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Theo: from Whitestone Media. "Through fun and engaging storytelling, Theo teaches children God’s word and how they ought to live in light of it. Enjoy the stories and lessons of Theo, a student of Godʼs Word. Our animated series guides children and adults through a careful study of systematic theology, capturing the attention of young minds with humor and engaging animation.
You’ll get to know Theo, who lives in a cozy corner of a quaint English village, and his two mouse friends, Luther and Belfry. Theo discusses topics such as the doctrines of salvation, Godʼs character, the Bible, and Godly living in a way that make children want to learn more about the Christian faith. Plus, Luther and Belfry always seem to find themselves in a fun adventure! Theo was created to reach kids of all ages."

Here is a review of this well-done animated series that explores systematic theology in a way children will understand: https://www.thegospelcoalition...logy-little-children

The sample video available online is engaging and thoughtful. 

Here is a list of the topics covered in the five videos (https://www.theopresents.com/products/dvd-bundle):

Godʼs Desire (Volume 5)

  • Episode 14: Fruit of the Spirit (approx. 11 mins.)
  • Episode 15: Salvation (approx. 11 mins.)
  • Episode 16: Love Thy Neighbor (approx. 10 mins.)
  • Bonus episode: The Good News (approx. 5 mins.)

Bonus Features:

  • "Love Never Fails" Lyric Video
  • Conversation with Ellie Holcomb
  • Director Commentary with Mike Joens

Total Running Time: Approx. 42 mins.

Godʼs Truth (Volume 4)

  • Episode 11: Abiding in Christ (approx. 9 mins.)
  • Episode 12: Light Unto My Path (approx. 11 mins.)
  • Episode 13: What is the Church? (approx. 10 mins.)
  • Bonus episode: The Good News (approx. 5 mins.)

Bonus Features:

  • Introduction to Theo’s Home Edition
  • Director Commentary with Mike Joens

Total Running Time: Approx. 35 mins.

Godʼs Heart (Volume 3)

  • Episode 7: Justification (approx. 10 mins.)
  • Episode 8: Adoption (approx. 10 mins.)
  • Episode 9: A Day in Prayer (approx. 9 mins.)
  • Bonus episode: The Good News (approx. 5 mins.)

Bonus Features:

  • Character Design with Len Simon
  • Director Commentary with Mike Joens

Total Running Time: Approx. 77 mins.

Godʼs Grace (Volume 2)

  • Episode 4: Armor of God (approx. 10 mins.)
  • Episode 5: Redemption (approx. 10 mins.)
  • Episode 6: New Birth (approx. 9 mins.)
  • Bonus episode: The Good News (approx. 5 mins.)

Bonus Features:

  • Theoʼs Fireplace
  • From Pencil to Pixel
  • Slideshow of Background Art
  • Overview of Shoebox Bible Theatre

Total Running Time: Approx. 55 mins.

God's Love (Volume 1)

  • Episode 1: Saving Faith (approx. 9 mins.)
  • Episode 2: Loving Obedience (approx. 9 mins.)
  • Episode 3: Forgiveness (approx. 10 mins.)
  • Bonus episode: The Good News (approx. 5 mins.)

Bonus Features:

  • Animation Basics (approx. 70 mins.)
  • A Chat with Mike Joens, the Creator of Theo (approx. 5 mins.)

Total Running Time: Approx. 110 mins

Study guides for each volume have good discussion questions, and also list which scripture is covered in each episode, making it useful for rotation lessons. https://www.theopresents.com/pages/parent-guides

 

Original Post

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List of scripture references for each Theo episode (from the parent guides). The guides also include a summary of what happens in each episode.

Volume 1

  • Episode 1: Genesis 12-22 (story of Abraham)
    Romans 4:3 (Abraham’s righteousness)
    Galatians 3:6-9 (faithful are blessed)
  • Episode 2: John 14:23 (if we love Jesus, we’ll obey him)
    Ephesians 6:1 (obey your parents)
    1 John 3:24 (obey God’s commandments)
    John 15:10 (Jesus obeyed God)
  • Episode 3: Matthew 18:21-35 (Parable of the Unforgiving Servant)
    Matthew 6:14 (forgiving and being forgiven)
    Luke 17:3 (forgiving those who ask)
    Revelation 14:6 (Church is universal)
    Luke 7:47 (the one forgiven much, loves much)

 

Volume 2

  • Episode 4: Ephesians 6:10-18 (armor of God)
    Romans 13:12 (armor of light)
    Hebrews 4:12 (Word of God is a double-edged sword)
    1 Peter 5:8 (Satan like a roaring lion)
  • Episode 5: Romans 6 (no longer slaves to sin)
    Hebrews 9:12 (redemption through Christ)
    Colossians 1:14 (saved from darkness)
    Psalm 19:14 (pleasing God)
    1 Peter 1:18 (eternal salvation)
  • Episode 6: John 3:1-15 (story of Nicodemus)
    Romans 6:4-8 (we live with Christ)
    2 Corinthians 4:6 (light of the knowledge of Christ)
    Titus 3:3-5 (God’s mercy)
    1 Peter 1:23 (born again of imperishable seed)
    1 John 5:3-4 (everyone born of God overcomes the world)

