RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

2020 is here.  A new decade of ministry is opening its door for us.

In the last decade, there has been unheralded changes in our culture and the world we live in.

If we are going to reach and disciple the next generation, we can't continue with business as usual.  We must make some strategic changes if we are going to make an impact in the coming decade.

I have identified five strategic shifts that need to happen in 2020 if we are going to be effective. 

Shift #1 - Change our process for sharing the Gospel with children and their parents.

I'm thankful for children's ministry leaders who lead children to Christ.  It is exciting to see a child come to Christ, isn't it.

But, for me, it's even more exciting when parents lead their children to Christ.

Somewhere along the way, many ministries decided to take that privilege out of the hands of parents.

It kinda' looks like this - when parents come to pick up their children at the end of a service or class, they are informed that their child invited Jesus into his or her life.  I've been there and seen this happen many, many times.  And to be honest, when I first started in ministry, that was my mode of operation.

But over the years, I gradually swung to the mode of operation being coming alongside parents and encouraging and equipping them to led their child to Jesus.  As you think about this, it is interesting when you see these stats...

According to Barna research, among people who embraced Christ before their teen years...

• 50% were led to Christ by their parents
• 20% were led to Christ by some other friend or relative
• 7% were led to Christ by a minster's personal prompting
• 1 in 8 cite a special event as the time they accepted Jesus (50% of the 1 in 8 said the "special event" was a church service)
• 1% were led to Christ through media evangelism or other special situations

Notice that half of the children who have accepted Christ were lead to Him by their parents.  In a local church setting, this tells me that we need to turn our focus to equipping parents to lead their children to Jesus.

Here's what that can look like inside a local church.  Instead of trying to lead children to Christ in a Bible study or kids' worship service, share the Gospel with kids and then give parents the responsibility of leading their children to Christ.

One of the most effective ways to do this is to share the Gospel and have kids who want to accept Jesus to let you know.  Next, invite those children and their parents to a class where you have time to clearly explain to both what it means to become a follower of Jesus.  At the end of the class, give parents the opportunity to pray a prayer of salvation with their children.  Or if the child is not ready at that moment, then give parents the tools they need to continue the conversation at home.

Do this and you will see God move in an incredible way in the hearts of children and their parents.  Because here is what happens, when parents hear the clear Gospel presentation, many of them will come to Christ as well.

I created a class for this ministry approach.  It is called Starting Point and I have personally seen hundreds of children and their parents come to Christ through this.  In fact, in one year, I saw over 460 children come to Christ and dozens of their parents as well.  Every one of them went through this class together.  Every one of them took the next step after salvation and were baptized.

If you'd like more information about the Starting Point class, you can get it at this link.  It comes with a complete follow-up guide for parents whose children are ready to make a commitment to follow Jesus.  It also comes with student booklets, parent booklets, media elements and lots of hands on experiences and activities that helps kids and their parents understand the Gospel.

It is a powerful class that can change the entire direction of kids and their parents.  Why is it powerful?  Because it is centered on the Gospel.

Paul said this in Romans 1:16...



Shift #2 - Aggressively go after feedback.  If we want to see our ministries improve and grow, then we must tap into the ideas and changes that can come from feedback. 

But for many ministries, the only feedback they get is when someone is complaining about something.  And even then, many ministries don't take the time to analyze and use the feedback to make their ministry better.

When it comes to feedback, a strategic move is to not wait for feedback to come to you, but rather to go after and gather the feedback yourself. 

This can be done through online surveys, email, phone calls, etc.  But I believe the most strategic way you can get feedback is through focus groups.  Here's what I mean.

Invite 10 parents whose children are in your ministry to come and give you feedback. Make sure the group is diverse...parents who have been in your church for a long time...parents who are brand new to your church...single parents, etc.

Below are examples of the questions you can ask them. Then take their answers and dialogue and work through it with your team. Parent Focus groups are a strategic way to help take your ministry to a new level. 

• What expectations do you have for the children's ministry?
• What areas of spiritual growth do you desire to see in your children?
• What do you feel your child needs the most spiritually?
• What are some positive things children's ministry is doing to help your child grow spiritually?
• What truths and topics from the Bible do you want to see instilled in your children?
• What are your priorities in raising your children to love God?
• What areas are you struggling in as a parent that we can come alongside you and help with?
• How can we better partner with you as a parent?
• What resources and tools can we provide to help you disciple your children?
• Does your child feel loved, accepted, and connected?
• How can we improve in seeing that happen?
• How does your child feel about their experience at church? Positives? Negatives?
• What are some ideas that can help us be more effective? (any area or topic)

You can also have focus groups for kids.  Pick a group of 8-10 kids and ask for their input, feedback, and ideas on how to improve the ministry.  Take different parts of the ministry and ask them to rate it using a chart. Here's a few examples:

Pre-Service Activities
Fun---------------------------------------------------------------Boring

Lessons
Keeps my attention-------------------------Don't Pay Attention

Small Group
Feel loved and cared for-------------------No one notices me

Ask the kids to be brutally honest. What are some ways you can improve their experience at church? What are some things they are struggling with as a kid and need help with? What are some new things they'd like to see in the ministry? What parts of the ministry are boring? What parts of the ministry are they excited about?  Do they feel loved and valued?  Do they feel connected?  Do they have friendships they have established at church?

