Child Sized Apologetics: Teaching Kids

Child-Sized Apologetics: Teaching Kids Why They Believe, What They Believe1

Good News for Children’s Spiritual Development

Child–Sized Apologetics: Teaching Kids

Why They Believe, What They Believe

Apologetics—The Purpose

Definition

To defend

It is the ability to defend or give an answer for why we believeand what we believe.

Why should we teach apologetics?

• To give children a correct theology

Truth—Foundational truths that guide the child’s thinking and in turn guide his actions (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

2.Belief—What the child believes about the truth will affect how he responds to God’s Word and influence his relationship with God.

3.Practice—So the child can understand how to correctly defend his faith(2 Timothy 1:12).

• To ground children in their hope

Strengthen their faith (Rom. 10:17)
Sensitize them to truth/error(Eccl. 10:10)
Sustain their confidence and trust in God(Prov. 3:5-6)

• To guide children in their walk

Defend their belief (1 Pet.3:15)
Discernbetween truth and error(Ps. 119:104)
Decide to follow God(Ps. 119:160)

• To meet conditions that demand it

60% of Americans feel children should be encouraged to decide their religious views on their own.(Faith and Family in America Poll, October 2005)

This generation is called “Generation Y.”

Apologetics—The Plan

Apologetics is centered on truth. That truth is the content of the Christian faith.

Model the Truth

• Through imitation—Live the James 1:6 principle

1.I’m consistent in my teaching(Holding true, not contradictory: a consistent set of statements)

I live in conformity with the Word of God(Action or behavior)
My life is congruent with Christ’s(Corresponding in character or kind)

• Through what the children want to know

Is it important to the people around me? Parents, teacher, pastor etc.
How does it relate to the people I live and go to school with?(Culture)
How does it relate to my personal life?Is it applicable?
Can I do it?

• Through what the teacher needs to consider

1.Am I a good model?

Can I defend what I believe?
How can I help the children see the importance of thebiblical principle being taught?
Can the children see how this biblical principle applies to life in general?
Is this biblical principle clear and applicable to the children?
Does this biblical principle have achievable goals that can be measured?

Mold the Clay

• Mandatory foundation

Fact:There is no excuse for Christians to be unable to articulate what they believe and why; therefore,they must be informed in foundational truth.

• Help the children articulate what they believe.

Who God is—God should be a constant and intimate part of a child's life and vocabulary.

1.His deity

2.His attributes

3.His nature

4.His character

God is creator and ruler

1.When children ask about things in creation relate them back to God.

2.Teach children to respect God.

3.Teach children “The One God” principle—This is known as “The Shema”—“Hear, O Israel: The Lordour God, The Lord is one." (Deut. 6:4-9)

Jesus isGod the Son

Jesus and His death, burial and resurrection

Jesus is the only way to Heaven

The Bible is God’s Word

The Bible is TUFF

T—Tons and tons of copies. There are far more manuscripts that give evidence to this than any other book.

U—Underground discoveries. Historical finds always support the accuracy and truthfulness of Scripture.

F—Fulfilled prophecies.All prophecies except those pertaining to the Second Coming have been fulfilled.

F—Facts taken as a whole.All that we know about the Bible shows us there is far too much evidence to say, “NOT TRUE.

—From kids4truth

Apologetics—The Place

Making it work in the classroom

• Look at the curriculum and determine what biblical truth is evident.

In the theme

In the main truth being taught

• Set aside time on a regular basis to introduce a new biblical truth.

Build one truth for several weeks

Make sure the children thoroughly understand the concepts being taught

• Use variety

1.Games

2.Songs

3.Object lessons

4.Bible drills, similar to sword drills

5.Have children make posters, wall murals or banners

6.Have a “Mystery Message” time in your class

Make a “Mystery Message” box. Choose a child to take out the message for the day and read it.Follow this with a story, playing a video or reading about that particular truth.

7.Use take-home sheets

8.Have a question and answer time

9.Ask the pastor to come and share in your class

10.Plan an apologetics Sunday or better yet a month of Sundays

11.Find a Christian who teaches science in your area and ask them to come to share with the children.

Making it work at home

• Help parents understand the value of apologetics for their child’s life.

• Equipparentsto teach their children the basics.

• Give parents some practical hands-on tools.

Inform parents of what will be shared in their child’s classover the next few weeks

2.Provide family activities

3.Encourage reading

4.Plan a trip to the local children’s museum with parents. Observe how the children respond to various activities. Consider how you may do some of the same in your class.

5.Recommend DVDs and videos

6.Encourage your church to plan a workshop day for parents where they can learn how to teach their children at home

Child-Sized Apologetics: Teaching Kids Why They Believe, What They Believe1

Good News for Children’s Spiritual Development

Resources

Things to make and show for this session

• The Bible is TUFF(Large and small size)

• Take-Home sheets

• “Why I Believe!” visuals

Suggested materials to purchase for this session(CEF Press®

• Songs—“I Believe,”“Trinity,”“God’s Power” “7 Main Truths”

• Children’s Ministry Resource Bible

• God Creator King Bible Lessons

• “Christian Belief Object Lessons”

•

Books:

Alan Root—Biblotechtonics, Designamentals

Henrietta Mears—What the Bible Is All about for Young Readers

Joan Snipes—That Ye May Teach the Children

Josh McDowell—Beyond Belief: True or False Workbook for Younger Children(Grades 1 to 3; Grades 4-6)

• Magazine:

Answers in Genesis magazine (1-800-778-3390 or

• DVDs and Videos:

Children’s DVD Pack by Ken

The Great Dinosaur Mystery by Paul S Taylor

The Jesus Film for Children “Campus Crusade”

• Curriculum:

Little Talker series by “The Parent Company” (This is an excellent resource—has additional materials as well.)

CEF Specialized Book Ministry (Free materials for teaching doctrine to children)

• Web sites: