Summary
This resource book is 86 readings, almost devotional style, in 14 categories to teach children about God, His Word, and the Gospel. The 14 categories are:
- Looking for God
- God is Very Great
- All That God Does is Good
- Sin Spoiled The World
- God’s Law
- God Loves Us
- What Jesus Did
- About the Holy Spirit
- How We Become Children of God
- How God’s Children Live and Grow
- God Helps His Children Live for Him
- When We Pray to God
- About God’s Church
- Things That are to Happen
There are often suggested Scripture readings, a hymn, and a prayer to accompany the author’s thoughts. Some readings are quite short and others are slightly longer, ranging approximately 4-10 minutes.
Mom Thoughts
Published in 1962, this family resource book is a bit of a modern classic. (John MacArthur used this with his children.) There are colorful illustrations sprinkled throughout the book as well as engaging, Biblical language.
“When Adam and Eve had children, these children were sinners, too. All babies are born with sin in their hearts. That is why even little babies are naughty sometimes. Isn’t that a sad thing? When we do what God tells us not to do, that is sin. When we do not do what He wants us to do, that is sin, too.”
This is essentially a junior systematic theology, probably best suited for children 8 and under. While I liked most of the text, there were some interesting quirks:
- The language can feel a bit formal and odd, often using “Mother” without an article. “Does Mother punish you sometimes?”
- Jesus is said to be born in a stable.
- There is missing text in my version that reads in a way to sound as though angels cannot sin.
- People are referred to as “just [God’s] little creatures.”
- There are a couple of quotes that do not appear in Scripture and should be labeled as such not to confuse children. For example, Satan is quoted as saying, “I will make Adam and Eve hate God, just as I hate God. I will spoil God’s whole beautiful creation by making them disobey God.” While the sentiment may be true, the quote is nowhere in Scripture.
- Some of the sections read on their own, sound like they are promoting legalism. As someone who is prone to legalism, it takes more than it should for me to feel that way, but some of these sections- if read without the others- paint an unbiblical picture. For example, “Are you happy when Mother is cross with you? No! But you are happy when Mother is pleased with you. And see we are happy when God is pleased with us. That is why we should obey His law. And there is another reason. If we do not obey, He will punish us. He must punish us, because that is right.” There is no mention of being unable to truly obey the Lord without the indwelling Spirit or that we should obey His law out of love for Him.