Christian children are the next generation of pastors, teachers, deacons, and church leaders. While they are young, we should begin preparing them to carry on the faith.
Children everywhere are looking to adults as they develop their life philosophies and worldviews and decide on what and in whom they believe. If the church fails to teach both what we believe and why we believe it, our children will look for answers in other places. As Christians, we want children to get their answers from God’s Word, not the world. If people believe life is all about getting what they can out of it or pleasing themselves, their actions and lifestyle will reflect that belief. However, if they have a God-focused outlook, their lifestyle should reflect God and Biblical values. Doctrine helps children develop a God-focused outlook, especially doctrine about God Himself. Children need to know and understand what Christians believe and why they believe it so they can carry on the faith.
Doctrine Children Need to Carry on the Faith
Many children’s curriculums focus on teaching Bible verses, Bible stories, morals, or character. While children need to know these, they also need doctrine. They are capable of learning it when it is taught on their level. A balanced children’s ministry includes Bible doctrine along with Bible stories, lessons, and general survey.
While the Christian faith has many doctrinal teachings, focusing on doctrines children should know helps them get a firm understanding on Who God is without getting too deep. These 12 essential doctrines focus not only on Who God is, but also on His love, character, and consistency:
- God’s Word, the Bible. The Bible is the only book that is God’s word to us. This doctrine helps children understand that the Bible was written by God, giving mankind what God wants us to know and understand about Him, others, our behavior, and everything in the world.
- God’s greatness. God is one of a kind and above all in His greatness. He is all powerful, all knowing, unchangeable, invisible, and independent—He does not depend on anyone else for life or happiness.
- God’s goodness. God is loving and is above everything and everybody in His goodness. He shows His goodness by being loving, merciful, righteous, true, and faithful.
- The Trinity. There is only one God. He is in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- God’s Creation. God created everything out of nothing for His own glory in only six days. Understanding that God created everything and that nothing happened just by chance is essential in combating teachings on evolution.
- God’s view of you. Although all people are made in God’s image, we all are sinful and need God’s forgiveness for our sins.
- God’s law. The Ten Commandments make us aware of our sin and point us to Christ as the solution for our sin.
- Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ will forever be fully God and fully man at the same time.
- God’s gift, salvation. Jesus Christ paid for the sinner’s salvation when He died on the cross.
- God’s purpose for His children. God’s children when their lives faithfully reflect the image of His Son.
- God’s work: past and present. God lovingly and skillfully works in Creation to bring all His plans to pass.
- God’s plan for the future. Jesus Christ is coming again; believers must be ready.
Are you confident that the children in your ministry could defend these and other key Bible doctrines? Could they carry on the faith?
Do they know what they believe, or are they just attending church? If they know what they believe, do they have enough Scriptural teaching and memorization that they could point to Bible passages that defend what they believe? Could your children use Bible passages to answer questions such as these: What is sin? Why did God create the world and everything in it? How can God justly declare sinners righteous? The answers to questions like these are essential for children to know and understand.
Children need a deep foundation for growing their faith in God. Using a systematic, Bible doctrine–based curriculum designed to deepen and build upon what children have already learned allows them to deepen their relationship with God and provides a foundation for spiritual growth.
A Way for Kids to Enjoy Learning Doctrine
Because it is important for children to know what they believe and why they believe it, Kids4Truth Clubs focuses on quality learning rather than quantity learning. Its curriculum takes a laser-beam approach to what children learn, focusing on 12 doctrinal themes, 120 questions, and 141 Bible verses.
When children are taught solid Bible doctrine in a systematic way, they retain what they learn. In the Kids4Truth Clubs curriculum, the 12 doctrinal themes are repeated and deepened every two years, giving children a firm grasp of basic Bible doctrine and a solid framework for basing all life decisions. With this foundation, Christian children will be able to carry on the faith.
Marrena Ralph is the Kids4Truth Clubs program specialist. Email her at marrena@kids4truth.com. Or visit kids4truth.com to learn more about the program or to try free lessons.
More from RBP
About Marrena Ralph
Marrena has a deep desire for children to be taught the Word of God and to develop a relationship with our Lord. As RBP’s club program specialist, she enjoys training workers how to effectively minister to children through Kids4Truth Clubs training events and Christian education conferences.
Prepare Children to Carry on the Faith
Christian children are the next generation of pastors, teachers, deacons, and church leaders. While they are young, we should begin preparing them to carry on the faith.
Children everywhere are looking to adults as they develop their life philosophies and worldviews and decide on what and in whom they believe. If the church fails to teach both what we believe and why we believe it, our children will look for answers in other places. As Christians, we want children to get their answers from God’s Word, not the world. If people believe life is all about getting what they can out of it or pleasing themselves, their actions and lifestyle will reflect that belief. However, if they have a God-focused outlook, their lifestyle should reflect God and Biblical values. Doctrine helps children develop a God-focused outlook, especially doctrine about God Himself. Children need to know and understand what Christians believe and why they believe it so they can carry on the faith.
Doctrine Children Need to Carry on the Faith
Many children’s curriculums focus on teaching Bible verses, Bible stories, morals, or character. While children need to know these, they also need doctrine. They are capable of learning it when it is taught on their level. A balanced children’s ministry includes Bible doctrine along with Bible stories, lessons, and general survey.
While the Christian faith has many doctrinal teachings, focusing on doctrines children should know helps them get a firm understanding on Who God is without getting too deep. These 12 essential doctrines focus not only on Who God is, but also on His love, character, and consistency:
Are you confident that the children in your ministry could defend these and other key Bible doctrines? Could they carry on the faith?
Do they know what they believe, or are they just attending church? If they know what they believe, do they have enough Scriptural teaching and memorization that they could point to Bible passages that defend what they believe? Could your children use Bible passages to answer questions such as these: What is sin? Why did God create the world and everything in it? How can God justly declare sinners righteous? The answers to questions like these are essential for children to know and understand.
Children need a deep foundation for growing their faith in God. Using a systematic, Bible doctrine–based curriculum designed to deepen and build upon what children have already learned allows them to deepen their relationship with God and provides a foundation for spiritual growth.
A Way for Kids to Enjoy Learning Doctrine
Because it is important for children to know what they believe and why they believe it, Kids4Truth Clubs focuses on quality learning rather than quantity learning. Its curriculum takes a laser-beam approach to what children learn, focusing on 12 doctrinal themes, 120 questions, and 141 Bible verses.
When children are taught solid Bible doctrine in a systematic way, they retain what they learn. In the Kids4Truth Clubs curriculum, the 12 doctrinal themes are repeated and deepened every two years, giving children a firm grasp of basic Bible doctrine and a solid framework for basing all life decisions. With this foundation, Christian children will be able to carry on the faith.
Marrena Ralph is the Kids4Truth Clubs program specialist. Email her at marrena@kids4truth.com. Or visit kids4truth.com to learn more about the program or to try free lessons.
About Marrena Ralph
Marrena has a deep desire for children to be taught the Word of God and to develop a relationship with our Lord. As RBP’s club program specialist, she enjoys training workers how to effectively minister to children through Kids4Truth Clubs training events and Christian education conferences.