One thing I learned in serving in Children’s Ministry is that children love stories. But who is the most important storyteller in their lives? Let’s read the passage first.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, 3 things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. (Psalm 78:2-4)
There are three groups of people in this passage:
(1) I/We (first person), the psalmist’s generation
(2) our ancestors, person from the past
(3) their descendant, next generation, going to the future
The first group of I/we, the psalmist’s generation is standing in between the past and the future. Similarly, we are standing between the past and the future. The important task for us to do is to tell the faith stories of the past to future generations. The content of the story to tell is described at the end of the verse 4:
· The praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
· His power,
· And the wonders He has done
Are you willing to tell future generations about the story of God? Who is the most important storyteller of children’s lives? It’s parents, grandparents, and also you. This Psalm tells us the whole generation is charged to share their faith to the future generations.
What if my kids are grown up or I don’t have any biological children, am I exempt from this task? No, God has entrusted this generation to pass the faith to the next. As a part of this generation, we have to fulfill His task.
What if I don’t know how to teach? In addition to receiving the training and equipping provided by the church, we can take up many opportunities of ministries in the church, such as AV, praise team, fellowship leaders, etc. If you can commit to some ministry or task, you can share the burden with those who can teach so that they may concentrate in teaching instead of taking on a lot of responsibilities. By working together as a body of Christ, we can pass the faith stories to the next generation and fulfill God’s task. And you are part of it.
我在兒童事工服事認識到一件事，就是孩子們喜歡聽故事。但誰是他們一生中最重要的講故事的人？我們讀完下面經文就會知道。
2我要開口說比喻；我要說出古時的謎語，3是我們所聽見、所知道的，也是我們的祖宗告訴我們的。4我們不將這些事向他們的子孫隱瞞，要將耶和華的美德和他的能力，並他奇妙的作為，述說給後代聽。（詩篇78：2-4）
這裡有三組人物：
（1）我/我們（第一人稱）─詩人的那代人
（2）我們的祖先─過去的人
（3）後代子孫─走向未來的下一代
第一組的我/我們─也就是詩人的那代人，站在過去和未來之間，同樣的今天我們也站在過去和未來之間，這個世代的重要工作，就是向下一代講述過去信仰的故事。講述的內容在第4節的末尾：
•耶和華的美德
•耶和華的能力
•祂奇妙的做為
您願意告訴後代關於上帝的事嗎？誰是孩子們的一生中最重要的講故事的人？是父母、祖父母、還有你。此詩篇告訴我們，我們整個世代都有責任向子孫後代述說信仰的故事。
孩子已經長大、或者沒有親生孩子的人可以免負這個責任嗎？不可以，上帝托付這代人將信仰傳給下一代。作為這一代人的一部分，我們必須完成祂的托付。
如果我不知道如何教導怎麼辦呢？除了接受教會所提供的訓練與裝備以外，教會中還有很多事奉的機會。例如影音部、敬拜小組、團契組長等等。教會中能教導的肢體還同時負責許多工作，如果您願意委身某些服事，則可讓有教導恩賜者專心教導，配搭同工，將信仰傳於下一代，完成神對我們這代人的托付。
～ Rev. Clement Woo 胡嘉明牧師～