David Witmer

Most children are born with a seemingly insatiable desire for knowledge. Their favorite words are why and how. As they grow older, they realize that in school, they will learn to find their own answers to their questions. Day after day, they come home with, “Today we learned the "a" or the "s" sound, and soon they are reading, “Sam sat in the sun.” We think that is wonderful, and it is. At this early stage, the teacher is a sort of heroine who guides their eager feet along the flowery path of knowledge, and all is well.

The word conviction is defined as “(a) a strong persuasion or belief; (b) the state of being convinced.” Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” We would say that this child has convictions; he has been convinced. We understand that churches and homes vary in their applications of Scriptural principle. Different cultures, different backgrounds, and even personal taste will influence how we apply these principles. However, these principles must be the foundation on which we build convictions in the rising generation.

Parts 1 and 2

What is singing all about? Paul tells us in Ephesians 5 to be “filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Since ages past, God’s people have enjoyed singing as a way of expressing their worship and supplications to Him.