How to Lead a Child to Christ

Posted by Brian Tubbs Jul 29, 2008

Few things are more sensitive, controversial, and yet important than talking to children about Jesus Christ. Jesus is the most important person who ever lived, and making a decision to trust Jesus as one's Savior is the most important decision a person will ever make.

When talking with a child about Jesus, you should not force or manipulate that child in any way. A decision to accept Jesus must be that child's decision - not yours. You can't decide for the child, whether that child be your son or daughter or a member or visitor to your church.

The worst thing you can do is try to manipulate, scare, or pressure a child to making a profession of faith that he or she does not understand. If the child is not ready or does not understand what faith in Jesus means, then don't force it.

As a pastor, I've found questions to be the best approach in discussing God and Jesus with kids. In fact, it's the best approach with adults as well. Ask questions. Find out what the child knows about Christianity and what he or she currently believes or understands. Don't put words in the child's mouth. Your goal is twofold:

1. Help the child articulate and understand what he or she feels about God, Jesus, the Bible, church, etc.

2. Understand where the child is in his or her personal faith journey

When you know the above two things, you can then prayerfully and sensitively decide how you can best help the child.

The most important thing to remember is that you're not leading the child toward a relationship with YOU. The goal is a relationship with God. Thus, you're talking to him or her about Jesus. So, don't get in the way. Facilitate. Don't manipulate.