people to “a land flowing with milk and honey.” Milk is a symbol for God’s Word, and his Word is sweeter than honey (1 Peter 2:2; Psalm 19:10).

When we teach our children Biblical theology,
“we’re poor beggars telling other beggars where to find bread.”

D.A. Carson

6. ENJOY!

As you eat and drink, do so for his glory
(1 Corinthians 10:31).

We magnify what we enjoy the most. We honor the worth, beauty, and goodness of what we love. When it comes to food, our enjoyment honors the maker of the good thing. When we enjoy grandma’s cookies, we are honoring grandma and her love for us. In the same way, when we enjoy and savor the Word of God, we honor Christ who is the Word of God (John 1:1–3). To teach our children the Bible and theology is to say, “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8).



Excerpted from Taste and See © 2022 by Irene Sun. Used by permission of New Growth Press. May not be reproduced without prior written permission.


Taste and See Frontcover

Taste and See

Children love food, and this beautiful book will help them see God’s goodness and love in the food he provides for his children all through the Bible. From fruit trees in the garden, manna in the wilderness, and bread and fish by the sea of Galilee, to the final, wonderful banquet spread in heaven, children and parents will learn to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” 

About the author

Irene Sun

Irene Sun, MAR, ThM, is a preacher’s wife, mother, daughter to missionaries, and sister to three godly women. Irene was born in Malaysia but has lived all over the world. She studied liturgy and literature at Yale University and the Old Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, where the Lord prepared her to be a homeschool teacher to her four boys. She is the author of God Counts: Numbers in His Word and His World and Taste and See: All About God's Goodness.

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