Digging deeper with kids is a worthwhile goal. As church leaders, we know that we have a limited amount of time to engage kids in biblical teaching. Desiring to dig deep into God’s Word can equip us to help kids better understand—in the limited amount of time we have—God’s Word and who He is. When developing a plan to take kids deeper, consider these three suggestions.
- Begin by trusting the Lord. God desires people to know Him better, and when we trust in Him to guide our teaching, God will honor our desire. The Holy Spirit is active in the world, and He helps to facilitate our understanding of God and His Word.
- Remember that curriculum resources are provided as a guide to help us. Use the materials when planning, and choose methods and activities that fit the group of kids in the group. Every group is unique! The suggestions provided offer the flexibility to expand on or add additional layers during the teaching time to intentionally take kids deeper. Use tools such as Bible dictionaries, atlases, commentaries, and other Bible study tools to guide boys and girls to grasp the meaning of a particular Bible passage.
- After an activity, take some time to debrief and make sure the kids understood what was taught. As girls and boys engage in conversation about a topic, and ask questions, they begin to internalize the truth taught. As we encourage this method of learning, kids will begin to ask questions as the teaching happens. Take the time to answer their questions even if it means you don’t finish all the “steps” of a particular session.
Our goal each time we guide Bible study should be for kids to walk away with understanding of the content. When we intentionally guide girls and boys to deeper understanding their ability to continue the process on their own grows.
What are some ways you have led kids to dig deep into God’s Word?
Find out more about the Explore the Bible: Kids.