Start Here
Start Here
This is an exciting time in your child’s life. They’re starting to ask questions about their faith. They’re wondering about God and His love for them. They may be asking a lot of questions about Jesus–questions that you may struggle with yourself, or questions that may not have a simple answer. But that’s ok. This is a starting point for you and your kids to begin a life-long conversation about faith. That’s why we want you to “Start Here” with John 3:16. It lays the foundation for God’s love for us that sent Jesus to be our Savior.
"God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son. Anyone who believes in Him will not die but will have eternal life.”
John 3:16
1. God Loved
God loved you before you were even born. He created you in His image. And He loves you right now. But there is something that separates us from Him, something that keeps us from being with Him forever. It’s called sin. It’s the stuff we do wrong. Sin keeps us from living out the story that God wants for us. And on our own, we can’t do anything about this. We need God to step in and help. But because God loves us, He made a way for all of us to live with Him forever.
Ask Your Child:
1) What is sin?
2) Have you ever sinned? When?
3) What is the problem with sin?
2. God Gave us Jesus
God gave the most important, valuable, and perfect thing He had for us. He knew that our sin would keep us from living with Him forever. We’re apart from God and would stay that way, but because God loved us, He gave His son to fix that relationship. Jesus came to make a way for us to be in God’s story. And Jesus gave up His life on the cross to pay for our sin. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead! His resurrection defeated death and makes a relationship with God possible again.
Ask Your Child:
1) What did God give us?
2) Why did God give this gift?
3) What did Jesus do for us?
3. Anyone Who Believes in Jesus
When you receive a gift what do you do? You open it. God said you could open His gift by believing. Believing simply means to trust. It’s a lot like sitting in a chair. When you sit in a chair, you put all your weight on it. You trust that it will hold you up. That’s what it’s like to believe in or to trust in this gift. To open the gift that God gave you, you trust in Jesus with your whole life and rest in the fact that He died and rose again for you.
Ask Your Child:
1) What does it mean to trust in something?
2) How do you know God loves you?
4. Lives Forever
John 3:16 tells us that we receive eternal life. When you believe in Jesus and trust Him to save you, you begin a new relationship with God that starts right away and goes on forever. Someday we will still die, but we get to spend forever and ever with God in a place that He made perfect.
Prayer
You can use the following prayer with your child as you lead them to trust Jesus.
"Dear Heavenly Father, I know I am a sinner. I know my sin should separate me from You forever. I believe Your son, Jesus, died for my sins. I accept Your forgiveness for my sin. Thank You for loving me and for giving the gift of Jesus so I could live with You in heaven. Come into my life and be my Savior and Friend. In Jesus’ name, Amen."
Next Steps
If you put your trust in Jesus Christ and believe in Him as the One who forgives your sins and makes it possible for you to know God, we are so proud of you! There is no greater single decision that you could make. If you explain what to pray and invite him or her to say their own prayer and then they pray about their friend’s sick puppy, then they may not be quite ready.
We believe that baptism is an important next step for you. Baptism is your way of telling your friends and family, “Hey, I’m a follower of Jesus!” If your child does not wish to be baptized, be sure to help them understand that this is not something to be scared of, but something we do to follow Jesus’ example and show all those around us that we have accepted God’s gift to us.
If you’re interested in learning more or participating in baptism, email us below.
Congratulations!
Way to go Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister, Grandma, Grandpa, Neighbor! You’ve done a great thing!
This is THE BEST conversation you can ever have with another human being – especially your own or one you’re close to! Be sure to celebrate this fabulous decision with your child! No matter how this conversation went, please do be sure to talk to me about it! Remember, we’re in this together! I want to be sure to follow up with your child and be sensitive to your child’s spiritual growth! And, if your child received Christ and is ready to follow Jesus in baptism, then I want to make that happen as soon as possible! This is something to rejoice about!! I’m happy to help you in any way! If you get stuck, need help, or have a question of your own, give me a call or shoot me an email! We are here for you!
Praying for you,
Jennifer Phillips
Children's Ministry Director
770-842-5099
Mount Zion Kids