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Evangelizing Children: The Dangers and Keys to Success

But it is not enough for us simply to avoid the common dangers. We must also proactively practice certain Key Elements:

Set an Example of Godliness

Evangelizing children should not only be teaching the Gospel in a classroom environment, but we must also be a living example of it in our life. As we teach the truths of God’s Word, children have the opportunity to observe our lives up close and to see if we seriously believe what we are teaching. When parents, pastors, and leaders are faithful not only to teach, but also to live out the Gospel, the impact is significant.

Teach the Complete Gospel of Christ

The heart of evangelism is the Gospel, “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” (Rom. 1:16) If a child is to repent and believe in Christ, then it will be through the teaching of the message of the cross (1 Cor. 1:18-25; 2 Tim. 3:15; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23-25). Children will not be saved without the Gospel. We must teach children the law of God, teach them the Gospel of divine grace, and show them their need for a Savior. We are to constantly and consistently point them to Jesus Christ as the only One who can save them. We must also resist the temptation to downplay or soften the demands of the Gospel and must proclaim the message in its fullness.

Understand the Biblical Signs of Salvation

The evidence that someone has genuinely repented of his sin and believed in Christ is the same in a child as it is in an adult—Spiritual Transformation. According to Scripture, true believers follow Christ (John 10:27), confess their sins (1 John 1:9), love their brothers  (1 John 3:14), obey God’s commandments  (1 John 2:3; John 15:14), do the will of God (Matt. 12:50), abide in God’s Word (John 8:31), keep God’s Word (John 17:6), and do good works (Eph. 2:10). We should look for this type of fruit to increase in children’s lives as we continue to teach them the truths of the Gospel. We should also recognize that an essential part of our work is to guard children from thinking they are saved when they are not. Understanding the Biblical Signs of salvation—and explaining them to children—is important part of Evangelism.