The Gospel for Children Keith Palmer Associate Pastor

The Gospel for Children Keith Palmer Associate Pastor, Grace Bible Church, Granbury

Prerequisites: 1. Understand that you cannot work true conversion in a child's heart 2. Ensure your methods facilitate and don't inhibit true conversion 3. Know and be able to explain in simple language the gospel message (including verses!) 4. Don't water down or edit the gospel (there is only one gospel, not an "adult" version and a "children's" version)

Prerequisites: 5. Pray without ceasing for real conversion in your kids and for wisdom to know how to shepherd them 6. Realize that discipling children is a lengthy process, not a one-time event 7. Model what it means to be a true believer to your kids 8. Avoid the temptation of assuming that a professing child doesn't need to hear the gospel – a profession does not equal true conversion

Prerequisites: 9. Remind yourself of your role (to faithfully present the message) and God's role (to work salvation in the heart) 10. Let theology balance your earnest desire to see your kids respond to the gospel

Precautions: 1. Children are easily manipulated 2. Children are easily confused 3. Children are more subject to doing something “because my friends are” (fear of man) 4. Children may respond just to please parents or church leaders 5. Children are still developing intellectually – it is not wrong to conclude: “they are still to young to understand”

Precautions: 6. Children may respond because they fear punishment or disappointment from leaders 7. THE WORST thing we could do is to push a child into “professing Christ” then turn around assure them that because they professed that they are saved – Instead of patiently giving them the gospel, discipling them, and letting God bring about their confession of Christ.

The Gospel Presentation:

Teach them about the Bible It is God's Word – it reveals God (2 Tim. 3: 16, 1 Thes. 2: 13) It has no errors in it (Ps. 19: 7, 2 Sam. 22: 31) It is truth (John 17: 17) It alone can bring salvation (Rom. 1: 16) It is all that we need for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1: 3)

Teach them about the Bible All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. - (2 Tim. 3: 16 -17) The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. - (Ps. 19: 7) "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. – (John 17: 17) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. – (Rom 1: 16) seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. – (2 Pet. 1: 3)

Teach them about God Creator of everything – (Gen. 1: 1) Character – Holy, Good, Just, Loving, Gracious, Righteous, Kind, Patient, Allknowing, All-powerful, Everywhere, Sinless, Righteously wrathful, Compassionate, Merciful, etc. (Ex. 34: Holy – requires us to be holy (Lev. 11: 44 -45) Hates sin – can’t look at sin (Ps. 5: 4 -5, 7: 11) Sinners cannot stand before God (Ps. 1: 5, 5: 5)

Teach them about God In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. – (Gen. 1: 1) Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave {the guilty} unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations. “ – (Ex. 34: 6 -7) "For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. ” – (Lev. 11: 44) For you are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; no evil dwells with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all who do iniquity. – (Ps. 5: 4 -5) Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. – (Ps. 1: 5)

Teach them about themselves and their sin People are God's creation – but they turned from God to sin (Gen. 2 -3) Sin is a violation of God’s law (1 John 3: 4, 5: 7, Rom. 7: 7) All have sinned (Rom. 3: 23) Sin makes sinner worthy of death (Rom. 6: 23) Sinners cannot earn salvation (Rom. 3: 20) Sinners are helpless and hopeless to change their condition (Jer. 2: 22, Rom. 8: 7 -8)

Teach them about themselves and their sin Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. - (1 John 3: 4) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – (Rom. 3: 23) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – (Rom. 6: 23) because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law {comes} the knowledge of sin. – (Rom. 3: 20) because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able {to do so} and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. – (Rom. 8: 6 -7)

Teach them about Christ and what He has done He is God (John 1: 1 -3, 14, Col. 2: 9) He is Lord and Master of all (Rev. 17: 14) He became man (Phil. 2) He is sinless (Heb. 4: 15, 1 Peter 2: 22 -23, 1 John 3: 5) He became a sacrifice for sins (2 Cor. 5: 21, Titus 2: 14) He shed His blood as an atonement for sin (Eph. 1: 7, Rev. 1: 5)

Teach them about Christ and what He has done He died on a cross to provide a way of salvation for sinners (1 Peter 2: 24, Col. 1: 20) He rose triumphantly from the dead (Rom. 1: 4, 4: 25, 1 Cor. 15: 3 -4) His righteousness is imputed to those who trust Him (1 Cor. 1: 30, 2 Cor. 5: 21, Rom. 4: 56, Phil. 3: 8 -9) He freely justifies all who trust in Him (Rom. 3: 24, 5: 1 -2, Gal. 2: 16, John 5: 24)

