how to explain salvation to a teenager

Read 1 John 1:9. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Now is the time for teens to share their faith. We should pray for wisdom and seek Gods leading, and then we should aim for the heart. Be an example to your children of what it means to be a true follower of Christ. Salvation takes place the moment a child understands that he is a sinner that needs saving, humbly repents, and accepts Gods amazing gift of grace. A true dependence upon Jesus to save us cant help but result in a changed heart and a changed life. 3. To Explain Salvation To A Child- Use Visuals And Story Form Use our pre-made childrens ministry training videos or record your own. RAISING A GODLY DAUGHTER: 7 TIPS FOR PARENTING GODS WAY. 2:8), faith can be understood in some sense as the entrance into God's family. Liberate teens from the pressure of getting decisions and embolden them with a reliance on Gods sovereignty. Read Genesis 1:1; Revelation 4:11; and Colossians 1:16-17. If a child asks about baptism they might not be asking about salvation, their intent might truly be to understand what baptism is. One of the easiest ways to help a child understand their heart condition is to take a look at the 10 Commandments together (Exodus 20). Her first book is This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years. The study also has a free leaders guide which will walk you through the best way to use the study with your particular student. Worldly sorrow is more like the regret of a criminal whos just been caught whereas godly sorrow is the deep remorse or conviction that produces a change in direction. Yes, our children will see our flaws and mistakes, but we can use even our downfalls to point them to a gracious God who never gives up on us. Gifts For Christian Moms: 23 Unique Finds To Make Her Smile, Are You Raising A Little Peter? Over the years I think there have been a few unhelpful ways to talk about faith as well as many helpful ways. When our child truly trusts in Jesus for his salvation, he or she will begin to change from the inside out. These cookies do not store any personal information. He paid the debt we could not pay and redeemed us (bought us back) from the power of sin and death. Luke 9:23 says, "if anyone would come after me (be my disciple), they must deny themselves daily, take up their cross, and follow me." The conversation that followed was life-changing for both of us. Kids ask why Zacchaeus was so small and how Noah built such a big boat with no power tools. It is tough to admit that we are wrong. B. Teens are talkative, and we talk to our friends about almost everything. . Biblical faith begins with conviction: When the apostle Peter preached at Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 those listening to the Gospel message were cut to the heart. As parents, we often make things harder than they need to be. They also ask deeply significant questions. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. God is the one who changes hearts. Thats so exciting, Megan! 3. Explaining salvation to a child is one of the fundamental roles a parent and or teacher can have when interacting with children. Our family has genuinely enjoyed following young Christian on his journey to the Celestial City, and I believe that yours would too. As an adult, you probably have an arsenal of metaphors and anecdotes and euphemisms. The beauty of the gospel is that it can reach the most wretched sinners, but is equally accessible to a young child. Write the date of their salvation decision in the front, along with their name, and dog-ear the pages with the scriptures highlighted. Remember, the Bible says we are saved by grace through faith. true /ColorSpace 18 0 R /BitsPerComponent 8 /Filter /FlateDecode >> Salvation doesnt happen the moment a child believes in the existence of God or even when he acknowledges that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Your email address will not be published. The Bible calls this sin. Hopefully, weve all heard of Jesus before. Be patient and pray. %\1=,ggcGYX Not only should we be asking our children questions, but we should also eagerly answer their questions as well! A physical Bible can be marked, bookmarked, and underlinedand then given to the child as a gift. Salvation is about far more than a judge acquitting a defendant. Acceptance is a very passive term, while the Scriptures define faithas a very active term. Eventually, these different definitions combined, confused and crippled the Evangelist and the sinner, as the unified definitions of Salvation became so confusing that no one dares try to explain it, for fear of looking stupid and faithless. Allow the child to express his own ideas. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) was an English evangelical Anglican bishop during the 19th century gifted in his ability to teach and preach Gods Word. Explaining salvation to a child is one of the fundamental roles a parent and or teacher can have when interacting with children. The very reason that He sent His perfect sinless Son to the world was for the sole purpose of dying the death that we deserve. God then brought about multiple painful circumstances in her life that showed her that she needed Jesus to be her hiding place, and that salvation could only come through him. While a knowledgeable belief is certainly an integral aspect of faith, it doesn't work as a defining term to capture all of what faith is. WebExplain that the plan of salvation can be divided into three parts: premortal life, mortal life, and life after death. With three circles, you can explain why Christs death alone is sufficient. But there is absolutely nothing greater than my desire to see them come to a saving faith in Christ. The only opportunity we are guaranteed to have is right now! Now we sat together in a coffee shop downtown, two teens sipping mugs of hot tea and catching up on life. often. % If your children are sincerely searching for truth, they will find it. Please be careful to never judge your childrens questions or despair of their doubts. Trent enjoys to read, write, drink coffee, kayak, listen to the happy rant, and spend time with his wife and son. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. The gospel is too big and too good not to share, and teenagers need this gospel. Once your child understands that the way of salvation is through Jesus alone, he or she has a choice to make. So, he came to save us from our sins to make us right with God. This is the best gift ever! The church wasn't pursued by the vicious Roman Army because they shared a personal acknowledgment Jesus that was Lord but that they shared a public allegiance that Jesus was Lord. Have you ever felt convicted after doing something wrong? And in order for this to happen, all you have to do is believe in Jesus and accept His gift of eternal life. It is tough to admit that we are wrong. Your life will be forever changed as you begin a new journey of faith in Him, surrendered to His Lordship. As adults, often we tend to overcomplicate the message of salvation or underestimate what our children can understand. Sharing the gospel story in the lobby between services is a bad place. Written by a teenager for teenagers, This Changes Everything is a deeply theological yet practical and accessible book on how the gospel radically transforms every aspect of the teen years. << /Type /Page /Parent 3 0 R /Resources 6 0 R /Contents 4 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] Receive Gods gift of salvation by declaring that you believe in Jesus finished work on the cross, His shed blood for your sin, and His resurrection from the grave on the third day. Thats why I was nervous, anxious, and, ultimately, silent. Biblical faith always leads to repentance: When those who heard Peter's message in Acts chapter 2 were cut to the heart they were told they must repent and be baptized. My daughter (6) has been asking a lot of questions in regards to being saved. . My name is Tabatha and I'm a stay at home and home-school momma of two sweet kiddos and one very energetic puppy. stream This is an important part of the plan of salvation for kids. Plus, it will help teens prepare to reach out to their peers. A simple question can open up so many doors when it comes to sharing the hope of Christ with our children. Explain the Gospel with simplicity. Youre not giving a speech and youre not teaching a lesson. It is important to remember that the Holy Spirit will guide the conversation and illuminate for the child what the Spirit needs them to know. 6A /N`$3o.FGc!a@(3'H -L>tzt3V178*t49(T#=F7 vl-Z,/kQEg:x Here are five object lessons you can use to teach kids about salvation. All rights reserved worldwide. The Bible refers to the heart as the central processing station of every aspect of life. Admit that you have broken Gods law. Hollowell earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Mississippi and her Master of Arts in elementary education from Alcorn State University. As Moyer says, He didnt make the down payment; he made the full payment.. 2023 ChurchLeaders.com, All rights reserved. Somewhere on that spectrum are spiritual questions. For example, when you are outside with your teen, remark on the beauty of nature and remind him that God was the creator of the world. Also, sharing the message of salvation needs to be ongoing. No matter their age we can easily engage in conversation by asking them questions to help shift their thoughts to what is of greatest importance. Its simple: ADMIT that youre a sinner, BELIEVE that Jesus died for you and was raised to life, and CONFESS Jesus as your Savior and Lord. The truth is that the gospel doesnt need convincing. The Holy Spirit, leads men and women to the knowledge of the truth, and convicts the heart of man to trust in who Jesus is and what He has done. The parallels of Aslans character to Jesus are sure to help a child better grasp the gentleness yet fierce protection, love, and holiness of our Savior. Empower your teens for gospel witness with persistent prayer. My hearts plea is for both of them to see the beauty of and humbly accept the gracious gift of salvation theyve been offered and live a life that will honor their Maker. Faith is not only knowledge about: While a believing knowledge is most certainly a part of what faith is, it doesn't summarize all that faith is. , Your email address will not be published. