Explaining God to a Child: 9 to 12 years
Kid’s Questions: Is God (American)? Why does God make (earthquakes)? Why do bad things happen? Does God still love me when I disobey?
What Their Questions Tell Us About Their Faith
The older child still asks many of the same questions as in earlier years, indicating that a re-evaluation is in process. This child expects more extensive answers than a younger child needs—answers that are both logical and supported by a recognized authority such as Scripture. Although a child may outwardly accept simplistic cliches, he or she will have inner doubts if pressured to accept ideas about God that don’t seem to make sense. While kids are interested in probing the “unknown” about God, they still have a deep need for assurance about God’s direct involvement in their daily life.
How to Respond
Always answer honestly, even if the answer is “I don’t know.” It never hurts for adults to admit we don’t understand everything about God. But it does hurt if, as adults, we pretend to know more than we do or pass off our opinions as truth. To encourage a child to continue learning about God, ask follow-up questions such as, “What else would you like to know about God?” or “Why do you think that’s an important thing to know about God?” Openly share your own learning experiences, including doubts and questions you’ve confronted. The child doesn’t need pat answers. The child does need someone who lovingly and thoughtfully helps explore the great truths about God and the many ways God touches our lives.
Wes Haystead is the co-author of Adventures for Growing Families (Victor Books).
Explaining God to a Child: Teacher Training Meeting
Kids aren’t the only ones who have questions about God. That’s why kids’ questions can stump teachers. Use this Teacher-Training Meeting to help teachers feel more comfortable with the unknown.
1. Questions, Questions
As teachers arrive, have them each write questions they have about God on 3X5 cards. Have teachers give the cards to you.
Then tell teachers to sit down. Tell them you’ll read each question aloud and if they’ve ever wondered the same thing about God to stand and then sit down again. Read the questions. Skip questions that are repeats of previous questions.
Afterward, ask:
- How did you feel to discover other people have questions about God?
- What do these questions reveal about our faith?
- What do you think God thinks about our questions?
Read aloud Deuteronomy 29:29.
Say: We all have questions about God, and that’s okay. God is so big that we can’t grasp everything about him. Part of the fun of being a Christian is the discovery process of getting to know God.
2. Fielding Questions
Use the age breakdowns in this article to form groups of teachers according to the ages they teach. Give each group a copy of this article. Have groups read the questions kids in their age group ask. Have teachers tell how they’d respond those questions with age-appropriate answers. Then have them read and discuss the “What Their Questions Tell Us About Their Faith” and the “How to Respond” sections in their age group.
3. More Questions
Have groups each make a newsprint list of questions about God that kids in their classes have asked. Tape these lists to the wall. Have teachers tell which questions would be best to answer with an “I don’t know” and which questions would require more research before they could be answered.
4. Marked
Give each teacher a question mark, either cut out from poster board or drawn on a piece of poster board. Say: Kids’ questions tell us they’re really thinking about God and their faith. Don’t be afraid of questions. Remember, it’s okay to say, “I don’t know.” Let kids see that you, too, have questions about God and you’re seeking to know God better.
Encourage teachers to each put their question mark in their classroom to remind them to welcome and encourage kids’ questions about God. Then close in prayer.
Looking for more teaching tips? Check out these ideas!
This article about explaining God to a child originally appeared here.