Teach them about Christ and what He has done For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form – (Col. 2: 9) "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him {are the} called and chosen and faithful. “ – (Rev. 17: 14) For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as {we are, yet} without sin. – (Heb. 4: 15) who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. – (Titus 2: 14) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace – (Eph. 1: 7) and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, {I say} whether things on earth or things in heaven. – (Col. 1: 20)

Teach them about Christ and what He has done {He} who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. – (Rom. 4: 25) But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, - (Rom. 4: 5) being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; - (Rom. 3: 24)

Tell them God’s plan to save sinners Repent – turn from sin to God (Acts 3: 19, 17: 30, 26: 20, 1 Thes. 1: 9) Believe / Trust the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16: 31, Rom. 10: 9) Follow Him (Luke 9: 23) Tell them to count the cost - Salvation is completely free, but there is a sense in which following Christ is "costly. " Therefore, it should be considered carefully (Luke 14: 26 -33, Matt. 10: 34 -38) Urge them to trust in Christ n n We are ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor. 5: 20) Our task is to call people to repent and trust Christ (Acts 17: 30, Is. 55: 7, Rom. 9: 9 -10, 2 Cor. 5: 11)

Tell them God’s plan to save sinners "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; - (Acts 3: 19) For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, - (1 Thes. 1: 9) that if you confess with your mouth Jesus {as} Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; - (Rom. 10: 9) And He was saying to {them} all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. – (Luke 9: 23)

Tell them God’s plan to save sinners "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? "Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, "This man began to build and was not able to finish. "Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand {men} to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? "Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. "So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. – (Luke 14: 28 -33) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. – (2 Cor. 5: 20)

Explain to them the “rest of the story” The indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8) Sanctification – being made like Christ – a changed life (Rom. 12: 1 -2) Glorification – being like Christ and living with Him forever (1 Cor. 15, Rev. 21)

Explain to them the “rest of the story” But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. – (Rom. 8: 11 -14) Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, {which is} your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. – (Rom. 12: 1 -2)

Explain to them the “rest of the story” So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable {body} it is raised an imperishable {body; } it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual {body. } – (1 Cor. 15: 42 -44)

Pointers for professing children Encourage every positive evidence of saving faith, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant Continually show them how a Christian lives and behaves – disciple them and teach them Let the Holy Spirit, through the Word, be the one who gives assurance of salvation Always point them back to the gospel and their need for a Savior Watch and see how they deal with their own sin

The “invitation” Say something like, "And all of us – even you - have to make a decision about trusting Christ, " rather than "If you want to trust Christ, then pray with me right now…" or "raise your hand…" etc. This helps to ensure that the child is taking the initiative to trust Christ. If possible, have those children who seem ready to trust Christ talk with a leader one-on -one. If time allows, try to plan a time for this to occur.

The wordless book If you choose to use the wordless book, make sure that the "edition" you are using does not cut out essential parts of the message or overemphasize one point over another Remember that the Wordless book is a tool (a memory aid) for evangelism. It should not replace the content or principles of the gospel. It is the gospel itself that is the power for salvation, not the tool (Rom. 1: 16) Ensure that you give appropriate Scriptures for each page in the book Don't use the Wordless book with older kids. Instead, have them open their Bibles and lay out the gospel for them to see with their own eyes.

Figurative Language & Symbolism As a general rule, don't use figurative language (unless the passage you are teaching does, in which case it should be explained) Avoid unexplained symbolism. Instead, teach the straight-forward biblical principles Using symbolism or figurative language to illustrate a point is okay, as long as it is explained See Phil Johnson's excellent article, "Teaching Your Children Spiritual Truth. "

Use biblical terms – just be sure to explain them Many times, child evangelism materials will use unbiblical terminology or figurative language in an effort to make the message simpler. Example, "Jesus coming into my heart, " or "our hearts are black/dark with sin, etc. " This only confuses children, who often cannot grasp figurative language It also can be confusing when those kids begin to read the Bible and are introduced to a whole host of terms they have never seen before Instead, use the terms and words the Bible uses – just explain to kids what they mean