The differences between an adult Sunday school class and one for kids are quite striking. A class for toddlers and preschoolers is rarely organized around the logic of a Bible passage, or even a lesson outline. Instead, lessons are structured by the classroom schedule and environment—by a basic routine and activity centers that are designed for play, music, the Bible story, and other games or crafts. How do we prepare children’s lessons that are Christ-centered, biblically faithful, engaging for kids, and oriented towards the distinct ways that kids learn? This workshop will help you do just that.
Listen to the episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or watch the episode on YouTube!
Teach Bible Stories That Point Kids to Jesus
In this episode, Jared Kennedy helps children’s ministry leaders think more carefully about how they teach Bible stories. Drawing from familiar stories like David and Goliath and the bronze serpent in Numbers 21, Jared explains three common approaches to Bible teaching: the example lesson, the God-centered lesson, and the gospel-centered lesson.
While each approach can teach us something valuable, Jared encourages ministry leaders to go beyond simply telling kids to imitate biblical characters or teaching them theological truths. Gospel-centered teaching helps children see their need for good news, understand what God has done to save his people, and ultimately see how the Bible points us to Jesus. Children may remember the details of a Bible story long after they leave your classroom—but what do we want them to remember about God? Consider what the story is actually teaching children about God, the gospel, and their own need for Christ.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- The difference between an example lesson, a God-centered lesson, and a gospel-centered lesson
- How to recognize God as the main character of a Bible story
- Why God-centered teaching should ultimately point children to the good news of Jesus
- How David points beyond himself to Jesus as the better King and representative of his people
- How to summarize the gospel and application of a lesson in one memorable sentence
About Jared
Jared Kennedy serves as an editor for The Gospel Coalition. He is also co-founder of Gospel-Centered Family and the author of books for children and families like Faith-Builder Catechism (New Growth Press, 2023), Keeping Your Children’s Ministry on Mission (Crossway, 2022), and The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible (New Growth, 2017). He, his wife Megan, and their three daughters live in Louisville, Kentucky, where they attend Sojourn Church Midtown.
Related Rooted Resources
Announcing Rooted Children’s Ministry Curriculum: Why and How to Use ‘Gospel Basics’
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Register for the Rooted 2026 Conference in Nashville.