Question

On a personal level, from what I have experienced at various churches, around the country, over the past 20 years, I have not been impressed with AWANA.  Mainly it is a time of games and snacks with very little Bible study. The Bible study that they give is usually very weak and short. I am not impressed with their gospel that is presented, especially when compared to what I understand the gospel to be (see below)--it has no call for repentance, it does not really define who Jesus claimed to be ("If you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." [John 8:24]), and does not call for submission to His commands. Even their doctrinal statement, when speaking of the Gospel, from (www.awana.org), has no reference to repentance or submission to Christ:

"We are saved and justified when we recognize ourselves as sinners, and put our trust in Christ as the Son of God and His finished work on the cross of Calvary......" (AWANA International).

AWANA tries to get little children to "say the prayer" and then they claim them as Christians, which I personally believe misleads a young child into believing that they are saved, when they are not--which is a very dangerous situation. In addition, I noted that AWANA International boasts that having an AWANA program is good for it "gives the adult church members something to do"--but is what they are doing in AWANA really pleasing to Christ. I personally believe that young children can understand the truths about the Gospel and the Bible, and do not need a watered-down and incomplete version. 

I hope this helps, again it is my opinion based on my personal experience with AWANA.  We have six children, and after seeing what AWANA was, elected not to have our children participate, and just continued to teach the children at home during family Bible studies conducted by my wife and I.

Sin is something in me (bad thoughts, lying, stealing, disobedience, pride, cheating, etc.). God hates sin. We can't hide it from Him. Sin leads to eternal separation from God in hell.  Gods Word says: ... all have sinned ... Romans 3:23; For the wages of sin is death ... Romans 6:23

WHAT SHALL I DO ABOUT MY SIN?

Can I give God something nice to make Him forget it? How about going to Sunday School, church, or Awana, or praying, or getting baptized, or other good deeds? NO! God says: Not by [good works] which we have done ... Titus 3:5

God gave His Son to be my Savior. God put Jesus on a cross to die for my sin in my place.  "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

IT HAPPENED AT THE CROSS

Jesus paid for all my sin by dying, shedding His blood, and rising from the grave and going back to heaven. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God ..." 1 Peter 3:18

Believing is trusting what God did for me. When I believe that His death was for me, He gives me eternal life. Will you believe (trust) now that Jesus died in your place? Will you accept Him as your Savior? If you have, tell Him what you have done.  "... as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name ..." John 1:12

I KNOW THIS GIFT IS MINE ...

I want to thank Him for it now. God says: "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish ..." John 10:28  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  John 3:16

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "Tony Capoccia's Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 119
Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
Websites: www.biblebb.com and www.gospelgems.com
Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986