Written by Dr. Steve Whitaker, Head of School
This week, one of our outstanding teachers (we call them the Living Curriculum) shared this with the parents in her classroom. Today, I want to share it with all of our friends and families because it represents what is best about TFA. This is the heart of who we are and this is what sets us apart from our independent and public school colleagues throughout our community. Thank you for allowing us to partner with your family. From my family to yours – Happy Easter. He is risen, risen indeed!
Steve
P.S. If you don’t have a church home, I want to invite you to join me this weekend for Easter Services at First Baptist Church/Orlando. Services are available on Saturday, April 15 at 5:30pm and Sunday, April 16 at 8:30am, 10:00am, and 11:30am.
There is no greater joy than to know that my children walk in the truth (3 John 1:4).
I am over the moon at the news that their young hearts and minds are turning toward Jesus.
Please hear my heart as I share my thoughts on this topic.
I believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. I believe God’s word is infallible and speaks truth into our lives. I believe God created us to worship Him. I believe we are all sinners separated from God our Creator because of sin. I believe Jesus is the sinless Son of God. I believe God is God the Father, God the Son Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit. He sent His only son Jesus to earth to walk among us, to feel our pain, to see our hurts, to give his life as a ransom (payment) for my sin. Upon our personal faith in Christ, God sends his Holy Spirit to indwell us and to give us peace and guidance in our lives. I believe Jesus willingly laid down his life for my sin. I believe God raised him from the dead on the third day.
At Easter, we celebrate Christ’s death, burial, and RESURRECTION. We do not worship a dead god. Jesus is ALIVE! Because of my sin, Jesus had to die. My savior paid the penalty for my sin when he gave his life on the cross. What man meant to be harmful and bad, God meant for good. He provided a sacrifice so that my life could be redeemed. There is no way I could pay that payment for sin on my own. I needed Jesus. God’s power overcame evil.
Each day, I desire to yield my life to Christ and ask him to lead and guide me. I make plenty of mistakes, but I know God is quick to forgive me. I read my Bible, pray, go to church to worship with other believers, and have accountability partners in my life who challenge me to grow in my faith and relationship with Christ.
Here is where I need your help:
Your children are hungry for spiritual food. As they grow and mature, their minds and hearts are becoming more fertile soil for the truth of God’s word. They are seeking, in their own way, to understand concepts that are abstract. They are looking to you and me for answers. God knows their hearts and knows the level or depth of their understanding of Him.
I believe children develop at different rates and times. You are their parents. You know them better than me. God has given both of us the responsibility of nurturing their hearts and minds and leading them to Him. Please know I never wish to overstep my role in their lives.
If your child is asking questions about spiritual matters, I am happy to talk to them. If you have questions, I am happy to talk to you! Here is an interesting quote I read: “It is easy to coerce a child into a decision to please an adult whether it is parents, pastor, teacher, or other people of influence. The key is to allow the Holy Spirit to do the work He needs to do in the child.”
As we seek to point kids to Christ, let’s be cautious that they feel conviction for sin, their need for a savior, and are not just saying they want to follow Jesus because it is the right thing to do or because it is what their friends are doing. Let’s guide them carefully and use a language they can understand. They are literal thinkers. Symbolic talk might be too abstract for their young minds. I would suggest answering questions simply without trying to explain too many details.
Here are the simple (yet profound) ABCs of salvation.
- Admit that you are a sinner: Repent, turn away from your sins. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
- Believe that Jesus is God’s Son and accept God’s gift of forgiveness for sin. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
- Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Romans 10:9-10 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth, one confesses and is saved.”
Thank you for hearing my heart. Please let me know if you have concerns about any of these things I’ve shared. Thank you for taking the time to read this message.