You can then take their feedback and ideas back to your team.  Next carefully analyze it and tweak, change, or adjust areas that need to be improved.

Did you know Blues Clues is ranked as one of the most effective children's shows of all times? A big reason is because before they aired an episode, it had been tested and reviewed by a group of kids. If the kids identified a part of the show as boring or seemed to be disengaged, they would go back and adjust that part of the episode.

When a child says something is boring, it means they are not connecting. If you can identify and adjust those areas, your ability to connect with the kids will go to a whole new level. And it all starts by simply asking kids questions and listening to them with an open mind.

Shift #3 - Get rid of your rows of chairs.  What does your elementary ministry look like on Sunday mornings?  Kids in rows of chairs?  Kids in circles?  Both?  I believe circles are better than rows in children's ministry.  Here are some reasons why.

Circles are more conducive to relationships.  Kids want to be personally known.  It's hard to be known when you're just another kid sitting in rows of chairs.  But when you are part of a small circle of 6 to 8 kids, you can be known and build relationships with the other kids in your group.  Kids may walk in your doors because of a cool building, fun games and high-energy music, but they will stick around because of relationships they establish.  In a row, you're looking ahead at the person up front.  But in a circle,  you are looking into the eyes of other kids and a leader.  This is where connections can be made and relationships can be formed.

Circles create more effective learning environments.  Rows of chairs stem from the bygone industrial age where teachers prepared kids to work in factories.  Everyone was taught the same way.  Sit down and be quiet while I download information into your brain by lecturing you.  Problem is...that's the least effective way to teach kids.  But that's what you do when you've got kids in rows of chairs.

But when you place kids in circles, you open up an endless world of teaching possibilities.  You are able to replace lecturing with collaboration, engage all learning styles, do activities and crafts and get kids involved in hands-on, active learning.

Circles compel you to keep proper ratios.  For kids to be personally known you have to have the proper volunteer to child ratio.  Ideally this should be 8 to 10 kids for every volunteer.  When you have kids in rows of chairs you can skimp on your ratios and get by with it...but the kids are shortchanged.  When you have circles of 8 of 10 kids, it forces you to make sure you have enough volunteers.  Is it more work?  Yes, but the return is exponential.

Circles make intercessory prayer possible.  When kids are in a small circle with other kids and a leader, they can share real prayer requests and be personally prayed for.  In the ministry I led, we would even take time for kids to write down their prayer requests.  The leaders would then take the requests home and pray for the kids during the week. 

Circles encourage conversation.  When you're in a row, you are facing one person.  And as stated before, the conversation is usually one-sided, a teacher up front lecturing.  In fact, if kids try to have a conversation, they are told to be quiet and turn their attention back up front.  Conversation is discouraged in this format.

But when kids are in a circle, they are facing each other and conversation can flow naturally.  Questions can be discussed, ideas can be shared and deeper dives can happen.

Circles make guests feel welcome.  When kids are in rows of chairs, a new guest can come in, sit down and never be introduced to the other kids.  But in a circle, guests can get to know other kids and establish friendships.

Circles help kids attend more frequently.  When a child is part of a circle, they are missed when they are absent.  When a child is part of a circle, they are held accountable.  When a child is part of a circle, the leader can encourage the child to be faithful.  When a child is part of a circle, they develop friends who they look forward to seeing.

Circles give volunteers an opportunity to make a significant impact.  Long-term impact happens when leaders have the ability to invest in children individually.  This can't happen in rows, but it can happen in circles.  Volunteers want to know they are making a difference.  If they find themselves standing behind a row of chairs just helping with crowd-control, they will grow discouraged and not feel needed.  But place them in a circle, face-to-face with a small group of kids and they will embrace the challenge.  Kids will begin to call their name in the hallway and parents will know them on a first-name basis.  They can truly become a champion in the life of a child.

