How to Present the Gospel to Children

It's crucial for Christians to present the gospel continuously to their children.

For Christian parents, raising your child as a Christian is one of the most important achievements of parenthood. The developmental years are very important; if your child learns about the gospel early, that message is likely to transform and shape him as he grows older. You can present the gospel to your child when he is any age, but he will not be able to adequately understand it until he is around age four or five.

Instructions

1. Sit down with your child. Choose a time when she is not distracted or tired. Start the conversation by telling her that you have something very important to discuss. Let her know that this issue is very serious and shouldn't be taken lightly.

2. Introduce her to God. If the child is young, make the explanation easy to understand. Tell your child that God created the whole universe and also created her. Tell her that God loves her very much and wants to know her personally. If you have a children's Bible, use that to introduce the six days of creation and some key biblical stories like Noah's ark and the Ten Commandments.

3. Talk to your child about man's condition. Use basic language and tell him that people sin by doing bad things. Bring to mind a time when your child has disobeyed you or told a lie. Let him know that everyone sins sometimes, and that people need someone to save them from their sins.

4. Introduce your child to Jesus Christ. Let her know that Jesus Christ came to die for her sins and the sins of the whole world. Talk to your child about how Jesus died on the cross and how He performed many miracles. If you have a children's Bible, read some of the many miracles that Jesus performed.

5. Teach your child about heaven. Explain that everyone dies, but by trusting in Jesus Christ, Christians can live forever with God. Explain that heaven is a place of joy and happiness, and that no one cries or feels sad there.

6. Invite your child to accept Jesus Christ as his savior. Lead him through a very basic prayer that includes a confession of his sins and a request for God to come into his heart. Lead him to accept that Jesus died for his sins and wants a relationship with him. Explain to him that he now has eternal life and that he also has Jesus Christ as a companion in his day-to-day life.

References

• Light and Heat; How to Share the Gospel with Children
• Spurgeon.org; Teaching Your Children Spiritual Truth