by Liz Cox

Our Bible study group is working through the Moore College "Introduction to the Bible" and we've reached the end of the Old Testament. Over and over again we've noticed that one generation can make or break the people of God. Those who wholeheartedly followed God into the promised land with Joshua were quickly replaced by those who forgot. After evil Manasseh came reforming Josiah. Alas, after Josiah's death, Judah returned to idols.

In 1962, George Seamer had a huge impact on St Giles'. Standing firm for the gospel and for expository preaching, he left a legacy that is still felt today. St Giles' Church is proud of its Bible commitment and remembers George every year with a sermon in his honour.

What will THIS generation do? What will we do here and now in this church? It is actually a far more personal question. What will I do? What will you do?

One thing that is vital is good Bible teaching to the next generation. We live in an age when we can't assume that any child has Bible knowledge. We have to teach it as clearly as we possibly can both to the children within the church and those who are not yet!

Our local schools have welcomed our church's involvement with open arms, delighted for the chance to discover "what Christians believe". My challenge is to use this opportunity to its utmost: saying as much as possible and leaving the door open for the next visit! The schools are even keen to visit us!

Last term 68 year six students (11 year olds) came to what was very much like a usual service at St Giles'. Though it was put on just for them, they heard the Bible read and preached, prayers and songs and an explanation of Holy Communion. It was far more effective than doing their RE lesson in the classroom.

And how often do you have the chance to have 68 unchurched kids walk in the door? The same is planned for Carols services at Christmas. It just goes to show that amongst the pluralism of the RE curriculum in the UK are some chinks in the armour: opportunities for gospel proclamation.

I recently heard a wise man describe the decline of Christian organisations on a four generation slide. It is the second generation where it's all brought undone: the one where we assume that our children already know the Bible, instead of teaching it to them.

Liz Cox teaches the Bible to children at St. Giles' Normanton-by-Derby, UK