In our desire to lead children to faith in Christ, parents and teachers can feel overwhelmed by all they want and need to teach children. Have you ever wondered what's most important to teach children about the Gospel? Following are 10 essentials:
1. God is the sovereign Creator of all things.
Scripture: Psalm 19:1, Psalm 22:28; Psalm 24:1; Isaiah 44:24
Implication: God made you. You belong to God. God is your ruler.
2. God created people for His glory.
Scripture: Psalm 29:1-2; Isaiah 43:6-7; 1 Corinthians 10:31
Implication: God created you to know, trust, and love Him most of all.
3. God is holy and righteous.
Scripture: Leviticus 19:2, 37; Deuteronomy 32:4; Romans 7:12
Implication: God is holy and righteous. God's commands are holy and righteous. You must obey God's commands all the time.
4. Man is sinful.
Scripture: Romans 3:10-18, 20, 23
Implication: You have disobeyed God's commands. You are a sinner.
5. God is just and is right to punish sin.
Scripture: Isaiah 59:2; Romans 1:18; Romans 6:23a
Implication: You deserve God's punishment of death and hell. You are helpless to save yourself.
6. God is merciful. He is kind to undeserving sinners.
Scripture: Psalm 145:8; Ephesians 2:8-9
Implication: You must depend on God's mercy in order to be saved.
7. Jesus is God's holy and righteous Son.
Scripture: John 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:15
Implication: Jesus came into the world to save you.
8. God put the punishment of sinners on Jesus, so that His righteousness might be put on them.
Scripture: Isaiah 53:5; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24
Implication: Jesus died on the cross to be punished in your place.
9. God offers the free gift of salvation to those who repent and believe in Jesus.
Scripture: Mark 1:15; John 3:16-17; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9
Implication: God tells you to believe in Jesus and repent of your sins and you will be saved.
10. Those who trust in Jesus will live to please Him and will receive the promise of eternal life— enjoying God forever in heaven.
Scripture: Luke 9:23; John 11:25; 1 John 2:15; Psalm 16:11
Implication: If you are trusting in Jesus for your salvation, you must follow Him. Jesus has promised that when you die He will bring you to heaven to live with and enjoy God forever.
This list is available as a sharable PDF. Additionally, these essential truths are developed further in the booklet Helping Children to Understand the Gospel which includes a fuller explanation of these essential truths and child-appropriate teaching of them. In addition this resource helps parents discern stages of spiritual growth and prepare the hearts of their children to hear the Gospel.
