This is something I did with a whole classroom full of children in Sunday school –and it works even better with adults!
I asked some of them to identify themselves –so they gave their names. I explained that other people had those same names, so how could I tell them from another person with the same name. Some of the things they came up with were the names of their parents, their pets, where they lived, where they went to school, how old they were. (You needn’t be concerned –we were all a close-knit group of families.)
Next, I began to describe some of my identities. I opened my wallet and showed them some of the items I would use if I was asked to identify myself. There were my driver’s license, social security card and credit card. That day I had my picture ID badge for work. My kids were also in the class so I pointed them out. Then it got interesting. I brought in a box of tools I use in the garage and asked the children to identify the person who would use each one. There was a welder’s mask, some wrenches, a tape measure, a hard-hat, etc.
Then we talked about how identities change –when we move to a different address or school, grow up and live on our own, get married, have children, take on different jobs. It was a lead-in to a Christian identity. We took turns reading Bible verses that described that new identity –and we discussed what each one meant. There were the ones that said we were Jesus’ friends, His brothers, that our sins were washed away, that we were in God’s family.
That’s how it went with the children. Sure, some got it and some didn’t. Some were Christians and some might be by now. This is how I demonstrated it for them. The rest of the articles in this section should give you a good place to start. After you’ve come up with your way –and communicated it with your friend or family member– let me know how it went. I’d very much like to know –and if you want, maybe add it for others to learn from.
Thanks,
Doug Olsen
doug@MyRedeemer.org (include ”*** MR Website***” in the subject)