How to Teach Kids About Jesus | 8 Practical Ways

Teaching Kids About Jesus Can Be Tricky

Teaching kids about Jesus is easy…until you actually try teaching kids about Jesus.

God’s here, but you can’t see him. We pray to him, but he doesn’t usually respond in an audible voice.

Faith seemed much simpler until I tried to explain it to my two-year-old. Case in point, one morning, our dog ate Jesus.

Toddler (eating pancakes): Here Jesus, here’s "canpakes". (Informs me) He’s in my heart. (Pretends to reach into her chest, then holds her hand out to show me) Look, here he is! (Gasps dramatically) Oh, no! I dropped him! (Jumps out of her chair to look around the floor) Jesus! Where are you?! (Yells at our dog) Nooooo! (Upset, tells me) Bubba ate Jesus!!

Teaching Kids About Jesus Is Totally Doable

At this point, you may be wondering if you should read further! But I promise, we’re making steady progress.

These are some of the practices that are helping to make Jesus Christ real for our now three-year-old...

Consider giving up a little privacy for the sake of setting an example.

Writing, exercising, reading my Bible…I used to complete anything that required discipline while my daughter slept. But that meant my daughter didn’t know I did any of those things.

One of the best ways to teach kids about Jesus is to lead by example.

So sit down with your Bible in front of them. (Reading God's Word on your phone looks identical to scrolling Facebook.) Let them hear you praying throughout the day.

Read the Bible together.

When you’re knee-deep in Leviticus, it can be tough to find a life application, even as an adult. “Ah yes, the camel is unclean. I’ll be sure not to eat that today!”

So when I read with my daughter, I try to find a story that’s well within her (a) attention span and (b) level of understanding.

We try to focus on a short story, like that of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. It’s a scenario she’s familiar with (people climbing trees, Jesus visiting a friend at his house), and the lesson isn’t too abstract.

Children’s Bibles are full of stories in both the Old and New Testament that fit well within this criteria. She has her entire life ahead of her to catch up on Leviticus.

Discuss the Bible together.

This is one of the best ways to take reading God's Word from simply hearing the Good News, to really applying it to their life.

In the above story, you might say, “Zacchaeus didn’t have many friends. How do you think he felt when Jesus said that he wanted to visit him? If Jesus was kind to Zacchaeus, how do you think we should treat kids like Zacchaeus, who don’t have any friends?”

Just one or two questions can help young children to better understand the story, and to find the connection between the Bible's stories and their everyday life.

Pray together often, not just over meals and before bed.

Any family prayer times are incredible! But it’s easy to thank God for our food and pray before bed, and not give him much thought the rest of the day.

When something stands out in your day, positive or negative, take a moment to pray about it together.

For example, when my daughter tells me how much she loves our dog, we might say a quick prayer. “Heavenly Father, thank you so much for giving Petey to us. He’s a very good dog and friend, and we love him.”

Simple, yes, but it's a great way to help her learn to thank God for her blessings, big and small.

When she hurts herself playing outside, we doctor her up, then pray that Jesus will help her to heal. Again, it’s uncomplicated, and it’s teaching her to bring her needs to God.

Worship together.

Find just one song to start, one that you know your kids will enjoy. Ask younger children what songs they sing in Sunday school, or try searching YouTube for songs with hand motions to make it fun.

When the time comes, explain that you’re all going to sing a song to Jesus together. The first time (and at random later), ask your kids why they think we sing to Jesus, then agree it’s because we love him, we want to thank him, he is our heavenly father, our friend, and more.

Sing the song and lead by example. If they enjoy their worship time, consider adding more songs as appropriate.

Help them memorize Bible verses they can reference often.

My daughter memorized a shortened version of Deuteronomy 31:6 when she was two. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, for the Lord our God goes with you.”

We added actions to spice things up. She flexed her biceps for “strong”, growled ferociously after saying “courageous”, shook her finger to “do not be afraid”, and marched in place to “for the Lord our God goes with you”.

And I cannot tell you how many times we reminded her of that verse (and she reminded us) when she was afraid of something.

Find short memory verses about not being afraid, loving others, trusting God, etc., and make up some hand motions for younger children. (Here's a post full of them!) This is a great way to help them bury God’s Word deep in their heart, even at a young age!

Attend church regularly.

I know, I know. It can be challenging to find your ideal church - one where your entire family agrees on the message, the worship, the people, etc.

But consistently get your kids somewhere to hear God’s Word from someone other than you. Most churches are following a carefully planned Sunday school curriculum that’s age-appropriate to connect your kids to the Good News on their level.

I try my best, but I’m no expert at childhood development. Allow your kids to hear from a Sunday School teacher who is, or at least from a Sunday School teacher following a lesson plan created by someone who is.

Don’t make faith a chore, or something to check off a list.

I’m not going to require my daughter to read ten chapters of the Bible, unless it’s something that she requests herself. I’ll sing worship songs with her, but call it quits for the day if she loses interest after the first song.

I’m trying to teach her about Jesus Christ in a simple way that complements her attention span and interests, and allows her to lead the way as much as she’d like. I don’t want her to consider reading God's Word or prayer or worship time a box to check off her list, or something that she does to appease her parents.

Teaching kids about Jesus doesn’t have to be complicated, and it doesn’t have to feel like a chore. As Christian parents, we can be purposeful about demonstrating our own faith for them, and lead them in reading, discussing, and memorizing the Bible, and praying, worshiping, and attending church together.

Proverbs 22:6 (MSG) assures us, “Point your kids in the right direction - when they’re old they won’t be lost."

Let’s act on that promise today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you introduce Jesus to preschoolers?

Introduce Jesus Christ to preschoolers by using simple language and examples they can relate to. Begin with the basics such as explaining God's love for them, using Bible stories read as bedtime stories.

You can also introduce prayer and worship time. This helps children connect with Jesus on their level.

Though not feasible for everyone, our family also sent our daughter to a Christian school during her preschool and early elementary years. This helped to back up and complement the lessons we were teaching her at home.

What's the best way to teach children about God?

To teach children about God, start with simple language and use examples that relate to their lives. Focus on the concepts of God's unconditional love, loving our neighbors, and sharing the good news with others, and share Bible stories that illustrate these Christian values.

Additionally, you can use age-appropriate resources like children's Bibles and storybooks.

How can I share Christian values with my child?

Sharing Christian values with your child starts with your own example. Let them see you doing devotions and involve them in family prayer times.

Teach them the importance of loving others, showing kindness, and living morally. Use Bible stories and real-life situations to convey these values.

What Bible lessons are suitable for 2-year-olds?

For 2-year-olds, focus on simple Bible stories that teach core values such as love, kindness, and obedience. You can use picture books or children's Bibles with colorful illustrations to hold their attention long enough to learn some valuable lessons.

Noah's ark, Daniel in the lions' den, Jonah and the whale, or Jesus' miracles in the New Testament are all great examples.

How do you explain the concept of God to a 7-year-old?

When explaining God to a 7-year-old, Christian parents should speak at a level they can understand and avoid complicated terminology. Emphasize that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and always present.

Compare God's love for them to how a parent loves their child. Encourage them to ask questions and provide age-appropriate answers.

What are some tips for teaching kids about Jesus at home?

Some tips for teaching little children about Jesus at home include:

1. Creating a routine of reading Bible stories as bedtime stories.
2. Incorporating prayer time and worship songs into your daily routine.
3. Engaging in discussions about God and Jesus Christ during daily activities.
4. Using age-appropriate Bible-based resource materials, such as picture books and children's Bibles.
5. Encouraging children to ask questions and being open to providing answers.