Dear Ariel,
Several months ago, we found ourselves in an unpleasant situation. We are a homeschooling family and we had run out of options for our 10 year old son's Bible instruction. Everything that we found was either too watered down or was written from a Covenant Theology viewpoint. I tried fattening up the thin curriculum and I tried “unteaching” the Covenant Theology, but I was never satisfied. It looked like I would have to write my own curriculum, one from a Messianic perspective. Before writing my own curriculum, I thought I’d give Come and See a try. I am very glad that I did.
Our son very much enjoys getting something substantial for his Bible studies instead of something “fluffy” like so many children’s studies that are available. With Come and See, that’s exactly what he gets and he loves it. Providing him with teaching that has substance and that puts things in context is nurturing a greater appreciation for God’s Word in him.
I print the PDF file for the Come and See lesson. Then I read it through with our son, taking it in sections so he can have time to digest the information. Reading it with him also opens the floor for some very interesting questions and discussions. We’re taking the lessons in the order that they are listed on Ariel’s website. I’ve also had our son take some of the quizzes that are available on the website, which is another great tool for assessing his learning.
Since we've starting using Come and See with our son, he has been reading the Bible on his own more often and for longer periods of time. It is giving him a very solid foundation in Scripture that he will be able to build on throughout his life. He is also able, even at 10 years old, to recognize and question erroneous teaching. He knows that the final word is the Word of God.
I would encourage all families to try using Come and See with your children, whether you homeschool or not. Don't be intimidated or assume that children are too young to be able to grasp the material. They may not understand it all, but it will definitely lay an excellent foundation in their lives.
(12/01/08)