Therefore, what is most important is that children learn that Jesus is not simply their friend but that He is their Lord.  What the children truly need is not another friend but a Redeemer.  Large Catechism, Second Article:  "Let this article, then be summarized in this way: the little word ‘Lord' simply means as much as Redeemer, that is, the One who rescued us from the devil to bring us to God, from death to bring us into life, from sin to bring us into righteousness, and now keeps us safe where He has brought us."  Of course, all of this has to be done in an age appropriate way.  But the substance should still be the same, conveyed in the godly way of reverence and joy rather than in the worldly way of entertainment and fun.

 Don't worry if the children can't understand intellectually every single detail of what you are teaching right now.  Our goal should be first to teach children the words and the stories of the faith and then to teach what those words and stories mean more and more as they grow older.  Especially for children, we are seeking to "fill their cupboards" with the treasures of the faith so that those treasures will always be there for them to draw upon throughout their life.  We don't want to reduce the faith to a lowest common denominator just so they can "understand" it.  Rather, we want to begin the process of training their hearts and minds in the words of God and the words of the faith which, God willing, they will eventually grow into.  For instance, we don't have a different Ten Commandments or Apostles' Creed or Lord's Prayer for children than we do for adults.  Rather, we ingrain in them these words and explain them as much as we can to them, knowing that their understanding and their faith in these words and the teaching they contain will grow as they get older, even as it should be also for adults.  For indeed, the meaning of these words can never be exhausted.

 This is what Martin Luther was getting at in the preface to the Small Catechism.  "With young persons keep to a single, fixed, and permanent form and wording, and teach them first of all the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, etc., according to the text, word for word, so that they can repeat it after you and commit it to memory. . .  After they have well memorized the text of the catechism, then explain the meaning so that they understand what they are saying."

 Bible stories can and should be used to teach Christian morality to the children.  But we must remember that our ultimate goal in Christian education is to teach them about the mercy and grace of God in His Son Jesus.  We're not only trying to teach the children right and wrong, we're especially trying to teach them about the One who saved us from our falling short of the perfect standard of right and wrong which God's Law lays down.  Reject applying biblical stories only in such a way that Jesus is our example.  That's the Law disguised as the Gospel.  Answering the question, "What would Jesus do?" is not the focus of Christianity and has nothing to do with the Gospel.  Jesus came to free us from the judgment of the Law, not to be a new Lawgiver (John 1:17). Rather, help the children to see how every story of the Scripture ultimately teaches us of how God saves us and loves us through His Son Jesus.

 Non-biblical stories can certainly be used to illustrate a Christian teaching. But we need to use every opportunity to teach the biblical narrative to children.  The Scriptures provide plenty of examples of "real life" application and teaching.  The children need to get a Christian worldview that the stories of the Bible provide better than anything else, since they are God's own Word.  The stories of the Scriptures provide the foundation on which Christian teaching and learning and living are built.  If you wish to apply a story in a more specific way, use the lives of the children or events in the classroom to make it more concrete.

 We teach the Bible to children not simply so that they may gain some cognitive religious knowledge but so that they may be better equipped to worship.  All Christian education should lead toward the divine service.  This is where the fear of the Lord and faith in Him are most concretely manifested.  Therefore, do whatever you can to relate what you're teaching to what we as Lutherans do in worship.  Good Christian education leads to a fuller and richer hearing of the Lord's preaching and receiving of the Lord's Supper, and from there to a life of faithfulness and love in the world.

 Regarding art, Jesus is not cute or a cartoon character.  He is the real, flesh and blood Holy One.  Revelation 1:13-18–"In the midst of the seven lampstands (was) One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.  His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.  And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.  But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.  I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.  Amen.  And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.'"

 Therefore, in your teaching avoid Christian artwork that looks like it was produced by Hallmark or Precious Moments.  Christian artwork should not exhibit sentimentalism but rather the real presence of the very Son of God, who took on our flesh and blood to save us.  It should reflect the majesty and holiness of the Son of God, and it should inspire or at least be consistent with reverence towards Him.  Avoid consumeristic styles of art that tend to mix the church and the world, or which portray the beauty of creation but avoid the starker reality of the terror of creation, which is now fallen and in bondage to decay.
 
 Regarding music, while some simple songs are certainly appropriate and necessary and good in religious education, don't be afraid to expose the children to the music of the church.  Avoid "cutesy" songs that tend to trivialize or make light of the faith.  The fruit of Christian hymnody and music is to be reverence and joy, not silliness and fun.  Here also, the music should reflect respect towards God and should not mix elements of the church and the world.  Teach children short parts of the liturgy like the Kyrie "Lord, have mercy" or the Agnus Dei (O Christ, the lamb of God).  Teach them simpler hymns from the hymnal or appropriate seasonal hymns.  Don't be afraid to play tapes of the liturgy or of hymns from our hymnal in class during free time. Do whatever you can to instill in them good churchly music.

 In summary, we're not fundamentalists or evangelicals (in the current sense of the word) or protestants.  We are Lutherans, for whom the Small Catechism is the "Layman's Bible."  Let that show through in all aspects of our religious education.

 –Pastor Koch–