Several years ago, our ministry had the typical large group/small group format.  For 30-40 minutes the kids sat in rows of chairs and then moved into circles of small groups for the remaining time.  This was good, but we found we wasted precious time transitioning the kids from large group to small group.  So we decided to remove the rows completely and we brought round tables (circles) in.  When kids come in they are immediately connected to their circle at a table and remain there the entire service.  The results have been outstanding as kids are connecting, engaging and learning together.

Shift #4 - Focus on engagement over attendance.  I believe one big reason why families are attending church less frequently is because we are not effectively engaging them in serving others.  

Think about it - which families attend your services the most frequently?  It's those who are serving.  

We desperately need this to happen.  We are seeing families attend church less and less frequently.  Families who used to attend every week now attend twice a month.  Families that used to attend 3 times a month are now attending once a month.  

As we make the strategic step of engaging more kids and parents in serving, we will see the frequency of their attendance become more often.  

Here's an example of this - one weekend we decided to set up canopies outside the sanctuary.  Under the canopies were tables that had supplies that needed to be put into a care package for families in Haiti.  

We made announcement about this for a couple of weeks.  We would be cutting the service by 30 minutes and spending that time outside working together to put the care packages together.  We wondered what would happen.  Would families show up knowing they would spend 30 minutes serving others?  

Sunday rolled around and our attendance shot up on that day.  Thousands of families showed up to serve with their children.

Churches that grow and thrive in 2020 and beyond will be churches that engage families in serving.

Shift #5 - Teach apologetics.  One result that is coming out of families attending church less frequently is a shallow faith.  Kids and families are missing 25 to 75% of the lessons.  And in most cases, parental spiritual engagement at home would run parallel with this.

Kids are leaving our ministries unprepared to defend their faith.  We are not equipping them to know why they believe what they believe. 

A survey was done with adults who grew up in church and have walked away.  The number one reason they walked away?  

The simply didn't believe any more.  When they got to places where their faith was challenged, they simply didn't have any answers to defend their faith. 

I'm afraid in many cases, churches are spending their time teaching kids "values" to the expense of kids not knowing core Biblical truths.  We must make a strategic shift from teaching kids how to be "good" to being passionate, grounded and knowledgeable followers of Jesus.

"What" we teach children and families has never been more important. 

This doesn't mean our lessons should be boring.  Doctrine and truth can (and must be) taught using fun, engaging and interactive methods.  

Now is the time we must make this strategic shift or we risk losing an entire generation because we didn't thoroughly equip them. 

The finger is pointing directly at parents and church leaders.  We have skimmed the surface with doctrinal fluff and left them with no deep roots to survive the faith storms they face in a increasingly humanistic society.

Like never before, it's critical that we teach kids apologetics.  We must help them see why we believe what we believe.  We must ask the hard questions now and let them grapple with it.  It will be too late if they're left to fend for themselves in high school or college with no deep Biblical foundation to stand on.

That's why we created a curriculum series called "Pranksters."  (you can see it at this link) 

We're equipping kids to be able to answer the "pranksters" they will face who tell them the Bible is not God's Word.  We're taking a deep dive on...

• Why we believe the Bible is God's Word and not just written by men.
• Why we believe the Bible contains no errors. 
• Why we believe the Bible is different than other religious books. 
• Why we believe the Bible is for today.

We're looking at the hard questions...even to the point of having the kids work through verses that skeptics say contradict each other.  We want the kids looking at those verses now, when they can discover the right answers, versus looking at them for the first time in a college classroom where their faith can be shattered if they're not prepared.  I urge you to write apologetics into your curriculum.  If we don't, we risk losing the next generation.

 5 Strategic Changes as we head into 2020.

Shift #1 - Change our process for sharing the Gospel with children and their parents.
Shift #2 - Aggressively go after feedback.
Shift #3 - Get rid of your rows of chairs.
Shift #4 - Focus on engagement over attendance.
Shift #5 - Teach apologetics.

Love to hear from you in the comment section below.

A recent study from George Barna reveals that nearly half of all people who come to Christ do so before reaching the age of 13.
 
The report also says people who accept Christ before their teen years are for more likely to remain committed to Christianity. 

If you work with pre-teens in your church or ministry, I can't emphasize enough the importance of what you are doing. 

Look what Barna says about this.

Families, churches and parachurch ministries must recognize that primary window of opportunity for effectively reaching people with the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection is during the pre-teen years. It is during those years that people develop their frames of reference for the remainder of their life – especially theologically and morally. Consistently explaining and modeling truth principles for young people is the most critical factor in their spiritual development.

I believe people who work with pre-teens are serving in one of the most important times in a person's life.  The battlefield for the next generation is in the pre-teen years and earlier. 

