3 Object Lessons to Explain the Trinity to Kids

The Trinity is one of the key doctrines that kids need to know about. 

But how do you explain the Trinity to a child?  It's a deep, complex doctrine that's hard enough for us to grasp as adults, much less for children to grasp it as well.  

Here are 3 practical ways you can explain the Trinity to children.

Start by reading at least two of these scriptures.

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."  2 Corinthians 13:14

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6

"I and the Father are one.”  John 10:30

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).  Matthew 1:23

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."  Matthew 28:19

"For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement."     1 John 5:7-8

So although God is three distinct persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, He is also only one unified Godhead. 

Explain that God has manifested or shown Himself in three different ways - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Then use these simple object lessons to help them visually get a picture of what these verses are saying.

The Banana

  • Peel a banana. 
  • Remove the top and bottom points so the banana is flat.
  • Take your thumb and gently push down on the top of the banana.  
  • The banana will begin to divide into 3 different parts. 
  • It is one banana that has 3 different parts. 
  • The Trinity is like this - there are 3 distinct parts of God that together make up God.
The Egg 
  • Break an egg open. 
  • You will see it has 3 different parts. The shell, the yolk and the white.
  • Together these three parts make up one egg. 
  • The Trinity is like this - 3 parts that together make up one God.
Water
  • Show the kids a glass of water.
  • Water can take 3 forms.  As a solid, H20 (water) is ice.  As a liquid it's water.  In a gaseous state, it's steam.  
  • Regardless of which form it takes, it is still H20.
  • The Trinity is like this - one God who manifests (shows) Himself in 3 different ways.
It's crucial that we teach kids these and other doctrines.  They need to be able to articulate and explain why they believe what they believe.
 
Your turn.  Share with us an illustration for the Trinity or other doctrines.