In How to Teach Kids Theology: Deep Truths for Growing Faith, authors Sam Luce and Hunter Williams equip Sunday School teachers, children’s ministry leaders, and parents to teach the theological truths that will be a foundation for a child’s growing faith. In each chapter, the authors diagnose problems that hinder leaders from teaching kids theology, explain principles to combat these problems, and suggest practices for applying these principles to their ministry.
For kids to stand firm in a culture that suppresses the truth of Christianity, teachers and parents alike need to give them a grand view of God that overwhelms their hearts and fills them with wonder. A child’s faith is only as strong as the God they believe in. For their faith to be great, they need to learn about their great God. If the God they are taught is diminished or distorted, their faith will follow suit.
Based on the authors many years of experience in teaching children, How to Teach Kids Theology demystifies and reframes the definition of theology so readers will become better equipped and confident to pass foundational doctrine and orthodoxy on to the next generation. The authors take the deep truths of the Christian faith and give practical, actionable direction for sharing them with children.
Q: What was the catalyst for the two of you to write How to Teach Kids Theology?
Sam Luce: The idea first came to Hunter from a scene in one of the Narnia books where Lucy sees Aslan, the lion who is the Christ figure in the series. In that scene, Lucy remarks on how Aslan is much bigger than when she saw him last. Hunter called to tell me about his idea, and it led to a conversation about how this is an issue in the spiritual development of the next generation. They are introduced to faith at a young age, but often, the theology that we teach our kids at home and church is so overly simplified that they grow out of it by their teen years. We aren’t giving our kids a robust faith that they grow into as they get older.
Hunter Williams: My four kids have served as a powerful catalyst for me. When I look at their sweet faces, I often wonder, “Who will they become?” If I want my children to grow into biblically discerning, courageous adults, it begins with the theology I teach them. Their beliefs about God will shape their view of themselves, the world, and everything in it. This book was just as much a journey in paternal faithfulness on my part as it was a labor of love for the church and those who serve children.
Q: How is your book different than other resources available for children’s ministry leaders and teachers?
Williams: In the children’s ministry world, several books have been written to aid ministry leaders and volunteers. Some focus on discipleship theory, while others provide classroom management tips and techniques. However, few offer a blend of theological depth and practical application.
Luce: What separates our book from most other resources available on this topic is that other books generally deal with the mechanics of teaching or how to improve communication, very few address content, and I think our book is unique in that it talks about theological content as well as teaching practical ways for you to teach your kids deep truths. Each chapter has a problem to be solved, a principle to be learned, and a practice to be acted on. Our book is theologically rich and practically helpful.
Williams: With How to Teach Kids Theology, we sought to strike that balance by helping leaders not only know what to say about theological topics but know how to think about what they say regarding theology for kids.
Q: Could you share some of the sobering statistics about teens leaving the church after graduation? How does your new book set out to try to turn the tide?
Luce: There are several, but a couple that stand out to me are the following:
According to Barna Research, a person’s worldview, what they believe about God and the world around them, and how those two intersect and interact is set by the age of thirteen. Barna says it in stark terms. What you believe at age thirteen, you generally die believing. That is both challenging and sobering. Teaching theology matters, specifically teaching theology to kids matters more than we could imagine.
Secondly, according to research done by AWANA, nearly 40% of children’s ministry leaders do not feel comfortable or equipped to teach kids the theological truths of the faith handed to us. That number is far too large and is preventable with good teaching and proper training. We pray that this book will help turn the tide on these two profoundly challenging issues facing the church today.
Williams: One of the most shocking data points I discovered while researching for this book is a statistic from the Cultural Research Center, which states that only 12% of children’s pastors have a consistently biblical worldview. This statistic helps explain other stats and outcomes mentioned throughout the book.
This partly explains Sam’s second stat and why there is a downward trend in the number of young people who hold a consistently biblical worldview. It might also explain why two-thirds of kids are leaving the church after high school. If leaders have inconsistent views of God and the world, the disciples they make will follow suit. Kids need leaders who know God truly, love Christ fully, and walk in the Spirit faithfully.
