Teaching Scriptural Doctrines

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I know I have blogged about this before, but I feel it is important.

It is never too early to teach biblical doctrines to our children.

Arnold Pent in 10 Peas in a Pod explains how we talk to our newborns before they can understand.  Before long, they are participating in the conversation.  This is how they learn verbal skills and communication.  Just so it is with biblical doctrines.  If we talk to them about what the bible teaches, even before they can understand, within what seems like no time, they are asking inquisitive questions and contributing to conversations concerning biblical matters.

Here are questions kids commonly ask:
  
a) What is my purpose?
b) How do we know there is a God? 
c) Who/What is God?

Before you read further, test yourself to see how you would have answered the above questions.  I am sure you wouldn't respond with self-centered and humanistic jargon we commonly hear these days like...

a) Your purpose is to make the best of yourself.  Be as successful as you can be and make a name for yourself.  You'll need to search deep inside to find out who you are and what you need to do to fulfill your dreams using your passions as your guide.

or with an answer that's true but oversimplified and unsatisfying like...

b) We know there is a God because the Bible tells us so.

or with some absurdity like...

c)  God is the dude in heaven who makes it thunder when he rearranges his furniture.

2 Timothy 1:13 says, "Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus"

Our answers MUST accurately explain biblically sound doctrines like these I have taken from tried and true catechisms linked below:

 a) Your main purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.  Is. 43:7  The word of God directs us how we may glorify Him and enjoy Him.
b) The light of nature in man, and the works of God, plainly declares that there is a God; but his word and Spirit only, do effectually reveal him unto us for our salvation.  Romans 1:18-20
c) God is the first and best of beings and/or God is a spirit and does not have a body like man. Is. 44:6 and John 4:24

Catechisms are extremely beneficial in helping us answer our children's questions with consistent and precise truths.  Here are tools I have found to be helpful:

For my two preschool children I use The Catechism for Young Children, An Introduction to the Shorter Catechism.

The littles ones love listening to the pleasant music arrangements by Dan and Karen Vitco called Teach Them the Faith during quite times.  I purchased this from iTunes for $9.99.

The Catechism for Young Children prepares them nicely for when they are older and ready to tackle the Shorter Westminster Catechism or others patterned or revised by this particular catechism.  One I recommend is found here.