My family loves to eat out. We love burger joints, Thai, sushi, and pizza—fine dining or fast food. If you can name it, we’ve most likely eaten it. And in our extensive gastronomic experiences, one thing has been true of every single restaurant: they all had a kids’ menu.
Restaurants understand that if they can’t feed kids, they won’t appeal to families. Likewise, when most parents visit a new church, they want to know if you have spiritual food to feed their children. Thankfully, most churches do have a kids’ menu. On it are things like children’s ministry classes, vacation Bible school, Awana, or youth group.
But one menu item is often absent: the sermon. Yes, I realize basically all churches have a sermon. Yet many (most?) sermons don’t have anything for the kids. So let me ask: Preacher, what’s on your kids’ menu?
As you prepare a feast for your congregation, remember to include something for the kids.
Do you address children in your sermons on a regular basis? When you help the adults in your congregation think about how to apply the text to their lives, do you help kids do the same? As you prepare a feast for your congregation, remember to include something for the kids.
Here are three menu items I’ve included in my preaching that have, by God’s grace, engaged the kids and grown their love for God’s Word. (You already have these items in your preaching pantry. You just need to prepare them a bit differently.)
1. Questions
Make a habit of asking kids questions about the text you’re preaching. Call on them collectively: “Kids, I have a question for you. Can any of you tell me . . . ?” You’ll want to make clear if you are asking for verbal answers (“Raise your hand if you know. . .”) or if you are asking rhetorically (“Think about whether you would. . .”). You’ll also want to consider the ages of the kids in your congregation and the types of questions they can answer. Given that cognitive abilities develop quickly during the childhood years, you might even consider posing questions to specific groups: “I have a question for the 5-to-7-year-olds . . . for the 7-to-10-year-olds . . . for the 10-to-13-year-olds . . . for the teens.” Be as specific as you like; just be sure to vary it up.
I’m currently preaching through Genesis and have asked all sorts of questions to the kids. When talking about God being a shield, I asked the younger kids what shields are used for. When discussing God’s covenant with Noah, I asked the teens to name the major covenants of the Old Testament. While explaining why Lot and Abram separated, I asked the kids what would happen if I put 10 of them in a room with only enough toys for two of them. In response, they correctly yelled, “We would fight!”
Kids love answering questions. Eyes will light up and hands will shoot up. Consistent questions do wonders for their engagement with the sermons.
2. Illustrations
Serve up some age-appropriate illustrations. Illustrations directed to kids not only capture their attention but bring to light biblical truths they might otherwise miss.
Get into their world and illustrate from there to make the meal you’ve prepared more edible.
When preparing illustrations for kids, you’ll want to use kid-friendly ingredients. Illustrations drawn from marriage, work, or current events can be just as difficult to process as the biblical truths you’re trying to illustrate. Think about the types of things that capture their imaginations.
When addressing our powerlessness to defeat sin, paint a picture for the little boys that shows how impossible it would be to defeat a massive army if they only had nerf guns and plastic swords. When talking to teen girls, tell them to imagine how amazing it would be if they were friends with Taylor Swift and could call her anytime they wished. Then tell them how much more amazing it is that they’re friends with God and can talk to him whenever they want.
From Daniel Tiger to Narnia, Dude Perfect to amusement parks, feeling scared in the dark to getting caught doing wrong, the list of ways to illustrate biblical truths for kids is endless. Get into their world and illustrate from there to make the meal you’ve prepared more edible. (A side benefit of kid-friendly illustrations is that most grown-ups can easily relate to these scenarios too!)
Don’t be afraid to get animated and be expressive. This may not come naturally to some preachers, but I encourage it. Kids love seeing stories acted out, and getting into character for a moment is a great way to make a passage come alive. The goal isn’t silliness for silliness’ sake but to capture their imaginations and fill their minds with the greatness of God.
3. Applications
I’ve saved “apps” for last. I assume you work each week to thoughtfully help your congregation apply the text to their lives. As you do, consider including a few application points for the kids.
Teach kids they aren’t spectators at church by speaking directly about how they should live in light of what the Bible says.
One of the most effective ways to teach kids they aren’t spectators at church is by speaking directly about how they should live in light of what the Bible says. Consider the various commands we encounter in Scripture—commands to put off anger, walk by faith, hope in God, and speak truth in love, among others. Brainstorm life situations in which kids can obey these commands.
For example, you can say something like this:
Kids, notice what this passage teaches us. It teaches there’s a connection between faith and being a peacemaker. Those who walk by faith will have a disposition of being peacemakers and of willingly giving up their rights for the sake of unity. Does that describe you? Would your parents say you’re a peacemaker? Do you look for ways to make peace with your siblings, or do you look for ways to get what you want? Would your siblings say you’re the type of person who willingly gives up your rights for their sake? Or do you always take the best seat, the best food, the best controller, the best clothes?
Again, you’ll want to keep different ages in mind. Application for a 9-year-old will differ from application for teens. Though you can speak to teens in much the same way you speak to adults, I’d still encourage addressing them as a group so they realize you’ve prepared part of the meal for them. Some of my most encouraging post-church conversations have been with teens wanting to think more about how to apply the sermon in their lives.
We want our kids to know the church is for them, Jesus is for them, and eternal life is for them—so let’s speak to them in our sermons. Consider adding these items to your menu, and in time you’ll find a growing appetite among the kids for the meal you’ve worked so hard to prepare.
The Gospel Coalition