Helping Kids Understand Salvation
DID YOU KNOW YOU ARE A PART OF GOD’S BIGGER STORY?
God created everything; including you! You were made with a purpose to be a part of God’s Big Story. God loved you before you were even born, and He loves you right now. But there is something that separates us from Him and keeps us apart from God’s Big Story. It’s called sin. Sin is anything we say or do that hurts God’s heart. Because God is perfect, there is no way we can get into God’s story on our own, but because God loved us, He made a way for all of us to have a part in His Big Story. The sin problem has a BIG solution! God has a GREAT rescue plan!
Questions to ask:
What is sin?
Have you ever sinned?
Can you tell me about a time when you sinned?
Scripture to Read Together:
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
GOD GAVE US A HERO!
God gave the most important, valuable, and perfect thing He had for you, Jesus. God knew that our sin would keep us out of His Story forever. Sin keeps us apart from God, but because He loved us, He gave us His Son to fix that relationship forever. Jesus gave up His life on the cross to save us from our sin, a price we can never repay on our own. That is BIG love!
Questions to ask:
Who is Jesus?
Why did Jesus die for us?
Scripture to Read Together:
John 3:16-17: For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
WE CAN BELIEVE THAT JESUS MADE A WAY FOR US!
When you receive a gift, what do you do? You open it! God said you can open His gift of salvation to you by believing. Believing simply means to trust. It’s a lot like sitting in a chair. When you sit in a chair, you put all your weight in it because you trust that it will hold you up. That’s what it’s like to believe in or trust in this gift. To open the gift that God gave you, trust Jesus with your whole life and believe that He died to save you from your sin.
Questions to ask:
What does it mean to trust in something?
How do you know God loves you?
Scripture to Read Together:
Ephesians 2: 8-9: For it is by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.
WE CAN HAVE AN AUTHENTIC FAITH
When you admit that you are a sinner, believe that Jesus died for your sins, and commit to trust Jesus with your whole life, you are choosing to have an authentic faith. Trusting Jesus in a way that transforms how you love God, yourself, and the rest of the world. Being a part of God’s Bigger Story means to show God’s love to others, so that they can receive God’s gift too.
Questions to ask:
What does it look like to trust Jesus with your whole life?
Scripture to Read Together:
Matthew 28: 16 – 20 NOTE: If you do not feel your child fully understands what sin is or that Jesus died to take away their sin, wait to ask the next question at a later time. Continue to engage with them in these conversations and follow their lead of when to move forward in the next steps of this conversation.
SAYING “YES” TO TRUSTING JESUS WITH YOUR WHOLE LIFE
Question to ask:
Do you want to say yes to trust Jesus with your whole life?
You can use the following prayer with your child as you lead him or her to trust in Christ. Remind them that prayer is simply a way we talk with God.
“Dear Heavenly Father, I know I am a sinner. I know my sin should separate me from You forever. I believe Your Son, Jesus, died for my sin. I accept His death as payment for my sin. Thank You for loving me and for giving the gift of Jesus so I could be with You in Heaven. Come into my life and be my Savior and friend. Help me to live my life for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
*From D6 Family Kids Toolbox Topics