Do the children in your ministry really know who Jesus is?
A recent report by Ligonier Ministries says that 30% of Evangelicals do not believe that Jesus was God and 65% believe that Jesus was created by God.
Is this what we are passing down to the next generation? A faith that doesn't have a Biblical view of Jesus?
Wake up call. We need to teach the next generation who Jesus is. It's a "must know" doctrine.
We must teach kids that...
Jesus is God.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." John 1:1
"Before Abraham was, I am." John 8:58
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6
"For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one." I John 5:7
Jesus is the Creator.
"All things were made by Him." John 1:3
"For by Him [Jesus] all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him." Colossians 1:16
Jesus is the sustainer.
"The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word." Hebrews 1:3
Jesus is sinless.
"Who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth." 1 Peter 2:22
"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21
"For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15
Jesus was born of a virgin.
"Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." Luke 1:35
The humanity of Jesus.
"Who (Jesus), being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." Philippians 2:6-8
"The Word became flesh." John 1:14
Jesus died, was buried and rose again for our sins.
"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He as raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
"But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
Jesus is the only way to heaven.
"I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". John 14:6
"There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Take a look at your curriculum. Are you teaching kids about who Jesus is and what He has done for us? Are you teaching kids fluff or a clear understanding of the doctrine of who Jesus is?
It is crucial that we teach the next generation the doctrine of who Jesus is and what that means for them. It's our job to pass down to them a clear understanding of this.
They will face critics, skeptics and unbelievers who will try to convince them that Jesus was just a man.
We must get the teachings about Jesus into their life.
I want to challenge you to do this. Poll a few kids in your ministry and ask them some questions about Jesus. See how they do. I believe we need to spend more time teaching kids the doctrine of who Jesus is.
Their eternal destiny depends on what they believe about Jesus.
