Talking to Children About Salvation
When talking to a child about salvation:
Steps in talking with a child about God's plan for salvation:
Review and follow up:
About Baptism:
Here at Westwood Baptist, parents of Children interested in being baptized must follow these steps:
1. Schedule a time to meet with our Children's Pastor to discuss your child's questions and decision to help everyone
make a more informed decision as to their readiness. This will be a time to gain information about resources available
as well as our Westwood 101 Class for Kids.
2. If after talking with the Children's director, parents feel their child is ready for the Westwood 101 Class, then a time will
be scheduled with Lecia Guill, who teaches the class. The class will be available on most Sundays during the 10:45
worship hour. The class lasts the length of the worship service and the following things are typically discussed.
that as well.
(1) She is confident the child is ready for baptism. They seem confident and show maturity in their decision to
accept Christ. - If this is the decision then the child's name will be given to Debra Cook as a candidate for a future baptism. She will
contact you at a later day to schedule this - usually the 2nd Sunday of each month depending on the number of
candidates.
(2) She feels it might be beneficial for the parents to further disciple the child on this journey and wait for the time when
it becomes evident the child is ready to follow through with baptism. - If this is the decision made, then the Children's director
would be happy to meet with the parents and child to further discuss the journey and where we go from here. The child will
certainly be allowed to revisit the Westwood 101 class if baptism occurs prior to leaving 5th grade. If not, then the child
would be advised to speak with our Student Minister about baptism.
- Ask follow-up questions. When a child ask a question, often he does not know exactly what to ask. Get clarification before deciding how to answer a question. For example, you might say, "Tell me more about what you are thinking," or "What made you ask that question? Where did you hear about this?" Remember, many times the question a child asks may not be the actual question for which he is needing an answer. Avoid asking questions that can be answered with "yes" or "no."
- Avoid giving more information than a child needs. Adults can be tempted to tell all they know on a subject. When a child asks a question, only answer what the child is asking. If a child asks for more information, be more specific with your answers.
- Don't jump to conclusions. A child may ask, "Why did Andy get baptized?" This question may be only a request for information, not a request for the gospel presentation.
- Speak in clear terms. Avoid symbolic analogies that may distract from discussion and understanding.
- Use simple wording. Rather than using the phrase "accepting Jesus into your heart," say the words "becoming a Christian."
- Think about Romans 7:9 where Paul says, "I once was alive apart from the law then the commandment came, since came alive and I died..."
- Children need to be able to point to SIN COMING ALIVE in them. Salvation prior to sin coming alive to them is dangerous. We WANT to see evidence of the willful rebellious sin that we need saving from. If there is no evidence of this and they cannot themselves point to this, what are they repenting and turning from? Without the need for repentance, there is no need of saving.
- Look for Fruit. When we see "evidence" of God's work, this is often what we hang our hat on..a deep sense of despair over our sin against a Holy God and a change in what we say and do. If these things are not yet evident, it might be best to continue these conversations with them as the Holy Spirit continues to work in them.
Steps in talking with a child about God's plan for salvation:
- God loves you and has a great plan for you (Psalm 139:13-16). Talk about these truths: God made the world, God made people, God made you, God wants to have a relationship with people, and God wants to have a relationship with you. Say, "Tell me one way you know God loves you."
- We have all sinned (Romans 3:23). Everyone must understand that he is separated from God. Sin is best understood as choosing to do things our way instead of God's way. (Give some examples of sin such as disobedience, ungratefulness, untruthfulness, etc.)
- Even though we choose to sin, God still loves us and offers to forgive us (Romans 5:8). Ask, "How do you think it makes God feel when you sin?" Focus on the fact that God loves the child even when he sins. Say: "God promised that one day a Savior would come and not sin and would die for all people. Do you know who that Savior is? Did you know that He died for you?"
- Jesus died for us (John 3:16). Talk about John 3:16 and explain that because sin separates people from God, everyone needs a Savior. Ask, "Do you know why Jesus died?" Say, "Jesus loved you so much. He willingly died for you, so you could be with God forever." If the child is old enough to understand the resurrection, say, "Jesus rose from the dead, so we could have eternal life."
- You can become a Christian by confessing that Jesus is your Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9). Ask, "Would you like to be a Christian?" State that the word confess means to say that Jesus is your Savior and that you must:
- Admit you have sinned.
- Believe that Jesus is God's Son
- Confess that Jesus is Savior and Lord
Review and follow up:
- Encourage a child to tell you in his own words what he understands and believes. Either ask the child to repeat a prayer after you or help the child know what to say in his prayer. After the prayer, read Romans 10:13 and remind him that this verse is a promise. Jesus will be his Savior forever.
About Baptism:
- Always make distinctions between baptism and becoming a Christian. Point out that becoming a Christian comes first, and then baptism follows because it is a way of showing he has become a Christian.
- Avoid emphasizing the emotional side of the baptism experience. Keep in mind that public recognition should not become a motivating factor for making a decision.
Here at Westwood Baptist, parents of Children interested in being baptized must follow these steps:
1. Schedule a time to meet with our Children's Pastor to discuss your child's questions and decision to help everyone
make a more informed decision as to their readiness. This will be a time to gain information about resources available
as well as our Westwood 101 Class for Kids.
2. If after talking with the Children's director, parents feel their child is ready for the Westwood 101 Class, then a time will
be scheduled with Lecia Guill, who teaches the class. The class will be available on most Sundays during the 10:45
worship hour. The class lasts the length of the worship service and the following things are typically discussed.
- The children are asked to give an example of a time that they did something wrong.
- Once the children have confessed a sin (CRITICAL), we ask them what the Bible calls that?
- We discuss that sin separates us from God. We always draw a diagram of a chasm showing man on one side, and God on the other.
- We discuss what DOESN'T get us across the chasm - our efforts. We give examples of those like church attendance, giving lots of money, being "really, really" good.
- We discuss the only thing that get's us across the chasm to God - Jesus dying on the cross for our sins.
- We tell the children that there are 2 choices that every person has: Plan A: You get to pay for your sins by going to hell when you die. Plan B: Jesus pays for your sins and you get to spend forever with Him.
- We tell the children that truly accepting Jesus means that you don't get to live however you want anymore. When you truly ask Jesus to forgive you, He gave His life for you, now you have to give up your life for Him.
- We discuss eternal security reading John 10:28-30 (passage form memory...may not be exact). I use an object in my hand to represent them, wrapped in Jesus (closed fist), wrapped in God (other hand wrapped around the closed fist).
- We discuss the pamphlet.
- We discuss the meaning of baptism as a symbol of "washing", but more importantly as a symbol of death: the old person died and a new person is alive when Jesus is your Savior.
that as well.
(1) She is confident the child is ready for baptism. They seem confident and show maturity in their decision to
accept Christ. - If this is the decision then the child's name will be given to Debra Cook as a candidate for a future baptism. She will
contact you at a later day to schedule this - usually the 2nd Sunday of each month depending on the number of
candidates.
(2) She feels it might be beneficial for the parents to further disciple the child on this journey and wait for the time when
it becomes evident the child is ready to follow through with baptism. - If this is the decision made, then the Children's director
would be happy to meet with the parents and child to further discuss the journey and where we go from here. The child will
certainly be allowed to revisit the Westwood 101 class if baptism occurs prior to leaving 5th grade. If not, then the child
would be advised to speak with our Student Minister about baptism.