It’s back to school season. It reminds me of the classic movie You’ve Got Mail, when Tom Hanks (playing Joe Fox) writes this to Meg Ryan (playing Kathleen Kelly):
Don’t you love New York in the Fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.
The stores are now filled with school supplies, Amazon Wish Lists have been created by teachers, and it won’t be long before parents begin to shop for children’s school supplies. Some supplies are predictable, like pencils, crayons, and glue sticks, while others may surprise you, like ear buds, Q-tips, or craft supplies. What will be in your child’s backpack this school year?
As we consider what our children must take to school, let’s explore a creative way to use school supply shopping to teach your kids about God. Many of our children carry their newly purchased school supplies to class in a backpack. Then they continue to bring some of these supplies back and forth each day in their backpacks. Imagine if the items listed in Galatians 5 (which many people know as the Fruit of Spirit) were things that our kids could carry to school in their backpack each day.
You may be familiar with the Fruit of the Spirit, described in Galatians 5. Just for fun, let’s look at Galatians 5:19-21, to see what we don’t want our kids to have in their backpacks (or adults to have in our purses, briefcases, or man bags).
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Now le’ts look at what we want our kids to have in their backpacks, from Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV):
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Here is my interpretation of these passages:
If you follow Jesus (are a disciple), then the Holy Spirit lives within you, so you follow what the Spirit guides you to do. The Spirit will not guide you to do these things (listed in Galatians 5:19-21):
- Sexual Immorality/Sensuality/Impurity/Orgies: Engaging in sexual activities with anyone you are not married to
- Idolatry: Worshipping anything or anyone other than God; putting anything/anyone before God
- Sorcery: Engaging with evil to make things happen (spells, Ouija board, voodoo, etc.)
- Enmity/Strife: Being a person who is disagreeable, argues, wants to fight, or has a bad attitude
- Jealousy/Envy: Wanting what other people have thinking or feeling: That’s not fair. They don’t deserve that.
- Fits of Anger: Throwing angry tantrums (screaming, hitting or throwing things, etc.)
- Rivalries: Having enemies, or people you want to see fail so that can have power over them
- Dissensions:Having arguments that continue
- Divisions: Causing separations from other people or groups you don’t like, aren’t like, or don’t agree with
- Drunkenness: Drinking too much alcohol, or using any drugs, so that your mind and/or body work differently than how you normally are
Instead, if you follow Jesus (are a disciple), the Holy Spirit lives within you, so you follow what the Spirit guides you to do. The Spirit will guide you to do and experience these things (listed in Galatians 5:22-23):
- Love: Caring for the good of others according to what Jesus taught (those you like and people you do not call friends)
- Joy: Being happy, excited, and enjoying life
- Peace: Staying away from fights or arguments; feeling a state of calm; not worried
- Patience: Wait your turn, take your time, and don’t rush all the time. Be patient with yourself and with others.
- Kindness: Treat other people (and yourself) with love. Use nice words, help others, and share when you can.
- Goodness: Doing the right thing; showing kindness and compassion for others
- Faithfulness: Do what you say you will do. Keep your promises, especially to follow Jesus forever.
- Gentleness: Be soft with others, using words and actions that are kind. Think of how you might talk to or touch a baby, a kitten, or a puppy with special care.
- Self-Control: Think about what you say or do before acting on it. Tell yourself no when you know you shouldn’t do something and choose to do something else.
Try This:
- Read through Galatians 5:19-24 and my kid-friendly explanation of the terms in this section.
- Discuss school supplies needed and what will need to be put in your child’s backpack.
- Explain the significance of the Galatians 5 passage in relation to the start of a new school year, saying we can’t see or hold everything we take to school.
- Read the passage with your child, explaining what it means.
- Ask: What are some things that should go in your backpack (or that you should take to school each day) that aren’t school supplies?
- Discuss how your children can take these things to school each day.
- Practice showing the Fruit of Spirit at home.
- Pray for God to help us show the Fruit of the Spirit each day.
- Watch others who are loving, joyful, peacful, patient, kind, good, faithful, and who have good self-control and learn from them.
- When you mess up, or forget to do these things, admit that you failed, accept God’s (and other’s forgiveness) and try again.
Teaching Kids About God 