 

Volume 3:

  • Episode 7: Romans 3:23 (all fall short of God’s glory)
    Romans 8:10 (Spirit is life)
    Luke 18: 9-14 (the Pharisee and the Tax Collector)
    Galatians 2:16 (not justified by works)
    James 2:14-22 (works are evidence of saving faith, justification)
  • Episode 8: Romans 8:15-23 (adopted heirs of God)
    Galatians 3:25-26 (faith in Christ)
    Colossians 1:14 (saved from darkness)
    Galatians 4:6-7 (help of the Spirit)
    1 Peter 1:3-5 (imperishable inheritance)
  • Episode 9: Matthew 6:9-13 (Lord’s Prayer)
    John 14:13 (whatever is asked, He will do)
    1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (pray without ceasing)
    Psalm 7:17 (praise the Lord)
    Matthew 7:7-11 (ask and it will be given)

 

Volume 4:

  • Episode 11: John 15:1-10 (Abiding in Christ)
    Acts 13:4-14:28 (1st missionary journey)
    Acts 15:39-18:22 (2nd)
    Acts 18:23-21:17 (3rd)
    2 Corinthians 11:23-27 (Paul’s list of sufferings)
  • Episode 12: Psalm 119:105 (God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet)
    John 8:12 (Jesus is the Light of the world)
    2 Timothy 3:16 (All Scripture is God-breathed)
    2 Kings 22:1-23:30 (Story of King Josiah)
  • Episode 13: Matthew 18:20 (where two or more are gathered)
    1 Corinthians 12:12-20 (Church is the Body of Christ)
    John 4:23-24 (true worshippers worship God in spirit & truth)
    Revelation 14:6 (Church is universal)
    1 Corinthians 1:26-30 (Church is comprised of people from all walks of life)

 

Volume 5:

  • Episode 14: Galatians 5:19-21 (works of the flesh)
    Galatians 5:22-23 (Fruit of the Spirit)
    Romans 6:4; also 8:13-15 (walk in newness of life)
    Matthew 7:16-20 (bad fruit, good fruit)
    Ephesians 5:8-10 (fruit of the light)
  • Episode 15: Luke 15:8-10 (parable of the lost coin)
    Luke 15:1-7 (parable of the lost sheep)
    1 Peter 1:8-9 (salvation, the goal of faith)
    Titus 2:11 (by grace we are saved)
    Luke 2:29-30 (Simeon sees Jesus, the salvation of the Lord) 
  • Episode 16: John 4:1-42 (Jesus and Samaritan woman)
    Romans 12:18 (if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men)
    Luke 10:25-37 (Parable of the Good Samaritan)
    Matthew 22:34-40 (love your neighbor as yourself)
    Matthew 5:43-48 (love for enemies) 

 

Theo, Bumper, Luther and Belfry

 

Good find Amy!

Looks like you can only preview ONE of their videos online in its entirety -the one you embededed above in your post.  It has high quality animation and production values, and kid-friendly content. I'm sure many here at Rotation.org will find them useful.  

However, being that this is a "systematic theology" series for kids, and being that we can't see all the videos, I am left to wonder whether or not my church could use them. My reading about their funding source only reinforces that concern.

To wit: Like every other video source up here, it is important to preview and discuss with the church pastor anything that may seem "off" or out-of-step with your congregation's point of view. 

From what I can see...
The production company is UK/USA, and the funding looks like it has come from the Gospel Coalition, an international organization of conservative "Reformed" evangelical persons and churches.  Thus, the Coalition is likely the source of the systematic theology as well.

The Gospel Coalition may be in line with your church's theology, and if so, have at it!  ...But it wouldn't be in line with mine. 

I myself FREQUENTLY use and recommend videos produced by conservative groups ! ---but I preview them and note where "our church" may say it differently.   And being that the THEO series is about doctrine for kids, my yellow flag is up

I don't know the extent to which the Coalition's theological POV may be tucked into the videos in this series, but I assume it is "often," and here's an example of why that might concerns me and my Presbyterian brethren. The Gospel Coalition's "belief" statements look normal to conservative and/or evangelical churches, but several things in them would be unacceptable to me and mine. For example, their statement on husbands and wives reveals a 19th Century patriarchal mindset:  "the husband exercising headship in a way that displays the caring, sacrificial love of Christ, and the wife submitting to her husband in a way that models the love of the church for her Lord."  No surprise, then, that their "Council" (Board) is composed of over a dozen people all of whom are male. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/about/council.   (Of course, Rotation.org is all female, but I digress  

To what extent there are theological landmines in the Theo series, I cannot tell, but I assume there are some. I hope others who use them will tell us! 

Thanks for digging a little deeper, Neil. I couldn't find more excerpts to preview either, which is disappointing.

The videos don't seem prohibitively expensive ($55 for the five volume set currently). But it is not clear how much the Bible stories that support the systematic theology are focused on in each episode to even support  a lesson  on that story.

Otherwise, they become something more appropriate for topical lessons than for rotation workshops. But worth a look for evangelical/conservative/reformed congregations studying systematic theology with young children.  

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