Sharing the Gospel must be a focal point of our ministries. The Gospel is (or should be) central to everything we do. Yet sometimes we focus on so many other thing ~ the environment, safety of our kids, recruiting volunteers, teaching methodology, and more! ~ all of which are good (necessary, even). But if we are failing to share the Gospel, we are failing in our ministry.
If we are failing to share the Gospel, we are failing in our ministry to children. Greg Baird Click To TweetSometimes we, or those in our ministry, fail to share the Gospel because we simply don’t know how. It takes practice, but here are 3 keys I’ve found to make it a little easier:
- Keep it simple. The Gospel really is simple, but we have a tendency to make it complicated. Don’t.
- Stay focused. It’s really easy to run down rabbit trails, and the kids themselves often provide those opportunities. But the Gospel is too important for us to get distracted.
- Learn and practice a technique that you feel comfortable with. There are many, many ways to share the Gospel with children. You can use tracts, the Wordless book, the Romans Road, Evangicube for kids, or any number of other ways. And they are all effective. Learn one and use it!
Or, learn to Share the Gospel in 10 Words (ok, you’ll use more than 10, but there are really just 10 important ones to remember):
God Loves (Hold hands together outstretched in front of you)
- God loves us and wants to have a relationship with us
- God wants us to be part of His family and eventually to live with Him forever in heaven
We Sin (Move left hand outstretched to side. Right hand remains outstretched in front of you).
- But we sin (“doing anything God doesn’t want us to do”)
- The punishment for sin is death (separation from God…broken relationship)
Jesus Died (Both hands outstretched to the sides).
- Jesus took our punishment for us by dying on the cross
- Like your bro or sis taking a timeout or spanking for you
God Forgives (Move right hand back to be outstretched in front. Left hand remains outstretched to side).
- Because Jesus died for us, our sins can be forgiven
- The Bible calls this a gift (forgiveness and the opportunity to have a relationship with God)
We Accept (Bring both hands together outstretched in front, as at the very beginning).
- A gift must be accepted before it is ours
- The Bible says we accept God’s gift by believing in our hearts that Jesus died for us, and accepting His forgiveness for our sins
- You can do this by praying and telling God that you believe and that you want His forgiveness
Of course, as you are doing the motions that go with the 10 words, have the child(ren) join you! It is memorable and easy, and at the very least ought to plant the seeds of understanding in their minds.
There’s so much more to discuss about the Gospel and children, but sharing the Gospel starts with a willingness to do so, and an understanding of how to do so. Sharing the Gospel in 10 Words is one easy method.