Q: At what age does a child’s worldview begin to form? What are the long-term dangers of not teaching theology to children from an early age?
Luce: As mentioned, Barna says that by age thirteen, your worldview is pretty much baked in. Most people will die believing what they believe by the time they reach their teens. This means the work must be done in homes and churches to form our kids’ theological understanding while they are young. If we fail to do this well, their understanding of God will be shaped by something else. They will see God not through scriptures as he has chosen to reveal himself but through cultural artifacts and emotional experiences. Those may enhance your faith, but only if filtered through the truth of God found in his word.
Williams: People cannot live beyond their perception of God. If we present them with a lackluster view of God when they are young, they will lead lackluster lives for Christ as they grow older. Even worse, they may walk away from the church altogether because the faith they were given doesn’t measure up to the sorrows and struggles they will face in adulthood.
I recently wrote a blog post that includes a story about when my youngest daughter was three years-old and thinking theologically.
Q: How can the most basic definition of the word “theology” be misleading and give the false impression that ministry can be done without teaching theology? Is there a better definition for understanding what theology is?
Luce: If you were to do a quick Google search, the most common definition of theology that would appear is “the study of God.” This definition comes from the combination of two Greek words—theos, meaning “God,” and ology, which comes from logos, meaning “word” or “study.” While “the study of God” isn’t a bad definition, it can be misleading. It gives the impression that God can only be known through vigorous study or academic rigor and is only obtained in educational settings. This understanding of theology is why many churchgoers leave teaching it to the “professionals,” such as pastors or professors. This mentality creates a dangerous dichotomy that says ministry can be done without teaching theology.
We like the definition of theology from John Frame, which is “the application of God’s revelation to all of life.” This focuses on the reality that theology isn’t only an academic pursuit but is a God-given revelation of himself that finds its application not in theories but in all of life.
Williams: Theology isn’t just another subject of study among many others. It is a way of seeing all areas of life. Theology was classically known as the “queen of the sciences” because God’s revelation was considered the first principle, ruling over and setting the parameters for all other knowledge. It is the light by which all things are truly known and understood.
Theology is not merely abstract thinking reserved for Bible studies and seminary classrooms; it is growing in our ability to see things as God sees them and living accordingly. Viewed in this way, theology encompasses all of life and influences how we work, speak, and interact with others. Everyone is a theologian; the question is whether or not he or she will be a good one.
Q: What is the difference between simplifying theology and distilling theology?
Luce: There is an ideology in kids’ ministry that all of the Bible is true, but some parts do not apply to kids. This idea is simply untrue, and the ramifications of this line of reasoning lead to an oversimplification of the grand narrative of scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God[a] may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
The question isn’t what we should teach kids but how we should teach kids. When we start with what to teach, we naturally remove important truths from our lessons because they may be complex or challenging.
Simplified truth is truth that is watered down. It’s either too vague or too distorted to be meaningful, helpful, or accurate.
Williams: Distilled truth, on the other hand, is truth that removes what is distracting, overly complex, or unnecessary, and instead declares what is essential in a more potent manner. Distilled truth is concise and clear. It removes the unnecessary and keeps the essential. It also concentrates the truth.
For example, defining sin as “doing something wrong” is overly simplified and unhelpful for kids, because it misses what is essential to understanding sin and its source. Sin is not just the breaking of some vague, abstract code. Sin can only be properly understood when defined in relation to God. A distilled definition of “sin” can be found in the Cross Formed Kids catechism: “Sin is doing what God forbids or not doing what God commands.” This definition removes what is distracting or unnecessary without watering down what is essential.
Our kids need concentrated truth that can withstand the onslaught of secular thoughts and ideas in a world where truth is flexible and relative.
Q: You have a chapter devoted to “theological charity.” What do you mean by that term, and why is it important in the context of teaching kids theology?
Williams: We live in a tribalistic culture where people make mountains out of minor disagreements. In an age of rage, we need to teach our kids how to disagree courageously and charitably. This begins with theological clarity.
