ANN MARIE MO | GUEST

Remember. Study. Meditate. Throughout the Bible, God repeatedly calls his people to remember all that he has done. Studying God’s past faithfulness help us to understand difficult providences today. Meditating on his mighty deeds invigorates our prayers so that we can plead along with the psalmist: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders” (Ps. 77:11–14).

God commands us to give thought to his works of mercy and judgment because when we reflect on them, we behold his providence. Providence—God’s most holy, wise, and powerful governance over all creation, actions, and time—is one of those biblical truths we ought to reflect upon daily: thankful for God’s past providence, grateful for his provision today, and confident in his future care for all our needs. When we ponder God’s providence in Scripture and our own lives, our faith is strengthened and we remember that God is worthy of reflection.

In addition, recalling God’s past providence helps us to face present adversity. Consider how reflecting on God’s former mercies strengthened David before he fought Goliath: “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Sam. 17:37). Simply put—God blesses reflection on his past deliverances. These recollections quicken our faith to persevere and grow through hard times.

The act of remembering is not only a spiritual discipline for every Christian to cultivate but also a charge God gives us to pass on to the next generation. We are to tell our children “the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done . . . So that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments” (Ps. 78:4, 7). To pass down accounts of God’s enduring faithfulness, we can teach our covenant children church history. Studying chronicles of how God has defended, strengthened, and delivered his people through the ages is a thoughtful way to reflect on his mercies and judgments.

Teaching Our Covenant Children Church History

Among the many excellent resources available, Simonetta Carr’s Church History is a great place to start. In this visual encyclopedia, she invites young and not-so-young readers to come and behold God’s wondrous deeds. Arranged in nine parts, this hardcover book chronicles God’s faithfulness to his church.

Designed for children nine and up, this work includes substantial content to excite not just the minds of children but also any aged Christian thinker. Starting with the New Testament early church in 30–312 AD, the first section opens with a large map and timeline of major events. Immediately the young reader embarks on a journey, learning God’s providence through history.

Photos of ancient artifacts, such as a libellus—a certificate that authenticated the possessor had performed a sacrifice to the Roman gods—reveal the persecution early Christians faced. In addition, pictures of caves where French Huguenots met for worship introduce young minds to the bravery of our Christian forbearers.

The work also includes short bios of faithful followers of Christ in each time period. Summaries of martyrs, missionaries, and leaders highlight major contributions to the church, and their accompanying portraits visually connect young readers with the past. Not only does the author chronicle notable Christians but also challengers of Christianity—Charles Darwin, Friedrich Nietzsche, Karl Marx—are studied.

Simonetta Carr’s experience in the classroom is evident in the pages of her book. The Did You Know? sidebars present captivating cultural facts that a teacher can share with students. And the Think about It sidebars provide thought-provoking questions for family and classroom discussion. This one caught my eye: “What do you think about Kuyper’s idea that Christians can learn many things from nonbelievers? Name some books written by or forms of art composed by nonbelievers that have taught you something important.”[i]

Passing on a Spiritual Heritage

Our covenant children live in a digital age fraught with shrinking attention spans and a short-sighted focus on the present. Studying the past, considering God’s wondrous deeds, and beholding his invincible faithfulness are disciplines we must pass to the next generation. Let us prepare our young people for the challenges and adversity they will face in a fallen world. Teach them to reflect on the mighty works of God and store up remembrances of his holy, wise, and powerful providence.

For the cherished child in your life, pick up Church History and together explore God’s steadfast devotion to his church, the bride of Christ.

[i] Simonetta Carr, Church History (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2022), 154.

Photo by Juliane Liebermann on Unsplash