Teaching Your Kids About Jesus: 7 Practical Methods to Help Children Grow Spiritually
As a parent, you want to make sure that your kids have a strong understanding of Jesus Christ and the Bible. But teaching them about faith can be a daunting task. It’s important to start early, and use age-appropriate methods to help them learn and grow in their faith. In this blog post, we will discuss some easy tips that will help your kids learn about Jesus and the Bible!
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
It’s never too early to introduce your children to Jesus and the Bible. Reading Bible stories together is a great way to start teaching them about faith from an early age. For younger children, look for board books with simple illustrations that tell stories from the Bible. And for older kids, there are plenty of kid-friendly versions of the Bible that are written in a language they can understand. You can also find books written specifically for young adults that cover topics like prayer, forgiveness, and living a life of service.
1. Read Bible Stories Together
Start teaching your kids about Jesus and the Bible by reading stories straight from the Bible. Choose age-appropriate stories that will help them understand the basics of faith. Depending on their age you can get them a storybook Bible which can be very fun and helpful for little ones. If your children are a little older, you can have them read the Bible stories to you. Relate those stories back to everyday life to help them understand better.
My daughter and I always enjoy cuddling up on the couch together on Saturdays to read from the Bible. We started with a storybook Bible when she was younger. Now that she’s older she enjoys reading from the Bible to me. I always take time after our reading time to ask my daughter questions about what we read to make sure she understood. That usually leads to questions she has and I love that she feels comfortable asking.
2. Talk To Them About Jesus
Talking to your kids about Jesus doesn’t have to be a difficult conversation. By ensuring an open dialogue with them, you’re providing opportunities for meaningful discussion around faith. You can talk about Jesus in everyday life – it’s simply being aware of those moments and seizing them. Furthermore, asking questions invites curiosity, and seeking answers shows the importance you place on living a faithful life.
No matter what your kids do, Jesus will always be with them and loves them. Tell them this, and remind them of it often. This is a message that they will need to hear as they grow up and face challenges in life. Let them know that Jesus is always there for them, no matter what.
3. Encourage Them To Pray
Although praying is often seen as something we do at mealtimes, it’s actually a constant conversation with God that should take place all throughout the day. Talk to your children about how important praying is and help them to formulate their own prayers. Throughout the day, whenever something pops up–whether good or bad–pray about it together. Praying together will help to make it part of their daily routine and give them a better understanding of faith.
I often take time when we’re out and about doing errands to pray with my daughter. Taking time to pray together helps to show your children that prayer can be about anything. God just wants to hear from us, He just wants to have a relationship with us. We pray about safe travels (even to the grocery store), about keeping us calm before stressful situations, and we pray praise when something wonderful happens. The more we pray together, the more my daughter has become comfortable praying.
4. Lead By Example
The best way to teach your kids about Jesus is by living a life of faith yourself. Make sure you’re teaching them how to pray and how to live according to the teachings of the Bible. Monkey see monkey do isn’t just a saying, as most parents know. Our children will copy us, even when we don’t want them to. So set your best foot forward and don’t just teach them about Jesus, but live for Him.
Your kids need to see you living out your own faith if they’re going to take their own beliefs seriously. Talk with your kids about how you apply scriptures in your life; share stories of how God has worked through you and others in times of difficulty; and talk about how you pray and why it’s important. When your kids see you living out your faith, it will make it easier for them to do the same.
5. Memorize Bible Verses Together
One of the most impactful ways to teach kids about Jesus is to recite Bible verses together. Find brief verses such as “do not be afraid,” “love your neighbor,” “trust in God,” etc., and come up with some motions for younger children to remember them easier. This will help them internalize God’s message, even at a young age.
Learning to memorize scripture can be so beneficial for your children. Memorizing scripture can help children learn about Jesus and grow in their faith. Plus, when they are facing challenges in life, it can provide comfort and guidance.
6. Take Them To Church
Taking your kids to church is an important way for them to learn about Jesus and the importance of faith. Have them participate in age-appropriate activities, talk to them about the sermon and make sure they understand the importance of the church. Hearing about Jesus from multiple people can be helpful in your child’s spiritual growth.
Depending on their age you may decide to keep them in the Sunday School Children’s services vs the “Big” service. That’s perfectly fine. They are still learning about Jesus, building their spirituality, and learning to get along with others.
If your children are a bit older then let them sit in on a regular church service or two. They may find a part of the service that they really enjoy. (My daughter loves the worship time.) You can also take the time after service to discuss what you learned with your children. This can help them understand the message better and will help them feel included.
7. Tailor Your Teaching To Your Child And Keep It Fun
You know your children best. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to teaching your children about Jesus. The message is the same, but the way they will learn it may be different. Know your child, and tailor your teaching to your child’s best learning method.
Maybe your child is artistic and does better listening while coloring. Get them some Bible coloring books so they can color along as you read the Word.
Your child may learn better with examples they can compare to their own experiences. This is where teaching about Jesus through stories, such as parables and bible stories, can help.
Maybe your child needs to see it in action. Take them out into the community and serve. Show them how you live a life of faith through your actions.
Some children are kinesthetic learners, which means they learn best by touching or doing rather than just listening. To help these kids understand more easily, find some hands-on object lessons. Try this one from Ministry Minded Mom about Jesus washing away the sins of the World.
Kids learn better when they’re having fun! Look for activities that can help reinforce lessons from the Bible such as coloring pages or crafts based on stories or verses from scripture. You can also find online games that focus on biblical themes or memory verses. These activities will help keep your kids engaged while still teaching them important lessons about faith.
Finally, teaching your kids about Jesus and the Bible doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With these tips, you can confidently introduce them to faith in an age-appropriate way that will help them grow in their knowledge of God and His Word. And remember – teaching kids about faith should always be fun.
These are just a few tips to help you teach your kids about Jesus and the Bible. As a parent, it’s important to start teaching them about faith early and use age-appropriate methods to help them learn and grow in their faith. With these tips, teaching your kids about Jesus and the Bible can be a fun and rewarding experience.
Teaching your children about Jesus Christ and the Bible doesn’t have to be difficult or overwhelming! With some patience and creativity, you can introduce them to these concepts at an early age using age-appropriate methods and activities. Spend time reading bible stories together, look for fun activities that reinforce key teachings from scripture, and remember to lead by example by talking openly with your children about how you live out your faith every day. By doing these things, you will set up a strong foundation for them as they continue learning more about Jesus Christ throughout their lives.