We must help pre-teens see that they must own their faith as they head into their teen years.  We must help them develop a solid faith foundation.  Without it, they will struggle in their teen years.

PRAY daily for the pre-teens in your ministry. 

Pray that they will walk closely with Jesus. 

Pray that they will rely upon Jesus as they face temptations and pitfalls.

Pray that their parents will have wisdom, understanding and patience as they seek to influence their pre-teen children spiritually. 

Pray for the volunteers and leaders who work with pre-teens.  Pray that God will use them in the kids' lives and that the kids will receive what they have to say.

POINT pre-teens toward Jesus.  He is the answer to every struggle and trial they will face in their teen years.  Remind them that people will let them down.  People will be hypocritical at times.  People's talk will not always match their walk. 

But Jesus is faithful, trustworthy, loving and caring.  He will never let them down.  He will never leave them nor forsake them.  Show them the commands and promises found in passages of Scripture like Hebrews 12:2.

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.  Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 

PREPARE them for their teen years.   Teach them apologetics.  Trust me, they will need it in the culture they are growing up in.  Help them see Jesus is the one and only way to God.  Show them the proof that the Bible is the Word of God and you can trust it.  Help them grasp a spiritual foundation that they can build their lives on. 

PLACE pre-teens in serving roles.  We know that pre-teens who serve are more likely to also serve in their teen and adult years.  Create opportunities for them to serve in roles such as greeting, running AV, helping teach the lesson, helping in preschool, cleaning up after class, leading worship, etc.  

Actively go after pre-teens to serve.  If they can develop the heart of a servant during those formative years, it will be a part of their DNA for the rest of their lives. 

PARTNER with parents of pre-teens.  The pre-teen years can be challenging for parents.  Pre-teens go through a lot of changes as they are moving out of their adolescence years.  Pre-teens begin to go through physical and emotional changes.  Their moods can be unpredictable.  They are very self-conscious.  They will sometimes act without thinking as they are developing their decision-making skills. 

It's not easy parenting a pre-teen.  Parents are looking for help and resources.  Be there for them and help them navigate the pre-teen years.

Consider offering parenting classes for parents of pre-teens.  Especially as they prepare to enter their teen years.  Share helpful articles and insight with them.  Be their biggest fan and supporter.

p.s. If you are looking for an apologetics series for pre-teens, check out this series.

If you are looking for a high impact resource for parents of pre-teens as they move into their teen years, check out this resource.

As the calendar turns the page to another year, it is vital that we know how the next generation thinks, what they value and what they resonate with.

There are over 74 million Gen Z kids in the U.S. and  world-wide there are 2 billion.

They are bringing change to the world and will significantly influence society as a whole.

It is crucial that we stay focused on Gen Z.  Reach them and the world will be changed.  Influence them and you influence the future.

Recently Pew Research released a new in-depth look at Gen Z.  Let's see what implications it has for us as children's ministry leaders.

Gen Z is the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in the history of the U.S.  Churches that want to reach Gen Z will recognize this and be intentional about creating a place where all races are welcomed with open arms.  Among 6 to 21-year-olds, only a bare majority are white (52%).  25% are Hispanic.  14% are black.  6% are Asian.  4% are others.  Today’s 6-to-21-year-olds are projected to become majority non-white in 2026 (when they will be ages 14 to 29), according to Census Bureau projections.

The churches that are effective will look like heaven.  People from every race and tribe worshiping God the Father in unity.

But not only must churches welcome all races to the table, they must also invest in them and encourage them to move into key leadership roles.  

Gen Z is committed to education.  The older members of Gen Z are enrolling in college at a higher rate than their Millennial parents did at a comparable age.  They are smarter.  They are more educated.

A recent report from George Barna revealed that 13% of Gen Z kids are atheists.  That is twice as many as their parents.

I can't emphasize enough how important it is to teach Gen Z why we believe what we believe.  They can quickly see through shallow teaching, inadequate answers to tough questions and how the Bible and science can be compatible.  It is crucial that we help them develop a solid, Biblical worldview that will last.

Studies show that over 50% of the people who have left the faith, say the reason they left was because they simply didn't believe anymore.  Smart, educated Gen Z kids need to see the evidence that verifies the Bible is the Word of God....that Jesus was a real person who was crucified and rose from the dead and that they were created by a loving God.

This is one big reason why I created curriculum series that focuses on equipping children and families to defend and share their faith.  You can see 12 months of the series at this link.  There are also stand alone lessons that equip kids and families to defend their faith.  You can see those at this link.

We must create environments where kids can face the hard questions and be encouraged to dialogue about them.  If we want them to get the right answers, then we must be intentional about addressing the hard questions now.  Look at these revealing stats.

