It has become increasingly apparent to me just how true it is that we are now living in a post-Christian culture. As a millennial and full time pastor, I see in my own generation hesitancy to simply accept the Bible as truth just because it says it. In a culture where information is too accessible (and often not fact-checked), we are a culture that values individual opinions rather than objective truth and values. Four-minute videos rather than critical thinking and cross-examination now shape most people’s worldview. It’s no wonder that most millennials leave the church.
But what if our strategy was not to entertain the next generation but to equip and challenge them?
This is where apologetics (defending the faith) comes into play. I’ve seen a shift in the apologetics world, and I like it. Apologetics is increasingly becoming less about two guys in suits debating in front of an audience. Rather, it has shifted to be an accessible and necessary part of discipleship—even from an early age! (To see what I mean, check out Sean McDowell’s new book: A New Kind of Apologist.)
You can encourage a culture of questions in your children’s ministry easier than you might think.
Questions from a first grader
Have you ever given the floor to a 1st grader and asked, “Do you have any questions about God, or the Bible?”
I did this a few weeks ago in our Wednesday night program. Here are a list of questions I got from 1st graders (all written from the perspective of asking these questions directly to God):
- How old are You?
- Could donuts fall from the sky?
- Why did You make people and why do You love them?
- Why did You make the world?
- Why did You die on the cross?
- What do You do every day?
- How do You be good and not be bad?
- Why did You make scary things?
I imagine the one about donuts was because he was hungry!
Create a culture of questions
A few years ago I had a 5th grader come up to me and say, “You know when Jesus predicted that Peter would deny him three times?”
I said yes.
She continued, “And then Peter denied him three times?”
Yes, that’s what happened.
Then she asked, “So was it Peter’s fault that he denied Jesus? I mean, Jesus predicted it.”
We do not give children enough credit. They are thinking deeply about what we teach them, and not all of it clicks right away. Encouraging a culture of questions teaches the kids that there are answers out there. Listening to these questions shows that you care about what they think. Questions will only come to you when the kids know they are safe. Never guilt a child because they have doubts, instead, thank every child for their question and reassure them that it’s ok to have questions. Doubting is not destructive if they doubt in the right way! After all, healthy doubting and seeking answers can lead to stronger convictions.
A safe place for questions
Another way to encourage this culture is to create a “question box.” We do this in 3rd and 4th grade Sunday school. Every few weeks, each kid submits his or her question to the question box anonymously (or they write their name if they choose to), and then once a month or so I go through and answer as many questions as we can. The kids love it! By the time they get to be this age, I’ve found that they ask less questions about the Bible stories and more about how science and the Bible relate, etc.
Questions provide the avenue for deeper convictions. No curriculum or article will give you the exact formula for how to see results. All it takes is to sit next to a child you know and ask, “do you have questions about God, the Bible, or religion?” They may be uncomfortable at first, but once they know they are safe the questions will come fast!
Here are just a few of the questions kids have put in our box!
Simple ways to start
If you’ve never simply asked your kids if they have any questions about God or the Bible … just try it! It will stretch you and open up opportunities for deeper conversations. The kids will trust you to handle their doubts, and you will find they seek you out when they have more questions.
If you need a place to start, trying working through Cold-Case Christianity for Kids by J. Warner Wallace in Sunday School. I recommend using this in the 3rd to 4th grade range.
Connect and partner with their parents and work together! Resource them with a book by Natasha Crain written for this very purpose: Keeping Your Kids on God’s Side: 40 Conversations to Help Them Build a Lasting Faith. Natasha even has Facebook groups as online bible studies where she goes through chapter by chapter with parents and helps them learn and teach their kids the content of the book.
