"This is the message of Good News…that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ" Acts 10:36 (ESV)
Good News Conversation Guide
Whether you are in a classroom setting teaching kids on a Sunday morning, or a parent talking with your kids, helping kids understand the Good News of Jesus Christ is the most important conversation you can have with them!
When to have this conversation
- Whenever the Spirit leads!
- When you are teaching a lesson that is focused on Jesus, faith, his crucifixion and resurrection, etc.
- When kids ask about baptism, heaven, death, or sin.
Before the conversation...
- Pray! Pray that God's Spirit would be working in the heart of the child. After all, spiritual change requires God's Holy Spirit!
- Review the guide and read the Bible verses for yourself.
- We use the word "Good News" instead of "Gospel" because it is easier for kids to understand. It is the actual meaning of the word "Gospel".
During the conversation...
- Take your child's lead as much as you can. It's okay to go off on a tangent!
- Have them read the bolded points and the Bible verses out loud.
- Don't push the conversation if they aren't ready or press for the "right answers." Submission to Christ as their Lord and Savior is more about the condition of their heart than it is about answering a question in just the right way.
- Don't make this a discipline issue. Make sure they understand that you love them unconditionally, regardless of their answers or readiness to respond to God's Good News. They shouldn't feel like they have to answer in a certain way to make you happy.
- You could have them read the example prayer to themselves and ask them, "Is that the kind of prayer you would agree with if you prayed it to God yourself? It isn't a magical prayer that you have to say just right. It is the kind of prayer someone who wants to follow Jesus and be saved would pray." Or you might have them read the prayer out loud with you.
After the conversation...
- If they make a decision to follow Jesus, talk to them about their next step - baptism. Talk to your church about how they handle baptism.
- If they aren't quite ready to make a decision, it's okay to end the conversation and leave things there. You can follow up with them in a few days with a question like, "Have you thought anymore about our conversation the other day about the Good News of salvation in Jesus?"
- Make sure they have a Bible they can read that is at their level. You can start with a storybook Bible or look for one with a translation that is easy for kids to understand. Here are some good Bible translations for kids:
- New International Readers Version
- New Living Translation
- International Children's Bible
Download a customizable handout
Parent Conversation Guide
Equip your parents with a conversation guide and give them the confidence they need to start a spiritual conversation with their kids.
Response Card
Have this available for your teachers so they can record any decisions made during class time for follow-up.
The Good News
1. God loves me and wants me to be his friend forever.
Read Romans 5:10-11 (NLT)
"For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God"
Question:
- How do you know that God loves you?
2. Even though I disobey God (that's called sin), he made a way for me to be forgiven.
Read Romans 3:23 (NLT)
"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard."
Question:
- Do you know what sin is?
- What are some ways that you have sinned?
3. He sent his Son Jesus to earth to live a perfect life, die on the cross for my sins, and he rose again because he has power over sin and death.
Read the following from 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (NLT)
"Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before…It is this Good News that saves you…Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said."
Question:
- Who is Jesus?
- What did he do to make it possible for you to be friends with God?
4. I can repent of my sins and put God in charge of my life so I can become more like Jesus.
Read Acts 2:38 (NLT)
"Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins."
Question:
- What does it mean to repent of your sins?
- Why is it so important to confess (or agree with God) that you sin?
5. God is ready to give me eternal life and save me right now.
Read Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)
"If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved."
Question:
- What does it mean to be right with God or saved?
- Do you want to make the decision right now to make Jesus the Lord (the boss) of your life and ask him to forgive your sins?
My Response
If your child wants to make a decision to follow Jesus and be made right with God through faith in Jesus' sacrifice for us on the cross, here is an example prayer you might pray with your child. Be sure to let them know that what is important is not saying the right words, but truly believing the words you say.
"Jesus, I'm so happy that you love me and you want me to live with you forever. I confess to you that I disobey you. I sin by doing things that I know are wrong. But I believe that you sent your Son Jesus to earth to die for my sins and that he rose from the grave 3 days later to prove that he has power over sin and death. I repent of my sins and ask that you take charge of my life. I want to follow you and become more like you. I want you to save me, forgive me of my sins and make me right with you. Amen"
Next Steps
Baptism is a step of obedience for those who have made the decision to follow Christ and make him Lord of their life. Remember Acts 2:38? "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins."
Talk to your local church about how to be baptized.