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit is the one that convicts us of our sin. Would you like to look it up together?, Why do our bad choices have consequences?. Talk to your teen about God and Jesus. Anyone can make But all people are eternally separated from God because of sin and can do nothing to restore their relationship with God. The Apostle Paul boldly proclaimed his faith so that others could hear and be saved. Reading Gods law will help open your childs eyes to their own sinfulness. When it comes down to it explaining salvation to a child isnt much different than explaining it to anyone else. Webrelationship Christians (especially teenagers) should have toward alcohol. But it will also involve preparing your heart for how to achieve deeper conversations at your family gathering. Heaven itself is even rejoicing with you! The Bible makes clear that no one comes to the Father unless the Father draws Him (John 6:44). All Christians are commanded to share the gospelincluding us young ones (Mark 16:15). are each a response to what is already taking place inside of our hearts. Teach your teenager that Biblical faith is not just acknowledging Jesus, it's trusting Jesus; and salvation is not just believing in Jesus, it's following Jesus. Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die, shedding His own blood on the cross in my place so that I could receive His righteousness by faith. Repentance is a radical change of one's mindset that lead to a change in one's actions. TrainedUp has video training on baptism and how to explain it. I thank You that You sent Jesus to earth to be the perfect sacrifice in my place. It seems obvious, but its important. Remember that even Jesus used parables to help further the understanding of the crowds he was teaching. 2. Learn more about the TrainedUp library. Does our selfishness truly bring about lasting satisfaction?, How do we know that Jesus is the only way to Heaven?, Why is it important for us to stand up for what is right?, Do you understand why we had to discipline you?, Do you know what Gods Word says about that topic? But how does a parent best explain what faith is with their son or daughter? Isnt that awesome? You can write it down or print a copy from a Christian site. 2015. the purpose of proclaiming the gospel through publishing For example, substitutionary atonement might be better phrased as, Jesus took your punishment to make things right between you and God.. That truth should always be the starting point for any gospel conversation. We Sinned: Since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God (Romans 3:23). I can accept things I don't trust. Salvation is for kids and adults. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Learn more. 12 0 obj These rich truths pulled straight from Scripture will encourage children and adults alike. I think we often downplay the amount of influence we hold over our children. The ABCs are a response to the gospel message. Talk to your parents about: 1) what categories of alcoholic beverages there are, 2) how much alcohol each typically contains (%), and 3) how little can be consumed before they start to affect the mind/body. What does the Bible say about the role of a mother? www.zondervan.com, Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Member Dashboard Login. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. Do you know what sin is? Adam and Eve sinned, which gave all of us the desire to be selfish and choose wrong. endobj Share the Gospel with Children The Bible has laid out everything we need to know about Gods plan, the gift of Jesus, how Jesus alone is the only One who can atone for sin, and what happens if we believe His death covered our sin. And a merciful God who sent them a Savior in the gift of His Son, Jesus. The bent of every man, woman, and childs heart is to selfishly pursue our own interests. What would our families look like if we truly began to grasp what is of greatest importance and joyfully began sharing it with our children? It really is that simple. Thank you for sharing this it helps more than you know. In Jesus name, Amen.. Train your childrens ministry volunteers with TrainedUp. As parents, we often make things harder than they need to be. Dumb. As a Christian parent, you will have a deep desire to teach your children about God and His saving plan. My name is Aimee, and I have to tell you, motherhood is such a rewarding but overwhelming task! Let us know that you have prayed this prayer and how we can pray for you! C. In fact if your child has expressed some doubts or struggles regarding their faith this can actually be a good thing! God created each child and loves each child. #cw# [bpr8NLfgi" &$#Z7Uz`l%g;"(9/vCQe|iUED;XHt3oA$:43cwfKP!u-~OYqQ Although explaining salvation to a child certainly involves us sharing the good news of Jesus verbally with our children, our actions play an important role as well. BBelieve that Jesus is Gods Son and receive Gods gift of forgiveness from sin. Please see my full disclosure for details. Forming cliques can be a perpetual temptation for teenagers. Being born of the spirit can happen at any time no matter how old or young. Its beauty is alluring all on its own. Scripture teaches us that someone can believe God exists while not having a salvific relationship with Him. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. By Gods strength, I will seek to share about what God has done in my life with each opportunity God brings my way. The important element is how Jesus changed your life. The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. This plan should include helping the child engage with the Bible and be a part of a Bible-believing church. Gods Word, the Bible, clearly states that, Both John the Baptist and Jesus himself began their preaching with the word, Repent. Face-to-face evangelism can be scary for teens, which is why technology is a significant blessing it can provoke us to share the gospel more. Teens are going through physical and emotional changes and might have doubts about God or they might approach religion with skepticism. I could have easily shared with McKenzie an encouraging story about my church, yet I missed the opportunity. The video below features wisdom from Larry Moyer, author of 21 Things God Never Said: Correcting Our Misconceptions About Evangelism. Although God loves everyone, He is a just and Holy God. This was both a life-changing and life-threatening message in a culture where the Roman Emperor demanded allegiance. Caroline Newheiser. Jesus Gives: Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Begin with acknowledgement of one's sins and awareness that no one can do anything to pay the debt for sin. He sent His Son Jesus, who lived a perfect life, to die in our place. Your Bible app is a great tool, but I doubt youre going to give your phone to the child after the gospel conversation. : Hope For The Parent of A Strong Willed Child, Random Acts of Kindness: 12 Fun Ideas For Families, Resting In Jesus In The Midst of Lifes Struggles. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Encourage teens to utilize social media for outreach. The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. 5 0 obj What happened and how did you make it right? I was easily irritated, and my house was a wreck! This is great. John 16:7-8. As we emerge from this pandemic, we have a fresh opportunity to embrace essential relationships, not just returning to our pre-pandemic status-quo, but moving forward into something even better. This practical visual will help youth leaders reach out to unchurched students. What is the problem we all have? McKenzie was not a Christian, and I felt desperately like I needed share the gospel with her. I would love to share with you how Ive grown in this area so that you, . (If youre looking for some specific questions to begin asking your children you may want to check out Natasha Crains Keeping Your Kids on Gods Side: 40 Conversations to Help Them Build a Lasting Faith.). However, you can simplify it in this moment by explaining that repentance is making a promise to change our actions and then following through on that promise. Reading books that clearly share the gospel message may be quite helpful for children. We are a culture that loves to gather around big events like the forthcoming Super Bowl. Before a child can choose salvation, they need to know the gospel . Before teens can actually explain the gospel, they must first know it themselves. The change in action resulting from a repentant heart is a turn from living a life of gratifying-self to living a life glorifying God. As your teen Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Here and now, I surrender my life, my plans, my goals to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Before teens can actually explain the gospel, they must first know it themselves. Its important to be prepared to discuss spiritual things with kids. Except for one problemmy stomach was in knots. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Sometimes it can help our children if they have a visual aid to help them understand salvation. As Christian parents, you want your child to be converted and share in the salvation that Jesus provides. Teens are throwing Super Bowl parties. While the gospel does bring many wonderful present blessings, its main message is about being eternally saved or lost. This is true of any other affiliate links within this post. 2. Are there any particular words to avoid that fall short of a true explanation of faith? You should also seek out a church (a group of other believers in Jesus Christ) that believes and teaches the unchangeable Word of God. Why or why not?. }KB1omJEYcoHTq)2!^t\_xh)]hv/~#okW175e%~o8gO^*#7@mhGmA A+oq}U i M'!n)+qjCc>4A}Hs#Ai.L6{dJli3HVR}hVBF Do We Really Understand What It Means That Jesus Is Our Messiah? True salvation will result in spiritual fruit or growth in their life. Trent Rosemanis the Next Generation Pastor at First Baptist Church Tampa, FL. This is why I believe Christians in the early church were persecuted. As a result, we have developed a baptism study that can be used with older kids and teens (frankly our reviewers believe adults could use it comfortably too). I realize that the penalty for sin is death. Despite the necessary consequences of our sin, Jesus died for us so we could be with God. 5;\aBc*X_?TlBZN*xO6Ad qi? God Rules: The Bible tells us God created everything, including you and me, and He is in charge of everything. These lessons illustrate how trusting in Jesus to forgive you of sin will change you. Stop sign:We are all sinners, doing things that God wants us to stop doing. Keep praying for your child, keep speaking Gods truth into their heart, keep following Jesus yourself, and then rest in knowing that Gods love for them is even greater than your own. The illustrations are stunning and the story is a precious work of art! While faith encompasses Jesus being at the center of your heart, "acceptance" falls short of the Biblical definition of faith. So teach your teens to be tuned in to how they can weave the gospel into ordinary conversation. Kids ask so many questions. