Our kids are growing up in a world today that is so much different than the world we grew up in. It is a world that seems to be growing more and more evil. As well, there seems to be more persecution against Christians. Several of us who are veterans of children’s ministries have been praying and discussing ways we feel we can strengthen the walk of our kids who are living in this world. We are praying that God will give us keys for deepening the spiritual roots in our kids. My book Strong Enough to Last (which in the Spanish version is titled, Fortaleza Perdurable) is a book about helping to grow the spiritual foundation of kids through eight key goals of discipleship.
Now, we are trying to go even deeper by finding key strategies to help prepare our kids to stand spiritually tall in our world today. In this article I address one of those key thoughts, which is: “Kids must ask spiritual questions.” Kids learn through asking questions. Toddlers never stop asking questions! That’s how kids learn!
In Joshua chapter four, God instructs the Israelites to do something quite strange. A man from each tribe was chosen to take a stone and hoist it onto his shoulder and carry it across to where they were staying that night. Note: it doesn’t say they picked up a stone and put it into their pocket or their bag. They put it up on their shoulder the way a man might carry a mighty log. I imagine they were each well over six feet tall and weighed over 250 pounds. Sweat must have poured down their bodies as they carried these stones to the place of their gathering.
Why did God do this? Many times in Scripture we don’t know why God asks us to do certain things, but in this case God shows us His plan. He tells them to build a big monument of the 12 stones. He explains that they are a sign — for the children! He states in Joshua 4:6-7 (NIV), “When your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD… These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” The pile of stones was for one purpose — to get kids asking questions! God wants children to ask spiritual questions of their parents, mentors, and leaders. He had the Israelites create this pile of stones so that the Israelite children would be curious and would ask questions. God then instructs the Israelites that when the kids ask what the stones mean, they are to tell the kids about the great God they serve.
We must give kids the chance to ask us spiritual questions — even tough spiritual questions! Imagine a child asking you the question, “How did you get saved?” Suddenly you have the opportunity to describe your life before Christ and after knowing Christ. You get to explain what it was like not knowing Jesus. Not having peace. Not having forgiveness. DAVID BOYD David has been involved in children’s ministry leadership for the Assemblies of God churches for many years. He has written many resources including the book “Strong Enough to Last” — available in both English and Spanish. You may contact him at com. Why did you become a Christian? How did you become a Christian? Are there things you regret, that you wish you had never done? Do you ever wonder if there really is a God? Have you ever struggled with sin since becoming a Christian? How do you know the Bible is really true? Has God ever answered your prayers? Has God ever not answered your prayers? Have you ever wondered if there really is a heaven and a hell? Has God ever helped you with your finances? Have you ever been really lonely or sad? Have you ever been made fun of since you were a Christian? Are you ever scared? Have you ever been angry with God? Has God ever spoken to you? Has God ever told you that you have done something wrong?
How much better if your child could learn what life is like without Christ through your eyes rather than living that way on their own someday. As a child asks questions like that of their parents, grandparents, teachers, pastors, and mentors, they will discover a newfound depth to their own faith. Many will even discover a thankfulness for the life they have in Christ as a young child.
Kids need to be able to ask you tough questions such as: “Have you ever been angry with God since you were a Christian?” or “Has God ever not answered your prayers?” or “Have you ever been made fun of for being a Christian? What did you do?”
So today, I am suggesting you make a list of questions kids should ask. Put them on slips of paper and allow your kids to pull out a random question and ask it. Here’s a list of questions you might start with. Add some of your own to the list. If you are a teacher, make a set of questions for each child in your classroom. Encourage them to take them home and use them to ask their parents questions. Suggest the kids pull out and ask one question at bedtime, or when they are traveling in a car, or before a mealtime. Perhaps on a Sunday morning you can allow the kids to come up on stage and pull a question and ask it of their teacher or pastor. Each question will give the child real-life perspective on what it is like to serve God. Answering the questions won’t always be easy, but God is still an amazing God. Let your kids ask you tough questions, and allow the Holy Spirit to grow their spiritual roots deep!
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