What Should We Teach Our Kids?

“I tell you the truth, anyone who does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15 NLT

This scripture tells me that childhood is the time that God designed for us to receive the Gospel. Children have hearts that are sensitive to the Holy Spirit. They are created with a nature to believe.

I love what Charles Haddon Spurgeon says in his book Ministering To Children about this scripture:

“Say not, the child may not come till he is like a man, but know that you cannot come till you are like him.  It is no difficulty in the child’s way that he is not like you; the difficulty is with you, that you are not like the child.  Instead of the child needing to wait until he grows up and becomes a man, it is the man who must grow down and become like a child.“

Some people say that we should not try to influence kids with spiritual things because kids are so easily influenced. They reason, let the kids grow up and then they can make a decision for Christ.

This is a huge mistake.

It’s true that children are easily influenced. They are going to be influenced one way or the other, so we should put all of our efforts to influencing them for good.

God created children with soft hearts so that we could influence them with the Gospel.

We should present the Gospel on a regular basis to the kids in our class. Salvation is not the only subject we should teach, but it is the most important.

If a child receives Christ we should make a big deal about it.

• Figure out some way to celebrate their spiritual birthday.

• Create a book or tract to put in their hands immediately after they pay.

• Take time to communicate with parents that their child received Christ.

Kids are so sensitive sometimes they will come forward a second time receive Christ, but I only pray with them one time.

I ask them, “Have you asked Jesus in your heart before?” If they have already received Christ I do not pray with them a second time. I confirm that they are already saved and that Jesus will never leave them. I want the kids in my class to be confident in their salvation experience.

Next time you see that child make sure to connect with them. Tell them that you are proud of them for making a commitment to Jesus Christ. Reaffirm their salvation experience every time you get the opportunity.

It is also important that your lessons teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and not just moral lessons, good ideas and games.  The gospel will change people’s lives when they hear it, kids and adults.