How to Teach Kids Theology

“If we want our kids to stand firm in a culture that suppresses the truth of Christianity, we need to give them a grand view of God that overwhelms their hearts and fills them with wonder. Our children’s resolve is only as strong as the God they believe in, and if the God they believe in is presented to them as nothing more than a small deity, their loyalty will follow suit.”
How to Teach Kids Theology by Sam Luce and Hunter Williams

In Aesop’s fables, we encounter a collection of stories with memorable characters designed to deliver a moral lesson. In The Boy Who Cried Wolf, we learn not to lie. In The Tortoise and the Hare, we see that good things come to those who are patient and consistent. We come away from each story with a simple slogan meant to help us do better.
Unfortunately, when we teach our children or teens, we can unintentionally create the impression that the Bible is not much different from Aesop’s fables. The Good Samaritan becomes a lesson about being kind to others. The narrative of Jonah and the whale turns into a reminder that we should obey when we are told to do something. These approaches reduce Bible passages to little more than character lessons, rather than revealing who God is and what he has done.
When we treat Scripture this way, we forget that any time we teach the Bible we are teaching theology. The real question is not whether we are theologians, but whether we are good ones. Reading this book pushed me to examine my own habits when teaching. 
As I was reading the examples of how parents and leaders can miss the mark when teaching Scripture, I cringed many times. I have used almost every one of those techniques or explanations when talking with my own children or teaching at church. It was eye-opening to see how cute stories, analogies, and moral takeaways can minimize the true purpose of a biblical passage. 

Sometimes it can be daunting to talk to children or teens about who God is and what he has done. We need to use vocabulary and concepts that they can understand, but without minimizing the deep truths that Scripture presents. This book reminds us that we can be transparent and admit when something is hard to understand. We can tell children and teens that we will have to study more and return to the subject another time.

I appreciated that the book introduces basic principles for studying Scripture.  The authors encourage us to take time to read the passages we are teaching, understand them, and look for gospel implications. These are invaluable steps to take before attempting to teach. Luce and Williams also give excellent principles for preparing for lessons, and choosing appropriate curriculum. In addition, they provide practical tips for designing engaging, gospel-centered lessons.

So who would benefit the most from reading this book? The book is written for people who teach children and teens — including parents and grandparents. But I also recommend this resource for new believers who want to understand how to study Scripture. There are also many ideas that are also helpful for adult small group leaders. In short, if you are a believer, it is well worth adding to your reading list. 


See also: Next Generation