Little Pilgrim's Progress Guide for Children: Learn About the Bad Places
A modern guide of "Bad Guy Places' that Christian encounters in Little Pilgrim's Progress.
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Little Pilgrim's Big Journey is written for children ages 2 -12
Based on John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, an incredible story that has moved the hearts of countless generations of Christians journeying to heaven as pilgrims in this fallen world.
Little Pilgrim's Big Journey: Pilgrim's Progress for Kids is available in a boxed set. The set comes in two parts. Part One follows a little boy named Christian who becomes aware of his burden (sin) and flees the city of destruction. We accompany Christian as he enters the narrow gate to start his journey to the Celestial City (heaven).
Part Two of the boxed set is a story about the siblings Christian left behind in the City of Destruction. The story starts with Christiana, Eli, and Jude dealing with the aftermath of Christian's departure. This book is written from the perspective of Christiana and will be an excellent resource for parents with little girls.
Buy Little Pilgrims Progress
If you don't already own the boxed set, visit Big Sky Life Books and order it now. Free domestic shipping is included.
Little Pilgrim's Progress For Kids Guide
- Learn about the Good Places
- Meet the Good Guys
- Meet 15 Worldly People
- Learn About the Bad Places
- Meet the Bad Guys
- Christian's Armor of God Explained
Guide of 'Bad Guy' Places in Little Pilgrim's Progress
Valley of Humiliation
Giant Despair represents all the doubt, guilt, and despair that sometimes bubble up in our hearts and minds.
How to get rid of doubt: Just like Christian, when you believe and repent, your burdens fall. However, then it’s easy to became unsure and start to disbelieve what happened. You may start questioning the Lord and how He sent His son Jesus to die on the cross for you. You need to focus on the Lord and have faith that everything written in the Bible is God's authoritative word. Always come back to the Bible. Open the Bible and read God's word. It will strengthen you and cut through the doubt and other lies Satan tells you.
Talk about:
- God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)
- I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)
- Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
Valley of the Shadow of Death
The Valley of the Shadow of Death represents the narrow path that you’re on as a Christian. Think of it as a narrow path; if you were to slip off on either side, you would fall into a deep canyon. On one side, you would tumble back into sin; on the other, you would fall into a hole where fear and guilt would overcome you.
Think about:
We’re all sinners, even when we’re saved. The old sin in us wants to do all the wrong things and fall back into our sinful ways. Therefore, you must battle those old ways and stay focused on Jesus. You must repent of your sins often, obey God, trust Him, and realize He has a mission for you even though it can be tough to walk a narrow path that is as dangerous as the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
Talk about:
- Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psalms 23:4)
- When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. (Isaiah 43:2)
- The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. (Psalms 116:3)
Vanity Fair
The town of Vanity Fair represents all this world has to offer. This town hosts a year-round fair. It’s the oldest fair in the world and offers everyone temptations, delights, and pleasures.
Be warned! Most of the pleasures and delights are meant to weaken your faith. Although not everything the fair offers is wrong, it can all be corrupted if you make an idol out of delight or pleasure.
Think about:
The fair will slow you down; its purpose is to wholly stop you from following Jesus Christ as His disciple. The Devil is hard at work, trying to lure you into activities and alluring prizes that keep you busy and turn your focus from God.
Here's the thing, kids: None of it is meaningful. Nothing at the Fair comes close to what Jesus can offer you: salvation for your soul. Don't let what the world offers you impress you because in the end it's all just vanity.
Look to Jesus and Jesus alone for all your needs. Delight in God, do His will, obey Him and glorify Him. Our treasures are in the Celestial City (Heaven).
Talk about:
- Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
- No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
- Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
Doubting Castle
The Doubting Castle represents the doubts, misgivings, negativity, and potential depression that we all sometimes experience.
Think about:
You may have been saved, repented of your sins, and be well on your journey to the Celestial City (Heaven). But then a time may come when you start to think deeply about your sins, feel terrible about yourself, and imagine that God doesn't love you anymore.
Guilt and sadness start to creep into your thoughts and feelings. Doubt can set in and make you question whether the Lord loves you or whether salvation (the scroll Christian carries) is forever.
Don't worry; God has promised that once He saves you, no one can ever take your salvation from you. Take a look at the Bible verses below; I hope you’ll be encouraged.
Talk about:
- And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31)
- Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10)
- Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
Enchanted Ground
The Enchanted Ground can be compared to someone sleepwalking at night. You might be walking around your house, but you’re just wandering around; you’re not accomplishing anything.
If you become “sleepy” and start sleepwalking your way through life, it means you stop living a God-centered life because everything feels like the same thing over and over.
Think about:
Does it feel like day in and day out you do the same thing? You go to school. You hang out on the weekends. You go to church, where you sing the same songs and talk about the same things every Sunday.
When you feel this way, your journey as a Christian could slowly start to feel routine and boring. This mindset can happen when you stop reading the Bible or make your life as easy as possible and don't try challenging things like talking to others about Jesus and what He has done for all of us.
What can you do to stop sleepwalking through life like a zombie and start living a life in service of the King? Read your Bible. Talk with your parents about what is going on in your life every day. Share how you apply God's word to your life. Ask your mom or dad how they stay committed to being an active soldier in God's army. (If your mom and dad are not saved, have passed away, or are not around, find adult Christians from your community or church with whom you can talk openly.)
Talk about:
- Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death; (Psalms 13:3)
- How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:9-11)
- Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:6)
Dark River Called Death
The Dark River Called Death represents death. We all have to die at some point. Are you ready?
Think about:
Have you ever seen a big river? Some rivers are enormous and deep; the current is so fast that it can pull you in suddenly. That’s scary, isn't it? You always have to be careful when playing around the riverbank. Well, one day (hopefully far, far from now), you’ll have to cross the River of Death.
None of us know when we’re going to die, so we should always be spiritually prepared. Are you prepared? Have you thought about what will happen when you stand before God’s judgement seat? If you haven’t repented of your sins and asked Jesus Christ to forgive you, then don't wait! Don't sit on it. Ask God to open your eyes that you may see the sin in your heart.
If any of this is scary to you, I have the best news ever! Guess what has been a headline for thousands of years? Once you’re saved (remember Christian's scroll?), you can never be lost. So, when your turn comes (again, probably in the far distant future) to cross the River of Death, you’ll get over it with no problem and enter Celestial City’s (Heaven’s) gates.
Isn’t that amazing news? I hope to see you in the Celestial City (Heaven), and we can both sing praises to God for eternity.
Talk about:
- being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6)
- When the waves of death surrounded me, The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. (2 Samuel 22:5-6)
Summary
Parents, I hope you found this modern guide on the 'Bad Places' in Little Pilgrim's Progress helpful in preparing your kids for their journey as little Christians.
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