24% of Gen Z say science refutes the Bible.

49% of Gen Z say church rejects science.

19% of Gen Z say the Bible is full of fairy tales.

Cute lessons about being good or cooperating with others, will not prepare Gen Z to follow Jesus in a post-church world.

Gen Z has various living arrangements.

65% live with two married parents.  Of those children and teens who are living with two married parents, most live in dual-earner households.

30% live with cohabiting parents.

31% live with a single parent

To Gen Z, family no longer means just two married parents, where one goes to work and the other parent stays home to clean the house, prepare dinner, etc.  When you ask them the definition of family, they consider not just two married parents, but also single parents, same-sex couples, grandparents, step parents, etc. 

We must teach Gen Z that God's golden plan for marriage is a married man and woman, who stay together for a lifetime.  While holding this up, we must also leave room for grace and belonging as we walk with people on their journey to Jesus no matter where they are on the journey.

If you want to reach Gen Z, then you must go to where they are...urban areas and the Western states.  

Only 13% of Gen Z live in rural areas, compared with 18% of Millennials, 23% of Gen Xers and 36% of early Boomers. 

I am thankful for every church in small town U.S.A.  That's what I grew up in.  But if we are going to reach Gen Zer's, we must start and build churches in urban areas.  Remember when Jesus looked out and said the fields were ripe for harvest?  When we look at the urban areas of America, that statement should resonate with us and propel us to focus on the urban, large, metropolitan areas of our country.  

Gen Z kids are growing up in more affluent circumstances than previous generations.  The median household income they are growing up in is $63,700.  This is compared to only $52,000 for Gen Xer's and $42,000 for Boomers.  Affluence sometimes can get in the way of people following Jesus.  This is the case now and it was the case in Jesus' days here on earth.  The rich young ruler wasn't willing to give up his affluence to follow Christ.  The affluent said no in the parable that represented coming to Jesus.  

It's not about money.  It's about need vs. want.  When a generation is doing very well financially, it can pull their heart away from Christ, if they are not careful.  We see this illustrated in several of Jesus' teachings.  Wealth can cause a generation to slip away from trusting God and begin to trust themselves and their possessions.  

Bottom line is this.  It is not wrong for Gen Z to have money.  But it is wrong when the money has them to the point where they put it before Christ.  

Here's a quick recap...

If we are going to reach Gen Z, we must embrace and champion racial diversity.  We must not only embrace it, but lead the way in promoting unity and love for all...no matter who they are or what zip code they live in.  

Gen Z is well educated and very smart.  We must teach them apologetics and help them work through the hard questions that need to be addressed.  They want to see proof before committing to Jesus.

"Family" is no longer just what you call a married father and mother with two kids.  Today's families come in all shapes and sizes.  We must be prepared to meet them where they are, show them love and grace and give them room to belong before they believe. 

If we want to reach Gen Z, we must focus the majority of our outreach and evangelistic efforts in the large, urban, metropolitan parts of the country.

We must help Gen Z see that material possessions are not wrong, but it is wrong when you put it before Christ.  Have money.  Make as much as you can.  Use your money to bring honor and glory to God and to help build His kingdom.  

I am deeply burdened for Gen Z.   They are facing things that previous generations never had to deal with or be entangled by.  More than ever, they need us to help guide and lead them.  It's a cause worth giving our lives and ministries to. 

Easter is just around the corner and it's a great time to reach kids and families with the Gospel.

It's also a great time to focus on sharing with kids why we know Jesus rose from the dead.

We've talked recently about how Gen Z wants proof before they will believe something.

That's why we created this lesson.  CSI (Christ Scene Investigation) gives kids the opportunity to examine the evidence for the resurrection.

Kids are invited to join the CSI team to investigate if Jesus rose from the dead.  They''ll examine three scenes to look for clues, collect evidence and talk with eyewitnesses.  The evidence will lead them to make a decision about whether Jesus' resurrection is true and if they want to enter a relationship with Him.

This lesson is also a great way to teach kids apologetics for the resurrection.  It takes kids on a deeper dive to help them know why we can know Jesus rose from the dead.

Delivered Electronically as Instant Download  
(you can get it at this link)

Includes...

• investigative ID badge for each child (ready to print)
• evidence recorder book for each child (ready to print)
• graphics for posters, promoting, etc.
• slide graphics for PowerPoint, Pro Presenter, Media Shout, Key Note, etc. 
• interactive lesson videos
• lesson plan that can be used in large group format, small group format, traditional classroom format and mid-week format
• lesson connects with all learning styles
• lesson incorporates hands on, experiential learning
• games that bring fun and learning together

Click here to see lesson sample

Click to see sample of CSI student investigation booklet

Below are video samples from the lesson 
(click arrows to watch full screen) 

 
See more information and order at this link. 

