Tips for Teaching Theology to Children
Children need more than just Bible stories read to them on Sunday mornings. Knowing facts about the events in the Bible is good and important, but we can’t stop there. A deep and resilient faith in children needs more than just Bible stories to grow.
Here are three ways to deepen your teaching to children:
• Use Big Words: Don’t shy away from complex theology or big words in the Bible. Use words such as “omniscient” and “atonement” when explaining their meanings.
• Add Motions: Motions and repetition help cement concepts into children’s brains. For example, to repent means to turn away from. Have children turn their bodies to the side as you say the definition.
• Use Object Lessons: Object lessons help explain abstract ideas. Take substitutionary atonement. It’s a complex concept, but two shirts can help explain it to children visually. Make one shirt dirty and write “sin” on it, leaving the other white. Place both shirts on the children, then have the children switch shirts while explaining what Jesus did on the cross for us.
Give your kids more. They are capable.
Want more ideas on how to teach children theology in a way they can understand? Make sure to listen to Episode 185 of The Kidmin Huddle: How Deep is Too Deep When Teaching Theology to Kids?