There are core doctrines we cannot disagree on as Christians (such as the divinity of Jesus), and we must courageously defend these truths, no matter the cost. On the other hand, there are secondary doctrines (such as views on spiritual gifts) on which Christians are free to disagree. While these doctrines are important and impact the life of the church, Christians can hold to their consciences, charitably disagree, and still operate within the boundaries of core Christian teaching. Providing such clarity early in a child’s understanding of the faith can lead to them becoming discerning, courageous, and gracious in a world that is distracted, cowardly, and outraged.
Luce: Theological charity is founded in truth and surrounded in love. As teachers and parents, we must model theological charity to our kids. Everything in our world is us vs. them. To avoid this trap, Paul warns us that knowledge, even knowledge of God, can cause pride, and we must learn to walk in humility. It is essential when teaching kids what they must believe and hold to and what they are free to disagree with charity.
The root of every sin is a lack of charity. In the fourth century, Augustine said that love (or charity) should be the central aspect of every Christian because John clearly and without equivocation says that God is love. In 1 John 4:8, John says that if you do not love, you don’t know God because God is love. If our theology does not work its way into our lives and then out to the world in the form of love, we must look closely at what we profess to believe. Jesus was full of grace (love) and truth. We must have both. Our kids must have both.
Q: Because children spend such a small percentage of their time during the week in church activities, it’s vitally important that parents be the primary disciple-makers in their lives. How can children’s ministry leaders help equip parents to teach theology within the home?
Williams: It can be easy for children’s ministry leaders to see themselves as program directors or event coordinators when they should primarily view themselves as equippers and encouragers of family discipleship. Everything, from their curriculum choices to their schedules, should be viewed through the lens of empowering families in their role of discipling their kids. Churches can do this by considering four key aspects of family ministry: connection, resourcing, training, and outreach.
Church leaders should find ways to connect with families and connect families with one another in their congregation. Ministry staff should create or thoroughly vet resources they recommend to families and provide training on how to best utilize those resources at home. Lastly, churches should seek to reach new families in their community through service and gospel outreach opportunities. When churches invest in their families in these ways, they are making a crucial effort to consistently train children to run the race of endurance that Christ has called them to.
Luce: There are many resources and tools to help ministry leaders and parents become more fluent and proficient in their theological understanding. The best place to start would be the implementation of Catechisms. We discuss the benefits of implementing a robust historic catechism to your kids’ ministry tool chest. Catechisms are perfect examples of distilling truth with charity and gospel centrality. Not only do these tools help kids grow, but because of the format of questions and answers, parents don’t have to have a seminary degree to use them well, and they can be discipled while they are discipling their kids. The second thing would be to help parents establish a regular family worship time. These times of singing, Bible reading, and prayer are invaluable in the spiritual and theological formation within the home.
Q: Would students, college, and even lead pastors benefit from reading How to Teach Kids Theology?
Williams: Absolutely! In fact, several friends in youth and pastoral ministry have told me that they found the principles detailed in our book beneficial for their areas of ministry. Because the book is about the unchanging revelation of God, its principles are timeless and can be applied across a wide range of contexts and ministry avenues.
Luce: The problems we address are universal, the principles we uncover are timeless, and the applications we draw are fundamental. The examples we use in ministry are in the context of children’s ministry or the home, but the truths are easily exported to students and college-age settings.
As for lead pastors, this is a must-read because, as the lead pastor, you are the one who sets the tone and direction for the theological framework that informs every ministry in the church; being able to read and equip your kids’ ministry team is a necessary and vital aspect of the theological foundations of your church.
How to Teach Kids Theology
What comes to mind when you think about teaching theological truths to children? Glazed eyes? Over-their-head discussions? Theology doesn’t have to be “too deep for kids.” For kids to stand firm in a culture that suppresses the truth of Christianity, we need to give them a grand view of God that overwhelms their hearts and fills them with wonder. How to Teach Kids Theology by Sam Luce and Hunter Williams takes the deep truths of the Christian faith and gives practical, actionable direction for sharing them with children.
