5 Ideas for Teaching the Gospel to Young Kids
By Ginger Blomberg, TGC.
I vividly remember taking my youngest daughter to a zoo when she was about 20 months old and telling her, “When we walk around this next corner, you’re going to see the biggest land animal in the whole world!” We stepped past the trees, and there was an elephant right in front of us, with its trunk raised in salute.
My daughter’s eyes grew wide with amazement, admiration, and maybe a little fear as she pointed in wordless wonder at the gigantic creature. “Guess what?” my husband said to her. “God is even more awesome than that.”
There are a million ways to point young kids to God. Every day is full of opportunities. But how can we take it a step further and help them begin to understand the gospel? Here are five general principles that worked for my husband and me as we raised our five kids through the little years.
1. Read the Word.
Long before preschoolers can read the Bible on their own, we can introduce them to God’s Word. Children can memorize Scripture, especially if the words are set to music or accompanied by hand motions. Little ones may not comprehend all they recite, but they’re still hiding the Word in their hearts (Ps. 119:11).
The Bible contains exciting stories in addition to words of truth and life. Baby Moses in the river, Daniel in the lion’s den, and the birth of Christ are all gripping narratives for kids. Picture books can be excellent resources for accessible Bible stories and theology, but don’t shy away from reading stories straight from the Bible (just review the gruesome bits beforehand!).
Your audience may not understand the context of Israelite history or the covenantal arc, but as Paul explained, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). Even young children can learn to love God’s Word in a way that prepares them to seek it out on their own as they grow.
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