In John 3:16 (ESV) we read, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
There is a lot of confusion in the church today about what the gospel is and is not. As a result, there is a global crisis within children’s ministry concerning our understanding of the gospel.
As we begin, let me clearly state what the gospel is not. The gospel is not a Christian’s testimony. The Gospel is not reaching out to feed the hungry or help the poor. These are good things, but they are not the Biblical gospel that has the power to save.
The gospel is not Universalism, which is the idea that everyone is going to Heaven regardless of what they believe. The gospel is not the promise of health and wealth. That is a false gospel that does not come from the Bible.
Many false gospels are being taught to children in local churches worldwide, but there is only one true gospel, the Gospel of God (Galatians 1:6-9; Mark 1:14; Romans 1:1).
The word “gospel” means good news! God is the Source and Author of the gospel. It is His possession, and He has revealed it to us in His Word of Truth, the Bible. So, the authority and truth of the gospel come from God alone. It is not the idea or invention of men (Galatians 1:10-12). When we declare the gospel and teach it to children, we do so under the Divine Authority of God, not on our authority.
The gospel is good news that God has entrusted to Christians to give to unbelievers, even though every person is undeserving of God’s gift (Mark 16:15; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19).
When we proclaim the gospel and teach it to boys and girls, we are simply messengers and ambassadors communicating a message that originates in God Himself (2 Corinthians 5:20). The Gospel of God includes His power to save. In other words, only God can overcome our sinful nature and give us a new life in Christ (Romans 1:16-17).
Many people in the church are ignorant of the content of the gospel. They do not know what it is, what it means, and why it matters. They do not understand the good news, why it is good news, and what it means to believe in the Gospel of God.
When you explain the gospel to kids, you want to teach it to them Biblically! Not only do you want children to know the gospel’s origin, but you also want them to learn the gospel’s content and meaning and how they can respond to it. If you get the gospel wrong, the kids in your children’s ministry will be converted to something other than to Jesus, and they will not be saved.
Remember, the gospel is called “good news” because it addresses the most serious problem people have, which is; God is Holy and Righteous, and we are not. It is a person’s sin that separates them from God (Isaiah 59:2). The Bible says God will not allow sin into Heaven (Revelation 21:27). Therefore, before you reveal the good news to your kids at church, you must tell them the bad news first.
The bad news is this; we are all sinners because we disobey God’s laws and commands in the Bible (Romans 3:23). Our hearts are filled with deceit and wickedness (Jeremiah 17:9). And because God is Holy and Righteous, His justice demands that every sin must be punished by death (Romans 6:23).
After sharing that bad news, then tell your kids the good news, which is the Gospel of God! God came to our rescue in His love and mercy by sending Jesus to earth to be our Savior (Colossians 1:12-15; Galatians 1:3-5). The following is the Biblical definition of the gospel. This is what you want your kids to know.
The Gospel of God is the true story of His Son, Jesus, who He is, what He has done, and how the benefits of what He has done may be received by those who put their faith in Him.
Let me say that again.
The Gospel of God is the true story of His Son, Jesus, who He is, what He has done, and how the benefits of what He has done may be received by those who put their faith in Him.
This is the Biblical gospel you must proclaim and teach to the boys and girls in your children’s ministry.
Find the Show Notes for this episode to discover the Biblical answers to the following questions.
- Where can I find the story of Jesus? (In the Gospel books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.)
- Who is Jesus? (John 1:1, 14, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 1:1-4; Hebrews 1:3-4; 1 Peter 3:18, 2:24)
- What has Jesus done that is so important? (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7-8; Colossians 1:14; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:12-22; Hebrews 2:14-17, 9:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19)
- What is the meaning of the gospel? (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- How can the benefits of what Jesus has done be received by those who put their faith in Him? (John 3: 16-18; 11:25; Romans 1:16, 3:24-25; 1 Corinthians 1:28-31; Galatians 4:5-7; Ephesians 1:11-14; 2:4-22; 1 John 4:14-15)
If your podcast provider does not offer the Show Notes, you can find them on our website at www.cmikids.com under the title of this episode.
FOR YOUR MINISTRY TOOLBOX
As you teach children the Gospel of God and summarize the life of Jesus, you should always include these facts. (Please see the Show Notes for the Scriptures that support the following statements.)
- God the Son (Jesus) came to earth as a baby to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
- Jesus was both God and Man at the same time (Philippians 2:5-11).
- The birth of Jesus was miraculous because his mother, Mary, was a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:34-35).
- Jesus lived a sinless and perfect life. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5).
- Jesus’ death on the cross was an acceptable sacrifice to God the Father for the sins of all who would believe in His Son (1 John 2:2, 4:10; John 3:16; Romans 3:25; 5:1, 6-7; 2 Corinthians 5:19).
- Jesus was raised from the dead by God the Holy Spirit under the authority of God the Father. (Romans 8:11; Acts 2:24, 32).
- After His work of redemption was completed (John 17:4, 19:30), Jesus returned to Heaven (Mark 16:19-20; Acts 1:9-11) where He lives today.
TAGS: Isaiah 7:14, 59:2; Mathew 1:21, 23; Mark 1:14-15, 16:15,19-20; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1, 3:16-18, 11:25, 14:6; Acts 1:9-11, 4:12; Romans 1:1-4, 6, 16-17, 3:10, 12, 23, 3:24-25, 5:1, 6-7, 6:23, 8:11; 1 Corinthians 1:28-31, 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18, 20-21; Galatians 1:3-5, 6-9, 10-12, 3:13, 4:5-7; Ephesians 1:7-8, 11-14, 2:4-22; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:12-15; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 1:3-4, 2:14-17; 4:15; 9:12-22, 28; 1 Peter 1:18-19, 2:22, 24, 3:18; 1 John 2:2, 3:5, 4:10, 14-15; Revelation 21:27; Gospel; Gospel of God; Jesus; Teaching Children.
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