Work on Your Words

The other day I sat around a room with some very talented people as we discussed how we were going to help church leaders and volunteers learn about the story of David and more importantly the role God played in his life and story.

As we talked, we became tripped up by two little words used to describe both God’s response to us and our response back to Him. We wrestled with the Scriptures, the theology, child development, and our knowledge of the building blocks of faith. Back and forth, up and down… and almost an hour later we landed in a spot where we felt God would be most glorified and this kids who experience the stories would know him best.

An hour.

On two words.

This may seem crazy, but when your goal is helping kids know their Creator, their Savior and Friend Forever, words matter. Don’t be afraid to take the time to work on the words. Each one is important for how a child will respond to God. If it’s not the perfect one for your context, wordsmith until you come up with exactly what you want to say. Passing on faith to kids is just too important.

The next time you’re writing a large group script, a Bible lesson, or small group illustration, ask yourself three simple questions:

1. Are the words I use to talk about God worthy of His character?
2. Do the words I use make it easy for a child to understand God’s character?
3. Do the words I use serve as a strong foundation for what a child will learn about God as she matures in her faith?

How about you? What questions do you ask yourself when you write children’s curriculum? Comment below!