Brad Pitt is a high profile, A-list actor in Hollywood.  He has been cited as one of the most important and influential people in the entertainment industry.  He has starred in many blockbuster movies and has earned numerous awards such as the Golden Globe, Screen Actor's Guild, Academy Award and People's Choice. 

Brad was married to Angelina Jolie for five years.  Together they formed a power couple nicknamed "Brangelina."  They have six children with three of them being adopted internationally. 

Brad has said that he is an atheist.  What is interesting is this.  He was raised in a Christian home.  Brad was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma.  His father ran a trucking company and his mother was a school counselor.

Brad grew up in Springfield, Missouri, in a house surrounded by cornfields.  His parents are believers and he was raised in a conservative, Christian, Southern Baptist home.  In a recent interview with GQ magazine,  Brad said he "grew up First Baptist, which is the cleaner, stricter, by-the-book Christianity."

When he was in high school, he says, "my folks jumped to a more charismatic movement, which got into speaking in tongues and raising your hands and some goofy-&%$#." 

When asked about speaking tongues, Brad said, "Yeah, come on.  I'm not even an actor yet, but I know… I mean the people, I know they believe it.  I know they're releasing something.  God, we're complicated.  We're complicated creatures."

Brad went on to say, "I remember going to a few concerts, even though we were told rock shows are the Devil, basically.  Our parents let us go, they weren't neo about it.  But I realized that the reverie and the joy and exuberance, even the aggression, I was feeling at the rock show was the same thing at the revival.  One is Jimmy Swaggart and one is Jerry Lee Lewis, you know?  One's God and one's Devil.  But it's the same thing.  It felt like we were being manipulated.  What was clear to me was “You don't know what you're talking about.”

Brad says this caused him, at a young age, to ask some big questions about God.

But apparently he didn't get the answers he was looking for and eventually walked away from the faith.  He is not alone.  Stats show that 78% of people who claim no religion at all actually grew up in church.  I talk more about this in this article.

When asked why they walked away, the biggest majority said they no longer believe.  How did this happen?  In many cases, it's the same story as Brad's.  They asked the hard questions, but didn't get answers that were sufficient to sustain their faith.  Without answers for these hard questions, their faith was rocked and they walked.

I believe if we are going to pass on the faith to the next generation, we must create environments at home and at church where it's okay to ask the hard questions.  In fact, I believe we shouldn't wait for kids to ask the hard questions.  I believe we should bring up the hard questions and help them find the right answers now.  

Questions like...

• How do we know the Bible is true?  How do we know it wasn't just written by men?

• Why would a good God allow bad things to happen?

• Why should we believe that God created everything?

• If God is a God of love, why would He punish people after they die?

• How do we know Jesus was the Son of God and that He actually rose from the dead?

If the first time kids face the hard questions is in a college classroom, it may be too late.  If the first time they face the hard questions is on the high school debate team, it may be too late.  If the first time they face the hard questions is at work, it may be too late.

Church and the home should be a place where kids are walked through the hard questions so they can discover the truth.

Brad, the kid, is sitting in your class at church this weekend.  Brad, the kid, will attend VBS this summer at your church.  Brad, the kid, will learn Bible verses at home this year.  Brad, the kid, will be part of small group discussions this month at your church.  Brad, the kid, will participate in prayer time this week at home.  Brad, the kid, will drop his nickels and dimes into the offering this week.

But will we help Brad, the kid, develop a deep faith that will last for a lifetime?  We can.  If we are intentional.

We are commanded in Proverbs to "train up children in the way they should go and when they are old, they will not depart from it."

If we are going to see children walk in faith their entire lives, then we must train them to see the truth.  The 78% that have walked away?  I believe much of it is due to us not doing our part of this Proverbs...that is, training children to be able to answer the hard questions.  If we don't, how can we expect them to serve Jesus for a lifetime?

Let's ask the hard questions.  Let's lead kids to grapple with the hard questions.  Let's help kids find answers to the hard questions.

A great place to start is with the four week teaching series called Pranksters.  This apologetics series helps kids explore critical, hard questions about the Bible and will help them discover why we believe the Bible is God's Word.  You can get more information about the series at this link.

How could God have existed forever?

Why did God let them die?

If God is powerful, why did He let that happen?

Why didn't God help grandmother get better when we prayed?

How do we know God is real?

How do we know the Bible is God's Word?

My teacher said we are here because of evolution.  Is she right?

If God loves people, why would He send them to hell?

Why is Jesus the only way to heaven?

