We don’t think anybody’s too young to talk about why we follow Jesus. Here are some ideas for ways to talk to kids about Jesus’ Rescue, or the Gospel (click on each tab below for more details):
How to Talk to Kids About Following Jesus
- It all started when God told Adam not to eat from one tree in the Garden of Eden. God said, “If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die” (Genesis 2:17).
- Unfortunately, God’s enemy, the snake, tricked Adam and Eve into thinking God didn’t really love them. So they chose to disobey him (Genesis 3:1-6).
- That’s when death and all the wrong things in the world began. Those wrong things separated us from God, who is perfect. And Adam and Eve eventually died.
- Now everyone who disobeys God (which is all of us) deserves the same punishment (Romans 3:23).
- God created us to love him and be close to him, forever. And he loved us way too much to let our disobedience stand in the way of that.
- So he sent his own, perfect son Jesus––who didn’t deserve death––to take our punishment (John 3:16).
- But Jesus didn’t stay dead; he came back to life! That means Jesus took our punishment by dying...and got rid of it by coming back to life.
- Since Jesus beat death, now death can’t separate us from God anymore (Romans 8:38-39).
- Jesus loves us so deeply he was willing to die for us.
- Being near us brings him joy (Hebrews 12:1-2), but he knew there wasn’t (and still isn’t) anything to make up for the wrong things we have done and get close to him on our own. Even if we do a million good things, it’s not enough (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- So he gives us this rescue like a special gift from God. Just like we have to open presents if we want to enjoy what’s inside, we have to decide that we want God’s gift. Making that choice is like opening our present!
- When we choose to receive his gift, God sees us as his very own children (John 1:12). We’re close to God again!
- When we’re loved by God, we get to love him back! Ephesians 5:1-2 tells us how: “You are the children that God dearly loves. So be just like him. Lead a life of love, just as Christ did. He loved us. He gave himself up for us. He was a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.”
- Of course, leading a life of love in this world full of wrong things is not easy (Romans 8:17). We’ll definitely mess up sometimes.
- But no matter hard it may be, following Jesus will be totally worth it (Romans 8:18). One day, God’s family will live with him forever in a perfect, glorious world, where there’s no sickness or sadness or death or anything bad (Revelation 21:1-4).
- Until then, he’ll be right here with us, helping us to follow him and share the good news of his rescue with others (Matthew 28:18-20)!
If your kid has made the choice to follow Jesus and is ready to get baptized, visit CrossroadsKidsClub.net/baptism. You’ll find a guide with ideas for ways to talk about how and why we get baptized.
Genesis 2:16-17New Living Translation (NLT)
16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
from the NLT (New Living Translation)
Genesis 3:1-6New Living Translation (NLT)
The Man and Woman Sin
3 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
from the NLT (New Living Translation)
Romans 3:23New Living Translation (NLT)
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
from the NLT (New Living Translation)
John 3:16New Living Translation (NLT)
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave[a] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
from the NLT (New Living Translation)
Romans 8:38-39New Living Translation (NLT)
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
from the NLT (New Living Translation)
Hebrews 12:1-2New Living Translation (NLT)
God’s Discipline Proves His Love
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
from the NLT (New Living Translation)
Ephesians 2:8-9New Living Translation (NLT)
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
from the NLT (New Living Translation)
John 1:12New Living Translation (NLT)
12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
from the NLT (New Living Translation)
Romans 8:17New Living Translation (NLT)
17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
from the NLT (New Living Translation)
Romans 8:18New Living Translation (NLT)
The Future Glory
18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
from the NLT (New Living Translation)
Revelation 21:1-4New Living Translation (NLT)
The New Jerusalem
21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
from the NLT (New Living Translation)
Matthew 28:18-20New Living Translation (NLT)
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
from the NLT (New Living Translation)