CHILD EVANGELISM
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SHARING JESUS WITH A CHILD
“Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
Luke 18:16
Can a child grasp the reality of an unseen God?
Can a child understand salvation and the meaning of Christ’s death on the cross?
Some people say you should wait to talk with children about faith, salvation and other spiritual issues until they can think abstractly. Later in the teenage years you can reason with them . . . mind to mind, intellect to intellect. Yet parents who wait are often dismayed as their children grow up with no spiritual roots . . . only because of failure to plant seeds of truth in the earlier years. A child is ready for commitment to Christ as soon as he or she understands the meaning of sin and that Jesus is the Savior from sin.
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
As children learn about Jesus, His life, His death, and His resurrection, they learn to respond to God’s love. Their salvation is desirable, for Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14)
On another occasion He said, “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:3
What Is Child Evangelism?
- Evangelism is declaring the good news of the gospel.
- Child evangelism is sharing with a child the good news of how to receive the full forgiveness of God by entering into a personal relationship with Christ Jesus.
“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’ ... He took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
(Mark 10:13–16)
Myths vs. Truth
Myth: “Young children are intellectually incapable of responding to salvation.”
Truth: Young children are more capable of responding to the message of salvation than adults.“The disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child and had him stand among them.
And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven’” Matthew 18:1-4
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What Is the Gospel?
The Gospel is the good message of salvation available to us through faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross.
“By this gospel you are saved. ... Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures ... he was buried ... he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and ... he appeared to Cephas [Peter], and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred.”
(1 Corinthians 15:2–6)
Children Are Ready to Hear the Gospel When They Are ...
- Reaping consequences from their own behavior
- Expressing worry about the future
- Asking a lot of questions
- Drastically changing their behavior
- Yielding to positive authority
75% of those who receive Christ do so before they are 14 years old.
All growth is a process, and each child will mature differently. Only God knows the true disposition of a young heart, that time when a child has reached an age of accountability—the age at which a child is capable of accepting or rejecting the Savior. As you nurture young children from birth in things of the Lord, rely on your own spiritual sensitivity to determine when they are ready to move from “spiritual baby food” to the meat of the gospel.
Spiritual Baby Food
- Sharing love through physical touch
- Seeing and meeting their emotional needs
- Speaking with a loving tone of voice
- Smiling each time you see them
- Soothing their hurts and disappointments
- Spending time reading to them
- Saying no and enforcing it
- Sharing ways to be thoughtful of others, saying please and thank you
- Setting an example by your response to others, forgiving and meeting the needs of others
- Saying bedtime prayers in the secure love of the Lord
Children Are READY to Hear the Gospel When They Are...
R – Reaping consequences from their own negative behavior
(feelings of guilt and shame)
E – Expressing worry about the future
(fear of darkness, separation, storms, death)
A – Asking a lot of questions
(“What happens when people die?”)
D – Drastically changing their behavior
(withdrawal or sensitivity)
Y – Yielding to positive authority
(release of a rebellious spirit)
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
1 Peter 3:15
Children’s Responsiveness
Children have ...
- Curiosity
Children eagerly ask questions about everything. What an opportunity to answer questions correctly with the truth of God’s Word!
- Humility
Children are accustomed to being under authority; therefore, they are teachable.
- Imagination
Children are able to visualize the unseen.
- Less distrust
Children find it easy to believe in the supernatural.
- Dependency
Children are already dependent on adults for protection and provisions.
- Retentive memories
Children can retain what they don’t understand more easily than adults.
- Eagerness to receive gifts
Children find it more natural to receive a gift without feeling they have to earn it.
- No hardened hearts
Children do not have such deeply embedded sin patterns, addictions, or beliefs that they can’t give up their “old ways of life.”
“Even small children are known by their actions.”
(Proverbs 20:11)
Answering Arguments against Sharing Christ with a Child
- Argument: “I don’t think my child is a sinner.”