What about people in other countries who believe in a different god?

These are the type of hard questions that kids (and adults) ask at times.  They are legitimate questions and should be addressed if we want kids to have a strong faith foundation.  Recent studies show that 78% of adults who claim no religion, actually grew up in church.  In many cases, they asked the hard questions, but no one answered them.  Or if they did try to answer, they didn't provide a satisfactory, substantial response. Or they may have wanted to ask the hard questions, but didn't feel they had a safe place to voice them.

We must be prepared when kids ask the hard questions.  Here's some tips on what to do.

Don't overreact.   Many people are caught off guard when kids ask the hard questions.  They don't know what to do and so they respond with anger, frustration or surprise.  This leaves kids feeling like they've done something wrong or that they don't truly love Jesus.  How we initially respond will set the tone for the discussion.  Which leads to the next step.

Commend them.   Let the child know you are proud of him or her for asking the hard questions.  The fact that the child is trying to understand these deeper aspects of faith is commendable.  Let the child know asking the hard questions is a natural part of the faith journey.  Remind them that even Jesus asked why God had forsaken Him when He was on the cross.   

Help them grapple with the questions and find the answers together.  This is a great discipleship opportunity to help kids dig in and find the answers for why they believe what they believe.  Take their questions and grapple with them to find the answers.  You want kids to find the correct answers now rather than waiting until they are sitting in a college classroom or dorm where they may get wrong answers that shake their faith.

Be okay with saying "I don't know" when you don't know.  Some questions are so deep, even the ones coming from a child, that you won't know how to respond when the child first asks them.  Rather than giving a quick, cliche' answer, be honest.  Let the child know that it's a tough question that you don't have an easy answer to, but you will journey with them to find an answer.  This will help the child see the authenticity of your faith as you walk alongside them in seeking the truth. 

Deep faith is not built upon cliche' answers, but on the sincere seeking of truth. 

Consider initiating the hard questions.  In the days in which we live, I believe we can't wait for kids to ask us the hard questions.  I believe we should initiate discussions that cause kids to grapple through the hard questions.  We must not shy away from the difficult questions of Christianity, but boldly walk with kids through them.  If the first time they face these questions is in a high school hallway, it may be too late.  If they can work through these questions while they are young, it will give them a solid foundation to build their faith on.

This is one reason I created the Pranksters series.  I wanted kids to work through the difficult questions about the Bible...even to the point of walking them through Scriptures that seem to contradict each other.

I am reminded of what 1 Peter 3:15 says...

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,

We must prepare kids by helping them find the answers to the hard questions they will face as they grow up.  If we do not, their faith will wilt away under the pressure of a culture that does not believe in absolute truth.

We must also equip parents to answer the hard questions.  Many times, kids will ask their parents the hard questions first and they will not know how to respond.  They will come to you for help.  Again, take the initiative and prepare parents in advance with the tools they need to have these discussions with their children.

Are you preparing the kids in your ministry to answer the hard questions?

There are lots of worldviews competing for children's attention.  Most are in direct opposition to a Christian worldview and if adopted by children will turn their hearts away from God's truth. 

A recent study by Barna reveals just how critical it is that we teach kids and their parents a Biblical worldview.

Currently, among professing Christians...

• 38% are sympathetic to some Muslim teachings

• 61% agree with ideas rooted in New Spirituality

• 54% resonate with postmodernist views

• 36% accept ideas associated with Marxism

• 29% believe ideas based on secularism

It is important to note that Millennials, who are the young parents of the children in our ministries, grew up in a less Christianized context, and as a result, are up to eight times more likely to accept these views than their parents and grandparents.  This shows we must not only focus on teaching children a Biblical worldview, but their parents as well.  Since parents are the primary spiritual influence in their children's lives, equipping parents with a Biblical worldview must also be a priority.

There are 4 major worldviews that are competing for the heart of children and parents. Let's take a look at them.

New Spirituality
This worldview holds a positive view of religion, emphasizes the supernatural and simultaneously feeds into a growing dissatisfaction with institutions.  It says all people pray to the same god or spirit, no matter what name they use for that spiritual being.  It says that "meaning and purpose come from becoming one with all that is."  It says "if you do good, you will receive good, and if you do bad, you will receive bad (Karma)."  And it says "God helps those who help themselves." 

• 28% of Christians have embraced "all people pray to the same god or spirit, no matter what name they use for that spiritual being."

• 27% of Christians have embraced “meaning and purpose come from becoming one with all that is."

• 32% of Christians agree that “if you do good, you will receive good, and if you do bad, you will receive bad.”

• 52 percent of practicing Christians strongly agree that the Bible teaches “God helps those who help themselves."