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18. The discussion of sin doesnt need to turn the child into a punching bag. This is the power behind evangelism. Keep pouring the truths of Gods Word into them and back it all up with solid evidence based answers. And he said to all,If anyone would come after me, let himdeny himself andtake up his crossdaily and follow me. Luke 9:23. . Keeping that open line of communication, especially in this area, is vital to maintaining a strong relationship with them. But nothing is more important than sharing Gods free gift of eternal life. For I am not ashamed of thegospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:17NKJV To repent means change ones mind or to turnto go in another direction. God is holy and just. Yes, the role comes with many other perks and challenges. 6 0 obj Our children need to understand that at the core of their heart is a sin nature that separates them from a holy God. Most American teens say they rarely or never discuss religion with their friends, according to a new survey by Pew Research. And this is His commandment: that we shouldbelieve on the Name of His Son JesusChrist and love one another, as He gave us commandment. He is the One in charge of how things work. I thank You that He didnt stay dead, but rose again on the third day according to Your plan! Childrens Stories is a compilation of six sermons he preached to children to share the hope of Christ and equip them to live a life that will honor Him. Its important that the childs parents know about their decision to follow Christ. Its not enough to only share that Jesus died on the cross for our sins so we can go to heaven. Before diving into the meat of the conversation, start with open questions about what they know, where they learned, and why theyre curious about the gospel now. For youth ministers, the most important job requirement is knowing to how to explain salvation to a teenager. Salvation takes place the moment a child understands that he is a sinner that needs saving, humbly repents, and accepts Gods amazing gift of grace. This retelling for children of John Bunyans classic allegory truly does the original justice, and speaks volumes to children in a way that they can comprehend. 4 0 obj When you look at the lives of New Testament believers you see not only a personal acceptance of Jesus as the Savior of their souls but you see a public proclamation of Jesus as the Lord of their lives. We must be sure we are teaching our kids before we lead them in such a prayer that reciting carefully crafted sentences is not synonymous with personal faith. This a great opportunity to relate how forgiving others (siblings, friends, etc) translates into God forgiving us. Beloved author Dr. R.C. Biblical faith changes one's allegiance: A book written by Matthew W. Bates entitled Salvation by Allegiance Alone argues that Biblical faith can be best defined as allegiance. Help your teen understand how to pray for salvation 2. It can be tempting for us to try to coerce or convince our children to follow Jesus when in reality their heart may be far from it. ?o$'~0- +x8A`7)[XqtI%bb@iE:-&/;'xyn)_;{=9WD492{ Ur50 Explain that todays lesson will help them to understand more about when God created the world. Scripture teaches and all people who are saved are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8). Confess Jesus as Savior and Lord of your life. Like any new job, the first year came with a learning curve and the need to pick up new skills. And, thats why Jesus was able to do the coolest thing of all for us. Well, as a whole our society tends to value people based upon measurable standards and outward appearances- talent, success, intellect, wealth, and beauty. Then Paul said, John indeed baptized with a baptism ofrepentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, onChrist Jesus.. Yet there seemed to be a disconnect between my brain and my mouth. >> endobj WebThe ABCs of Salvation explain the way of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ in three simple easy to remember steps. why they need salvation in the first place. Your email address will not be published. If you are not familiar with prayer, it is simply talking to God openly and honestly. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10NKJV. We Respond: We can respond to Jesus. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, thatwhoever believes in Himshould not perish but have everlasting life. In truth, salvation comes through Christ alone, and his death is sufficient. Repentance is a difficult concept to teach sometimes. stream She currently teaches fourth grade reading/language and social studies. Helped them practice saying it? While living a life for God can be challenging, thankfully salvation itself is simple. We overthink so many things! Teens need to know in straightforward terms about the need for Jesus in their lives. 1. NOTICE: Javascript is disabled. (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:4; John 3:16). It means that they are thinking which can propel them to sincerely search for the truth. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. WebHow to Talk to Your Kids About Salvation KidSpring Children's Ministry 144K subscribers Subscribe Share 9K views 6 years ago Has your child been asking questions about This can result in a false sense of security regarding salvation and we need to be careful to guard against taking the reins of their faith.

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