Answer: All people inherit a sin nature, a natural bent to sin. (Psalm 58:3)
- Argument: “Children can’t understand abstract truth.”
Answer: Children can understand dependency, being dependent on parents. Dependence on Christ is necessary for every child to become a true Christian. (John 15:4)
- Argument: “As an adult I never learned how to share the good news about salvation.”
Answer: As an adult, you can now learn. It’s never too late to learn. (Deuteronomy 6:6–7)
- Argument: “I don’t want to be a part of anything where fear tactics are used to get children to respond.”
Answer: Just because negative tactics have been used by some people doesn’t mean that child evangelism should be rejected. Jesus did not hinder children from coming to Him. (Mark 10:14)
- Argument: “I feel too inadequate.”
Answer: The Holy Spirit is the One who is adequate. He will empower you to speak the truth. God gives every authentic Christian the Holy Spirit upon salvation. (John 16:13)
Root Cause for Parents’ Not Sharing
Wrong Belief: “I’ll leave it to the church to give my child the necessary spiritual instruction.”
Right Belief: “I have the God-given responsibility to prepare my child spiritually to accept Jesus personally as Savior and Lord.”
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:16)
Practical Ps for Preparing a Child’s Heart
- Portray the character of Christ. (Titus 2:7-8)
- Praise God in the presence of your child for specific blessings. (Psalm 34:1)
- Play and sing Christian songs with your child. (Psalm 66:1–2)
- Place pictures and plaques with a spiritual emphasis throughout your home. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9)
- Provide a regular time to read and talk about Scripture—a daily, family devotional time. (2 Timothy 3:14-15)
- Prepare Scripture memory verses on cutout forms or cards. (Psalm 119:11)
- Pray out loud with and for your child. (Colossians 1:9-10)
- Prioritize regular, spiritual programs for your child. (Proverbs 22:6)
- Play creative games that bring God into focus. (3 John 4)
Key Verse to Learn
“He [Jesus] said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’”
(Matthew 18:3)
Key Passage to Read
Psalm 78:2–7
Grace Filled Words
“Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
Luke 18:16
“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’ ... He took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
Mark 10:13–16
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”
(2 Timothy 1:5)
Additional Scriptures
Matthew 11:25
Psalm 58:3
Matthew 19:14
How to Present the Good News
God
“God created everything in this world, including you. He loves you and will always love you.”
(Genesis 1:1)
Original Sin
“There is a problem between you and God, and it is called sin. Sin is anything you think or do that does not please God. Sin is going your own way instead of God’s way.”
(Psalm 51:5)
Offering for Sin
“Jesus came from heaven to earth, lived in a body and grew ... just like you and I grow.”
(John 3:16)
Death and Resurrection
“The Lord Jesus Christ died for your sins, but He also did something no one else has ever done—He came back to life!”
(1 Corinthians 15:3–8)
Need
“We all need a Savior because our sin is a problem.”
(John 3:17–18)
Eternal Life
“God’s part is found in three promises to us.”
- “We will not be condemned to hell for our sins.” (Romans 8:1)
- “We will live forever in heaven.” (John 11:26)
- “Meanwhile, God will cause us to live a different kind of life now while we live on earth.” (Philippians 1:6)
Word of God
“The Bible was supernaturally written by God.”
(2 Timothy 3:16)
Salvation Prayer
“God invites us all to come to Him.”
- Give an invitation for the child to receive Christ.
- Remind them again of their need for a Savior. (Isaiah 53:6)
- Review what Christ has done. (1 Peter 3:18)
- “Would you like Jesus to be your personal Lord and Savior?” (Romans 10:9)
“Dear God,
I know I do things You tell me not to do, and You call that sin. I realize that my sin has separated me from You. Please forgive me for my sins. Lord Jesus, thank You for taking the punishment that I should have had— You paid the price for my sins by dying on the cross for me. Right now I ask You to come into my life to be my Lord and my Savior. I want to be what You want me to be. And I want to do what You want me to do. Amen.”
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