August 25, 2024— It is clear in the Holy Bible that parents are tasked with teaching their kids about God, His Law, and His Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. When God gave commandments in Deuteronomy, God commands the Israelites, “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Moreover, Proverbs 22:6 reminds us why it is necessary to train our children:
“Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
By keeping God’s commandments close to heart, we are less likely to fall into the traps of the enemy, Satan. To do this, you must know the Holy Bible, and have a relationship with the Holy Spirit. Study your Holy Bible regularly and keep it close. When reading, understand the whole picture, and do not take verses out of context. The Holy Spirit is a person and a part of God and Jesus. He is also within you when you accept Jesus Christ (John 14:26). Therefore, the Holy Spirit is also a person.
But how do we explain such complex principles to our youngest children? For one, we need to lead by example. No matter who you are, your child will pick up your good and bad habits from the people closest to them—friends, family, teachers, peers, you name it. Let them see you reading the Holy Bible so they understand, and contemplate that “This is important. This is what we do.” Then, teach your blessed kids about praying. Teaching kids about Jesus is not difficult, but it must be truthful and engaging.
One point I want to emphasize is that bible stories are not fictional. They truly happened and the people mentioned were real (and are real in the case of Jesus). As you dive into Noah’s Ark, the parting of the Red Sea, David and Goliath, and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, stress that these events occurred thousands of years before modern-day. Some youth thought these were just stories rather than real events. With these things said, here are some methods to teach kids about Jesus:
Pray: Before reading the Bible (in general and with your kids), pray. Ask God for guidance on what you should read. Invite the Holy Spirit to teach you what you are about to read. Read aloud. If your children can already read, let me read the passages aloud.
Encourage Questions and Dialogue: Ensure your child is engaged in the Holy Bible. Ask them questions to ensure they understand the passage. Emphasize the point of the passage. At the same time, you should allow them to ask you questions.
Critical Thinking: Proverbs 14:15 tells us to think critically, “The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.” Listening to what somebody or something is telling us is not enough. You must prepare yourself with knowledge of the Holy Bible.
Teach Apologetics: Apologetics is necessary for every Christian. You never know when and where you will be engaged in controversial subjects, and in the case of children, you do not know what kinds of questions they will ask. Teach the Holy Bible and the truth, which sets you free (Jonh 8:38). Understand the historical events and archeological evidence. This is where apologetics comes in, using scripture and real-world evidence to discuss points during dialogues.
Who is Jesus? Teach your children about Jesus. As Christians, we know He is the Son of God (1 John 5:20) and sits on the throne of God (Revelation 22:1). Jesus came in the flesh (John 1:14), was resurrected in the flesh (Luke 24:39), and ascended in the flesh. Jesus was in the flesh when He went to Mount Olives after He was resurrected for forty days (Acts 1:9). We also acknowledge that Jesus is the truth, the way, and the life (John 14:6).
Join us over the next few weeks as we focus on articles for youth ministry!
Accepting Jesus
Jesus Christ was and is the Word of God in the flesh, who was born of a virgin birth, fulfilling biblical prophecy (Isaiah 7:14). By the age of 30, Jesus Christ was baptized, and witnesses said they saw the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) descend on Him like a dove (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32). Jesus began His ministry throughout the area of Galilee and Judah. Three years later, He was crucified on the cross. Three days later, He was resurrected. Jesus Christ remained in His resurrected body for 40 Days and was seen by hundreds of witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Afterward, Jesus ascended to heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of God and advocates for us.
Why did Jesus Christ do all these things? Jesus paid your wages on the cross when He said, “It is finished.” (John 19:30). Jesus meant that He paid your debt for your sin. “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23). Anyone who confesses Jesus with their mouth is saved (Romans 10:9) from the wrath of God and is promised eternal life. Without Jesus, everyone would go to hell when we die because no one is free of sins (1 Kings 8:46 and Romans 3:23) except Jesus Christ.
Maybe no one has asked you to accept Jesus as your savior. Perhaps you never understood why Jesus was necessary for your salvation. But today is your chance to accept Him as your savior by saying this prayer aloud:
God, I confess that Jesus came in the flesh and blood, paid the price for my sins, died on the cross, rose on the third day, ascended to the heavens, and sent the Holy Spirit to help me understand Your ways. For that, I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord, and I welcome the Holy Spirit in my life. In Jesus’s name I pray, amen!
Welcome to the Christian family!
Comments