What Is the Gospel?

The word itself means good news, so when we talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ, we mean the good news that he came to provide forgiveness of sins for all believers. Because everyone sins, and this separates us from God, we need forgiveness. Jesus came to be our advocate with the father, so that we might not suffer eternal separation from God. The gospel is that because of God’s love for mankind, he sent his son Jesus Christ to take on our sins through death on a cross. Because Jesus humbled himself to accept death on the cross, and then was resurrected by God and restored to glory, all who confess their sins in a spirit of repentance and believe on the name of Jesus are forgiven and justified before God.

If the atonement of Jesus Christ for the sins of degenerate mankind seems a little heavy for children, don’t worry. When teaching the gospel to little ones, we meet them where they are, teaching them the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. The gospel it’s not hard to understand. At its simplest heart, it just means that through faith in Jesus Christ, we are connected with God and empowered to be a force for good in the world.

Teaching children the gospel requires an understanding of how children learn. Play is an important part of learning for kids, so incorporating fun into their lessons will help with their comprehension. While death on the cross is not a fun topic, resurrection is joyful, and so is forgiveness! Children can color pictures of the stone being rolled away, they can hear stories of sins being forgiven and God’s mighty works being done in the world, and they can sing songs that embed scripture into their hearts and minds, where it will benefit them throughout their lives. Here are some principles for teaching the gospel to children.

• Use scripture to teach them the message. Explain to them that God is loving, holy, and just. You probably won’t have to teach them that people don’t always make good choices when left to their own devices, so explaining sin won’t be difficult. Teach them that the gospel is about how Jesus died for our sins, and by trusting in Him we can be forgiven.

• Stick simply to the core message. Christ died for our sins, defeated death, and rose again. This is the message at its simplest, and once kids have a grasp of that, they can understand the good news that we are forgiven through this act and our faith.

• Show the gospel in your life. Children are always watching, and they see the way you conduct yourself and live your life. Be an example for these little ones, behaving in ways that demonstrate the fruits of the spirit, and love towards your fellow man. When children see people they respect and admire, and hear the gospel coming from those people, they are more likely to want to be a part of God’s plan. (In truth, this applies to people of all ages.) Tell your own story of salvation, and the wonderful things God has done for you.

• Rejoice when a child comes to Christ. The choice to trust Christ preservation it’s one of the most important decisions a person will ever make. When a child connects with the gospel and makes a decision to accept salvation, celebrate with the child and help guide the next steps of the faith journey. Remember that faith in Jesus Christ and acceptance of the gospel is not a one time event, but rather a lifelong walk with God.

At CEF Norcal, we’re determined to share the Gospel in any and every space we can. Our missionaries are constantly on the lookout for new ways to reach children, whether by sharing the Gospel with families at local fairs, partnering with churches to do drive-through Gospel presentations, or hosting one-time party clubs in public schools. With your help, we believe that this year we’ll reach even more children for Christ. To learn more about the work we’re doing and how you can help increase the witness of our ministry, visit our website to find a chapter near you. Or consider volunteering with us or applying to be a hands-on missionary, a teacher, someone who helps support a local club, or a committee or board member.