Children need scripture, yet how can we bring the two together in a responsible way when some of the Bible seems unsuitable for a younger audience? This presentation by Dr. Julie Straight, NNU Professor of English, will suggest several questions to consider when choosing a children’s Bible or reading scripture with children, then offer principles to help with these choices. Questions will include:
- Which parts of the Bible do we start with, and why?
- How do we tell these stories? Do we add commentary that makes them easier to understand and details to make them more interesting, or are our creative and moralizing efforts presumptuous?
- What kinds of Bible illustrations are appropriate, if any?
Questions like these require us to consider why we are reading, what we believe about children and what we believe about the Bible. This public lecture will include many images from children’s Bibles and will aim to serve parents, pastors and all who care about cultivating Christian faith in the next generation.
The NNU Faculty Award Lecture is a competitive process that recognizes faculty members for their research, scholarship and contributions to their respective fields. This annual event also raises awareness of the original work being done by outstanding faculty members. This is the second time Dr. Straight has been recognized with this award during her 20-year career at NNU.
For more information or further questions about this event, please contact Dr. Straight.
This free lecture and reception will be held on Monday, April 1, at 7:00 p.m. in Walden Hall, located in NNU’s Conrad Student Commons at 623 South University Boulevard in Nampa. The public is invited, including clergy and laypersons from area churches across a variety of theological traditions.
