RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Kids can ask some tough questions and that's a good thing.  

If kids are going to make it spiritually in today's secular culture, they have to know "why" they believe what they believe. 

This video gives us a comical look at some of the tough questions kids can ask their spiritual leaders. 

According to a study, kids average asking 73 questions a day.  The biggest percentage is asked to a parent.

As a parent or children's ministry leader, it can be intimidating when you are faced with kids' hard questions.  So what should you do?  Here are some steps that can help you.

Welcome kids' tough questions.  Our prayer should be that our children will come to us when facing life's tough questions.  In fact, I encourage parents to be proactive and bring the hard questions to their kids. 

See it as an opportunity to help children cultivate a deep faith in God.  Working through the tough questions can be a pivotal moment in kids' lives.  It can help them grow spiritually and get a solid foundation for their future.  We don't want to wait until kids are in high school or college before they hear these type of questions.  Let's help them get the right answers now.

Don't be hesitant about saying "That's a great question.  Let me think about it and I will get back to you." You won't always have an answer in the moment.  But you can do some research and get back to them with the answer.

Dig in and find the answers.  This presents a great opportunity to grow and learn as a leader or parent.  Do the research and be prepared to come back with solid, Biblical answers.

The primary people kids will bring the hard questions to will be their parents.  We must help parents see that parenting is more about relationship than rules.  If their children know their parents love them deeply and want the best for them, they will continue to come to them with questions.

Help parents prepare for those hard questions.

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."  1 Peter 3:15

Help parents see that this will not be a one-time conversation.  Rather it will be an ongoing conversation and will help build trust and deepen your relationship.

Teach apologetics to kids.  The battle for the heart and soul of the next generation has moved down all the way into preschool.  I recently shared an article about Paw Patrol (popular show for preschoolers) introducing a "non-binary, transgender character."

I have created two apologetics teaching series for kids.  The series examine the hard questions and helps kids and parents find the right answers.  We can't wait until kids are in high school to teach them apologetics.  At a minimum we must start in the early elementary years. 

The series are called Myth Busting and Pranksters.  You can get more information and see lesson and video samples by clicking on this link.  These 4-week series can be used for small groups, Sunday school,  mid-week, retreats and more. 

We must always let our children know that our job is to teach and help them through life. And one of the best ways we can do this is by being open and honest when it comes to tough questions. 

Here are some of the tough questions that kids may ask.  Be prepared to answer these.

Who made God?

Why does God let bad things happen on earth?

Why do people die?  What happens when we die?

How come I can't see God? Is He invisible?

Where do babies come from? (parent only question)

Why does God let people do bad things?

How do we know the Bible is true?

I leave you with this verse:

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."  1 Peter 3:15

Don't you wish you had the wisdom of Solomon?  Don't you wish that you could easily explain the hard questions we are often confronted with?

Many people assume it is easy to answer kids' questions. Actually, it's quite the contrary.  Kids can ask some of the hardest questions every pondered.

Where did God come from?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

If God knew the devil would do evil things, why did He create Him?

What about kids who live in foreign lands and never hear about Jesus as they are growing up?  Will they go to heaven?

Why doesn't God stop things like tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis and earthquakes from happening?

How do we know the Bible is true?  What makes it different from other books?

These are all valid questions that we need to help kids find the answers to.  In fact, I wouldn't wait until they ask the questions. I would be proactive and seek out these types of questions to discuss with the kids.

You want this to happen now when they are younger.  If they hear these questions for the first time in a secular college classroom, the result will not be good. While they are young, we must help them question, search and find the answers to the hard questions.  

The battlefield for the next generation begins in elementary school now, not in high school. 

Our children's ministries should be a safe place where kids can ask anything.  A place where they can work with caring leaders to find the answers to the hard questions.  A place that empowers them to defend their faith.  A place where kids can be equipped to answer the hard questions.

Here are some ways you can help kids explore the hard questions and find the answers in God's Word.

Let your children's ministry be a place where anyone can ask anything without being made to feel like they don't believe or they are doubting God.

We all have questions at times.  Deep questions that make you ponder if what you have been told is really true.  

It's part of the discipleship journey.  Let kids know their hard questions are welcome. See it as a way to help them grow in their faith.

Be okay with saying "I don't know the answer to that.  But I will find the answer for you and we can talk about it next week."

Take time to do a deep dive and find out the answers that week. Present your findings to the kids the next week.

Be proactive and bring up the hard questions.  Let kids explore and find the answers.  You want them to get the answers to the questions now.

I am currently teaching the kids in my home church an apologetics series called "Pranksters."  The main thing I want them to understand is that people are going to try to prank them and say the Bible is not true.  When that happens, they need to know that the Bible is true and you can trust it completely. 

We are looking at some hard questions and together finding the answers.  We are even looking at some verses that atheists say contradict each other.  Here's a video clip from one of the lessons.

  I am also preparing to teach the kids a series called "Mythbusting."  We are exploring and answering these hard questions with the kids. 

Is God Real or Not?

Did we come from a big bang or not?

Is the Bible God's Word or not?

Is Jesus the Son of God or not?

Here is a video from this series.

If we do not teach kids apologetics while they are young, they will apologize for what we taught them when they are older.

These lesson series are available for you at this link. 

Kids will ask hard questions.  Be ready.