Editor's Note: This week, we're having a special launch sale for How To Teach Kids Theology, so we wanted to give you a peek inside through this excerpt. You can shop the launch sale (plus the 4 extra resources the authors recommend below) here: How To Teach Kids Theology Collection.
Through the crucible of pastoring and parenting, I have come to find that all kids want to know the answers to basic questions. The goal of this book is to get you to think and prepare for the times when your kids ask you to give a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15).
There are a few practices you need to have in place that will prepare you to be ready for your interactions with kids. Many of you might think there is no way you could teach your kids theology because you don’t understand it yourself. Take heart. You are not alone. The good news for you is that many resources are now available to help you (and your kids) understand the basic framework of our faith.
Theology is scary for many parents and leaders alike, as many of them were never intentionally taught theology because much of it was assumed when they were kids. Their parents assumed they understood things about God. The most important thing about our kids is what they think about God. Because that’s true, we can leave nothing to chance.
To do that, I would recommend the following books:
For teaching kids 3–5: Everything a Child Should Know About God by Kenneth Taylor (10Publishing, 2014)
For teaching kids 5–9: The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New by Marty Machowski (New Growth Press, 2015)
For teaching kids 9–13: Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God by Bruce Ware (Crossway, 2009)
For teaching kids 13–18: Christian Beliefs: Twenty Questions Every Christian Should Know by Wayne Grudem (Zondervan Academic, 2022)
The more you understand your faith, the easier it will be for you to explain it to the children you teach. The brilliant and famous theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer often said, “If one couldn’t communicate the most profound ideas about God and the Bible to children, something was amiss. There was more to life than academia.” [1]
One final thought is that you need to prepare your heart as well as your mind. To prepare your heart, I would offer two simple suggestions:
Make a consistent time of prayer and reading God’s Word a lifelong habit.
Make the reading of poetry a lifelong challenge. Poetry combines efficiency in word use with beauty in prose in a powerful way that is life-giving to you and those you lead. Two poets who were pastoral in their approach and are helpful to any Christian are John Donne and George Herbert.
Excerpted from How to Teach Kids Theology © 2025 by Sam Luce and Hunter Williams. Used with permission of New Growth Press. May not be reproduced without prior written permission.
About How To Teach Kids Theology:
What comes to mind when you think about teaching theological truths to children? Glazed eyes? Over-their-head discussions? Theology doesn't have to be "too deep for kids." For 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.
A child's faith is only as strong as the God they believe in. For their faith to be great, they need to learn about their great God. In each chapter, the authors diagnose problems that hinder leaders from teaching kids theology, explain principles to combat these problems, and suggest practices for applying these principles to your ministry.
Citations
[1] Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (Thomas Nelson, 2020), 64.