• Overall, at least 61 percent of practicing Christians embrace at least one of the ideas rooted in New Spirituality.

Secularism
The secular worldview prioritizes the scientific method as an explanatory framework for life and advances a rational and materialistic view of the world.  While most Christians resist scientism and Darwinism, they are inclined toward an off shoot of secularism, which is materialism.  Materialism is the view that the material world is all there is.  Here is an example.

• 20% of Christians believe that meaning and purpose in life comes from working hard to earn as much as possible so you can make the most of life."

• 13% believe that a person's life is valuable only if society sees it as valuable.

Postmodernism
Postmodernism advances the idea that there is no such thing as objectivity.  A Postmodern worldview says that claims on ultimate reality are subjective by virtue of their context—that is, we are all limited by our experience, and at best we can know only what is true for ourselves.  Here are some examples of how this worldview is infecting Christian's thinking.

• 19% strongly agree that “no one can know for certain what meaning and purpose there is to life.”

• 23% strongly agree that “what is morally right or wrong depends on what an individual believes.” 

• 15% say if your beliefs offend someone or hurt their feelings, it is wrong. 

Marxism
Marxism as a worldview stands in opposition to the economics of capitalism and falls more in line with socialist or communist political ideologies.  Marxism, though, is also founded on an irreligious—or even religiously hostile foundation.

•  11% strongly agree that “private property encourages greed and envy.” 

• 14% of practicing Christians strongly agree that “the government, rather than individuals, should control as much of the resources as necessary to ensure that everyone gets their fair share.” 

• 15% strongly disagree that “if the government leaves businesses alone, they will mostly do what’s right.”  In other words, this proportion believes significant government regulation is necessary for the good of society. 

These findings should not be taken lightly.  They confirm a continuing shift away from a Christian worldview by each succeeding generation.  There is increasing pluralism, relativism and moral decline in the church.    

It is critical that children's and family ministry leaders help kids and their parents know why they believe what they believe and develop a solid, Biblical worldview.  We must help them see that things that are different are not the same.  There cannot be absolute truth if all things are held as equal.  We must inform them so they can maintain a healthy worldview and faith.  This will also enable them to have productive dialogue with people who adhere to other beliefs. 

Recently, we created a series called Pranksters to help kids develop a Biblical worldview.  It's a four-week series that teaches kids why we believe what we believe.  It helps kids grapple with the hard questions and come out with a deeper faith.  It shows the unique differences of the Christian faith and equips kids to share Biblical truth in a world that says there are no absolutes.  You can get more information about obtaining this series for your ministry at this link. 

Barna made this statement that resonates so clearly.

"In the race to a child's heart, the first one there wins."

Like never before, it is critical that we get there first with a Biblical world view.  

I recently shared 4 Big Reasons Why Kids Walk Away From Church When They Grow Up.  I'd like to dive a little deeper on the first reason - A Shallow Faith Foundation.

Stats show that 78% of "nones" (those who identify with no religion) grew up in church.  This means a high percentage of kids growing up in church are walking away.  But the even bigger issue are those who walk away from their faith completely.  50% of kids who walk away say it's because they no longer believe in God at all.

The root cause of this is a shallow faith and the finger is pointing directly at parents and church leaders.  We have skimmed the surface with doctrinal fluff and left them with no deep roots to survive the faith storms they face in a increasingly humanistic society.

Like never before, it's critical that we teach kids apologetics.  We must help them see why we believe what we believe.  We must ask the hard questions now and let them grapple with it.  It will be too late if they're left to fend for themselves in high school or college with no deep Biblical foundation to stand on.

This month, in our children's ministry, we're doing a series called Pranksters.



We're equipping kids to be able to answer the "pranksters" they will face who tell them the Bible is not God's Word.  We're taking a deep dive on...

• Why we believe the Bible is God's Word and not just written by men.
• Why we believe the Bible contains no errors. 
• Why we believe the Bible is different than other religious books. 
• Why we believe the Bible is for today.

We're looking at the hard questions...even to the point of having the kids work through verses that skeptics say contradict each other.  We want the kids looking at those verses now, when they can discover the right answers, versus looking at them for the first time in a college classroom where their faith can be shattered if they're not prepared.  I urge you to write apologetics into your curriculum.  If we don't, we risk losing the next generation.

We will be making the Pranksters series available to other churches.  If you'd like more information about it, you can contact me at dalehudsoncm2@gmail.com.

Your turn.  The floor is yours.  Do you think it's important to teach kids apologetics?  If so, what steps are you taking to do this?  What other good resources or curriculums are available for this?  Share your comments with us below.