Join us Thursday, November 5th at 12:30 pm CT for our webinar, Why Children’s Ministry? In this webinar, you’ll hear from a panel of practitioners and Rooted staff on why children’s ministry is not an afterthought: it’s the first line of defense in making lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. You’ll get an exclusive preview of our upcoming curriculum offerings as well as the “why” behind the “what.” Register here to attend!
My family is from Florida, so when we travel, we usually look for experiences we cannot have at home. My sons might be perfectly happy sleeping late and floating in the ocean, but we tend to choose adventures that stretch all of us, including me.
On a recent trip, that meant we climbed a via ferrata, a protected climbing route that uses steel cables and iron rungs to help climbers cross steep mountain terrain. Although I’d willingly chosen this experience, I could not have done it alone. I needed the right equipment, clear instructions, and patient guides to help me with the climb. Even with all this, at one point I was clinging to the side of the mountain, white-knuckling a can of bear spray. The guides didn’t change the mountain for me, but they did help me understand how to move through it.
That is what good discipleship looks like in children’s ministry. We do not change what is true. Rather, we help learners access, understand, and engage with the truth. If the church is called to teach and disciple children, then we should care deeply about how we communicate God’s Word to them.
Communicate the Truth Clearly
Teaching children according to how they learn is not about making the Bible smaller, watering down doctrine, or entertaining them. It is about faithfully communicating the unchanging truth of God’s Word in ways that fit how children learn and grow. Children can benefit from children’s storybook Bibles and explanations of the gospel that use language they understand. Simplifying our wording does not mean changing the message or removing essential biblical truth. It means communicating that truth clearly and faithfully at a child’s level.
For example, we can teach children about God’s mercy and compassion from the book of Jonah. The people of Nineveh were guilty of sin and deserved God’s judgment. When they heard God’s warning, they believed him and turned from their sin, and God showed them mercy. Mercy is compassion shown to someone who deserves punishment.
We are sinners who also need God’s mercy. We cannot rescue ourselves from the punishment our sin deserves. God sent his Son, Jesus, to save sinners. Jesus lived without sin, died in the place of all who trust in him, and rose from the dead. God rescues sinners who repent and trust in Jesus.
Communicate Using Their World
Jesus demonstrated this throughout his ministry. He always taught truthfully, but he did not teach every person exactly the same way. He used parables with crowds, communicating as they were able to hear it (Matt. 13:34–35; Mark 4:33–34). He also asked questions in personal conversations, referred to Scripture with religious leaders, and drew from familiar objects and experiences such as seeds, sheep, bread, and water. His message never changed, but how he communicated reflected his care for the people he was teaching.
Learning involves more than receiving information. We must consider what children already know, what they are ready to grasp, and what will help them connect new truth to something familiar.
No strategy can cause a child to believe or produce spiritual growth. We plant and water, but God gives the growth (1 Cor. 3:6–7). That truth should humble us, but it should not make us careless. We trust God with the results while taking seriously our responsibility to teach his Word faithfully and clearly.
Consider How Children Learn and Grow
Children are not miniature adults. They process language, manage attention, form connections, and express understanding differently as they grow. A lesson can be biblically accurate and carefully prepared yet still be poorly suited to how children learn at a particular age.
Infants and toddlers learn through relationships, repetition, movement, and their senses. They may not understand a detailed explanation of God as Creator, but they can hear a trusted adult repeatedly say, “God made everything,” while holding a leaf or pointing to their hands. Even before children can explain a truth, they are building familiarity with biblical words and ideas. A safe, nurturing environment also allows them to experience faithful care as they hear about God’s care for them.
Preschool children learn through play, stories, movement, imitation, and concrete experiences. Abstract explanations are often beyond their grasp, so words should be connected to something they can see or do. They might build a wall while hearing about Nehemiah or act out the search for a lost sheep. Repetition helps these experiences become lasting understanding.
Elementary-aged children are increasingly able to examine ideas, recognize cause and effect, consider motives, and connect different parts of Scripture. They benefit from questions, discussion, and opportunities to explain their thinking.
Children express curiosity differently at every age. For older children, this often comes through questions, including difficult ones. A thoughtful discipler does not rush to silence them but creates space for children to discuss their questions, listen to one another, and explore biblical truth together. The discipler remains an active guide, correcting misunderstandings and keeping the conversation anchored in Scripture. This kind of interpersonal learning allows children to consider different perspectives and build on one another’s thinking without losing sight of what is true.
Create Meaningful Engagement
People often assume that teaching children should look like preaching or the classroom instruction they remember from school: the teacher explains, and the children listen. While lectures and direct instruction have a place, children also need opportunities to actively participate in learning.
Children participate through movement, conversation, creativity, observation, listening, and interaction with others. Play can be a meaningful avenue for learning, and sitting quietly does not necessarily mean a child is attentive.
The goal is not simply to entertain children or keep them occupied. It is to create purposeful experiences that draw their attention to biblical truth and help them connect with it. Meaningful engagement might look like a toddler joining in simple motions, a preschooler acting out part of a story, or an elementary-aged child locating a passage and asking questions about it. The method may change with the learner, but it should always serve the truth being taught.
Faithfulness is not measured by how much information we present in an hour or how quietly children sit. It means communicating God’s Word accurately in ways that invite children to participate and make connections.
We can communicate carefully, create meaningful engagement, welcome honest questions, and trust God with the results. Children deserve nothing less than our best efforts to teach them well.
We do not change the mountain; we become better guides.
