What do you believe is the most important aspect of Christianity for your kids ?

[Anonymous]

Love

[Anonymous]

Love too. Forgiveness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Somehow I got volunteered to occasionally lead 4th grade church school (Episcopal) this year.

If you do send your children to religious school, what do you want them to come away with?

We do have a curriculum, but I'm trying to identify major themes to help organize my thinking about this year.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

I am a parent of young children and teenagers and also teach Sunday School. My goals for my own children are to be "foot washers" - that is, to show kindness and compassion to ALL others. Not only others who look like them or have nice clothes or nice cars or worship in a Christian church, but ALL others. I send my kids to Sunday school in the hopes of reinforcing these values. I understand that kindness and compassion are not uniquely "Christian" qualities. But in my opinion, Christ is an excellent model of kindness, acceptance, humility, compassion etc. Learning and teaching through Christ makes sense to me.
Furthermore, as kids are influenced by other kids by the late elem. school years i think it is helpful for them to have the Christian fellowship that comes along with Sunday school. Think about what goes on in the school playground. Kids ganging up on one another, excluding, teasing, bullying. Do you want your child going along with pack on this? I want my children to show compassion and model it. As idealistic - and cliche - as it may sound, today's children are tomorrow's leaders. Kinder children = better world.
Eternal life, heaven and accepting Christ as your savior? Save that for those pamphlet thrusting evangelists. Teach children that loving Jesus means loving each other because that is what they really need to do.

[Anonymous]

Love, forgiveness, obedience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Somehow I got volunteered to occasionally lead 4th grade church school (Episcopal) this year.

If you do send your children to religious school, what do you want them to come away with?

We do have a curriculum, but I'm trying to identify major themes to help organize my thinking about this year.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

I am a parent of young children and teenagers and also teach Sunday School. My goals for my own children are to be "foot washers" - that is, to show kindness and compassion to ALL others. Not only others who look like them or have nice clothes or nice cars or worship in a Christian church, but ALL others. I send my kids to Sunday school in the hopes of reinforcing these values. I understand that kindness and compassion are not uniquely "Christian" qualities. But in my opinion, Christ is an excellent model of kindness, acceptance, humility, compassion etc. Learning and teaching through Christ makes sense to me.
Furthermore, as kids are influenced by other kids by the late elem. school years i think it is helpful for them to have the Christian fellowship that comes along with Sunday school. Think about what goes on in the school playground. Kids ganging up on one another, excluding, teasing, bullying. Do you want your child going along with pack on this? I want my children to show compassion and model it. As idealistic - and cliche - as it may sound, today's children are tomorrow's leaders. Kinder children = better world.
Eternal life, heaven and accepting Christ as your savior? Save that for those pamphlet thrusting evangelists. Teach children that loving Jesus means loving each other because that is what they really need to do.

Do you think the teachings of Jesus are a good example, but that he is not God and not a ticket to heaven? If so, then why not just teach your kids the universal principles you mention above without interjecting a first century Jewish teacher into it? The whole basis of Christianity is that belief in Jesus is needed for eternal life

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Somehow I got volunteered to occasionally lead 4th grade church school (Episcopal) this year.

If you do send your children to religious school, what do you want them to come away with?

We do have a curriculum, but I'm trying to identify major themes to help organize my thinking about this year.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

I am a parent of young children and teenagers and also teach Sunday School. My goals for my own children are to be "foot washers" - that is, to show kindness and compassion to ALL others. Not only others who look like them or have nice clothes or nice cars or worship in a Christian church, but ALL others. I send my kids to Sunday school in the hopes of reinforcing these values. I understand that kindness and compassion are not uniquely "Christian" qualities. But in my opinion, Christ is an excellent model of kindness, acceptance, humility, compassion etc. Learning and teaching through Christ makes sense to me.
Furthermore, as kids are influenced by other kids by the late elem. school years i think it is helpful for them to have the Christian fellowship that comes along with Sunday school. Think about what goes on in the school playground. Kids ganging up on one another, excluding, teasing, bullying. Do you want your child going along with pack on this? I want my children to show compassion and model it. As idealistic - and cliche - as it may sound, today's children are tomorrow's leaders. Kinder children = better world.
Eternal life, heaven and accepting Christ as your savior? Save that for those pamphlet thrusting evangelists. Teach children that loving Jesus means loving each other because that is what they really need to do.

Do you think the teachings of Jesus are a good example, but that he is not God and not a ticket to heaven? If so, then why not just teach your kids the universal principles you mention above without interjecting a first century Jewish teacher into it? The whole basis of Christianity is that belief in Jesus is needed for eternal life

I am Christian and yes I do believe that Jesus is the son or embodiment of god. There is more to modern day Christianity than that and also Sunday School teachers do have a curriculum to follow. I want to engage the kids, not alienate them. I choose to teach values to my kids that are based in Christ because it works for us. you do what works for you. If you choose to send your kids to Sunday school it should reflect or at least be in line with your beliefs and values - not mine or anyone else's. i can assure that all of the kids i teach enjoy Sunday school and the parents seem appreciative.

[Anonymous]

Golden rule

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Golden rule

NP. That was Jesus' second rule, but He did have a first, which I think a lot of people conveniently forget (or ignore).