I Have four cousins that have not grew up in church and they have been going to church for a few years three are fourteen and one is sixteen. How can I help them understand rhe Bible so they can learn from the word of God? I feel God is using me to help them.
2007-01-29 02:23:23 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Robert Ingersoll's writings are a good place to start; but for a lighter touch and a lot of laughs, try George Carlin.
2007-01-29 02:28:04 · answer #1 · answered by catrionn 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Greetings. In my opinion being a model is the best way to teach others. When we live the life of freedom, others will want to be like us. An example: when we treat another with respect, s/he will more than likely treat us with respect. However, being a model is even more than that.
Another way is to spend time with them. Show them the love of Christ.
Have discussions with them; not necessarily about or with a Bible but about life, things they are going through. Let them find the answers but you help lead them. For example: Maybe one of them gets into a fight. Don't criticize him. Listen. Then, maybe ask: do you think you could have done something different? If so, what? How do you think that would have turned out? Leave the questions open ended. Trust them or trust the good in them.
Offer a Bible study with them. A book called "What The Bible's All About," takes the reader through every book of the Bible covering all the major themes of traditional Christianity. Or if you want something less traditional you can go to www.getconnectedtogod.com. If they are WILLING, get together every week just for some study time.
Most importantly, love them. In fact, love is all you/they need. I hope this is of some help.
Sending love,
James
2007-01-29 10:54:43 · answer #2 · answered by wadkinsjames 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Janie, my first thought is prayer. Pray that God will soften their hearts. The problem is that you are pretty much a peer to them, where as their parents, upbringing, and close friends have a greater influence on them in most cases.
Young people like a challenge, so challenge them to read a portion of the Bible, say the book of Luke. Challenge them to read it in a week and then have them answer questions such as what was Luke all about? What does it mean to them? What impact if any will it have on their everyday life from a practical stand point? You could even have them write these things down. Offer them lunch if they get it done and if you're close by.
The greatest influence will be their parents. Studies show that by the time they graduate from high school, they would have spent 20,000 hours at home, 12,000 hours at school and only 2,000 hours at church. You need to enlist their parents for help too understanding they influence they will have.
Outside of that - prayer. Phil 4:6-7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Also, Matthew 7:7-11 states, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"
God will bless your efforts - guaranteed!
2007-01-29 10:41:36 · answer #3 · answered by oh nedla 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They have magazine type Bibles --that help teens relate to all the things they are dealing with everyday. The girl's Bible is called Revolve "07" and the guy's Bible is called "Fusion" (or something like that). Go to a Christian bookstore and if they don't have it--they can probably order it for you. My teenagers just love them and they don't feel funny about carrying them around with them--cuz they don't look like Bibles--actually some of there friends have asked to read them--and are really interested in this new style of reading the Word.
2007-01-29 10:30:36 · answer #4 · answered by heavnbound 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you yourself can understand what is trying to be said in the bible "the word of god" despite all the contradictions and editing (if it is the word of god why is the story of what gets in and not decided by a committee?) then you are truly the most intelligent person to have ever walked the earth.
Above einstien, above da vinchi, above hawkings.
Unless of course you are simply, biasedly just "retconning" the story in your mind so it makes sense but is not reading the way it is written, and written in multiple different accounts with different events taking place in a different way.
Do not worry my lost lamb, when it is time for you to embrace him into your heart, the Flying Spaghetti Monster will have you as part of his flock.
RAmen.
2007-01-29 10:31:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Find a religion that treats them as an equal in the faith. In the JWs, they are taught equally to the adults, to be ministers and preachers, rather than having someone up front being paid to tell them what to believe.
2007-01-29 10:58:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whatever you do, PLEASE don't try and make it "cool".
I've seen countless attempts at making religion "cool" to teens and it NEVER works. It usually ends up with some dorky lookin' white guy "rapping" about the bible (Check out the video "Baby Got Book" to see what Im talking about). Please, this is just LAME.
http://www.whiteboydj.com/babygotbook.html
If you want your teen to listen, respect them enough to give it to them straight and listen to what they have to say. No music videos, no gimmicks, just be honest with them if you ever expect them to be honest with you.
That said, I wish you luck and hope they listen. But if they don't, don't push 'em. If that's really where they should be, then that's where they'll be, but in their own time no?
2007-01-29 10:36:47 · answer #7 · answered by Khalin Ironcrow 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Almost every teenager loves music, singing and rapping so you could include music and singing in the choir at your local church. This will hopefully get them to participate and keeping them coming back for more.
2007-01-29 10:29:00 · answer #8 · answered by JDJ34 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
By leaving them alone, and teaching them to think rationally. Just because you chose one religion out of the 4000 religions worldwide, does not mean christianity is appropriate for them.
2007-01-29 10:27:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Show them by example. Live your life the way Christ would want you to.
2007-01-29 10:29:56 · answer #10 · answered by gtahvfaith 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