An Interview with Sally Michael, Author of The Best News of All

 

An Interview with Sally Michael, Author of The Best News of All

The birth of Jesus is truly the best news of all. The angel’s good news of the arrival of the Savior told to the shepherds long ago is still good news for us today. It’s the reason why we celebrate Christmas each year! In her new book, The Best News of All, Sally Michael helps preschoolers to remember the angel’s announcement to the shepherds in Luke 2:10–11: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”   The Christmas-themed The Best News of All is the latest addition to Michael’s Bible Verses to Remember series. The series helps preschoolers to not only memorize Scripture but to understand how it applies to their little lives today.​Each book introduces a single verse and shows how God works in the world around us.   Q: Introduce us to your new Bible Verses to Remember series and the inspiration behind it.   Each of the books in the Bible Verses to Remember Series explains one verse, encourages children to memorize that verse, and helps them know how to apply it in real life.   When my children were preschoolers, I put together a set of foundational verses for them to memorize, and they easily memorized the verses through simple repetition. I saw during those years how memorizing Scripture informed their thoughts and actions, molded their hearts, and encouraged their faith in God.   When I became the minister for children in our church, I introduced those same verses in our nursery and preschool program. I impressed on the teachers the importance of introducing young children to the actual words of Scripture, the meaning of the verses, and the need to go beyond memorization to application—using Scripture in prayer, when encouraging others, and for learning to trust God and his ways. I wanted to pass on that teaching to parents and a whole generation of little ones—and the way to do that for those beyond my sphere of influence was to write this series of books. Q: The latest addition to the series is The Best News of All, based on the Christmas story. Tell us more about the new book and the Bible verse the book focuses on.   The Best News of All uses the angel’s message to the shepherds recorded in Luke 2:10-11 to retell the birth of Jesus and his purpose in coming to earth in human form. In addition to telling the Christmas story, it introduces children to the truth that Jesus is the Savior who takes away the sin and punishment for those who believe in him; and that he is the Savior for all peoples.

Q: What are some creative ways that families can include reading the book into their holiday activities?   Some creative ways to use the book include:   ·      Read the story several times and then use the pictures as a tool for children to retell the story of the birth of Jesus in their own words. ·      Pair the story with Christmas carols—either by stopping at various points to introduce an appropriate carol or incorporating it in a time of carol singing. ·      Use the book on conjunction with a nativity set—as the story unfolds, children can set up the appropriate pieces of the manger scene. ·      Read the Christmas story in The Best News of All and then act out the story with children playing the part of the shepherds, angel, Mary, and Joseph.   Q: How do the questions you ask throughout the book help the child to better understand the message of the verse?   The book starts by asking children what they see when they look up in the sky. Then it asks how they would feel if they saw an elephant or a lion in the sky. The purpose of this is to show how very strange it was for the shepherds to see an angel, then a whole group of angels, and to understand the emotions these shepherds must have felt.    The questions are also used to connect the reality of the truth being taught with something understandable in their own limited experience. So, when they are asked to remember some good news they heard. This is a bridge to the reality that the news of the birth of Jesus is the best news, better than the news they have experienced.   The questions also help to apply what has been heard—making the message of the book personal for them and challenging them to think about how that truth affect them. Thus the question, “Do you want to praise and thank God for sending Jesus the Savior too?” is asked. It is a small attempt to draw them into personal response to the truth of God’s Word.   Q: Based on the “Living by the Word” page at the end of the book, how can families live out Luke 2:10–11?   The “Living by the Word” section is an attempt to help children to be more than just hearers of the Word. Parents are encouraged to read the Biblical account of the birth of Jesus and discuss why Jesus came and what happened when Jesus grew up. Then children are encouraged to tell someone else the story of the birth of Jesus. This is a small step toward proclaiming the good news to others, which should happen as a young child and, by the grace of God, continue for a lifetime. This section also encourages the family to memorize the verse. The intent is to encourage scripture memory not just of the verse in the book, but as a lifetime habit so that they have a storehouse of memorized verses to inform their minds and mold their hearts. Lastly, they are encouraged to pray that God will teach their minds, to draw their hearts to him, and to help them to walk in the truth.   Q: How would you encourage families to incorporate Bible memorization into daily life?   For little children, sheer repetition of the verse several times will enable most little ones to memorize the verse. Make small verse cards (or buy the Foundation Verse cards from Truth78) and put them on your refrigerator so they are a visible reminder to repeat them, bring and memorize them in the car, play a “fill in the word” game for the verse, and stretch it to several words or a phrase until your child has memorized the whole verse; flip through the cards review the verses regularly. Use the verses in everyday life as part of your conversations and prayers.   If Bible verses are memorized, the Holy Spirit will bring countless opportunities for that verse to minister to their souls—as a word of comfort, guidance, encouragement, and strength. Then talk about the meaning of the verse and how it can be used in everyday life. Use the verses as reminders to turn to God: ·       In times of trouble, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you [God].” ·       To comfort them, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous man runs into it and he is safe.” ·       To dispel worry and fear, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” ·       To show them the greatness of God and evoke wonder and comfort, “For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” ·       To encourage a gratitude, “Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above.”   Memorized verses can also provide substance for meaty prayers. They can be used to encourage children to go beyond the rote, “Thank you for the nice day” prayers to thanking God for the many ways in which he shows he is a great god or the many good and perfect gifts we can thank God for. It gives them a way to pray for others, “When Jimmy gets his shot, help him to remember that he can trust you when he is afraid.”   They can also be the beginning of learning “theology”: “Did Jesus come to save little children or just mommies and daddies? What does your verse tell you?” “The good news of great joy will be for all the people!”

The Best News of All Bible Verses to Remember By Sally Michael, Illustrated by Sengsavane Chounramany ISBN 978-1-64507-481-6 September 16, 2024 / Retail Price $16.99 Juvenile Nonfiction / Holidays & Celebrations / Christmas & Advent

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About the Author

Sally Michael is a cofounder of Truth78 and has authored curricula and books marked by a passion for developing God-centered resources for the spiritual development of children. She is the author of the Bible Verses to Remember series.   For sixteen years, she served as minister for children at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota under the leadership of John Piper and of her husband, David.   Sally and David live in Indianapolis, Indiana. They enjoy spending time with their two adult daughters and three grandchildren.   Learn more about Truth78 at truth78.org or on Facebook (Truth78), Twitter (@Truth78org), and Instagram (@truth78org).

About the Illustrator:   Sengsavane “Savane” Chounramany was born into a Lao-Hungarian family, has lived in many countries, and is now settled in Argentina. She is fond of saying she was born with a pencil in her hand. She loves to travel and, through colorful illustrations and animations, shares her experiences with everyone—and now with her own little one as well.