Are you planning to lead a Bible study for kids soon? Get ready for a fun adventure and a rewarding experience!
God loves kids. In Matthew 19, Jesus encourages his disciples to let the children come to him. Proverbs 22:6 tells us to train up our children in the way they should go, so when they are old, they won’t depart from what they’ve learned. Leading a Bible study for kids is a significant privilege and an honor. You’re making an impact in the hearts of children that will change them for the rest of their lives.
Whether you’re a soccer mom with a house full of kids or a volunteer with none, we want to help you succeed in leading a kids' Bible study. We’ve shared some practical tips and advice so you and the kids you're leading can enjoy studying God’s word. Now the fun begins!
Manage Your Expectations
From the start, it’s important to remember your audience. You’re leading a Bible study for kids, not adults. Don’t expect to take a deep dive into complex theology with no interruptions or breaks.
Instead, think about how it was when you were a kid. You were still growing, learning to study, and learning to listen. Kids may need you to repeat things or explain concepts in simpler language. They may get distracted from the lesson, too. Some kids may get antsy and need to move around a bit.
Have patience. Kids’ minds don’t work the same as adults. Approach your Bible study with the kids in mind. With healthy expectations as you begin, you’ll be amazed at what kids can learn and discuss. And you’ll get to watch them grow!
Use Resources Friendly to Kids
With the children in mind, you’ll want to prepare your Bible study material beforehand and make it kid friendly. Present the topic in a way that they will understand. If you have a variety of ages in your group, concentrate the study towards the group's average age.
Use study Bibles designed for younger audiences during your lessons. The best Bibles will have pictures, colorful graphics, and other easy-to-understand resources.
Make it Engaging and Have Fun
At their development stage, kids need an interactive and engaging Bible study. Even adults need this too sometimes! You’ll want to have the kids involved in all aspects of the lesson to hold their interest. Young minds simply have shorter attention spans than adults.
Have your class read the passage of Scripture you’re studying out loud (but break it up into smaller chunks). Make sure to ask them questions about the passage to help them listen better. Ask them reflective and open-ended questions to get them talking.
By all means, make your Bible study fun! Think of creative ways to incorporate activities and games into the study. Use props and act out stories from the study passages. Think up some crafts or artwork kids can make to reinforce the important points of the lesson. They'll have something fun to take home in the process.
Teach the Kids to Think and Apply
Do you remember when you were young how everything was new to you? This applies to kids’ Bible studies too. As the leader, you have the privilege of introducing spiritual disciplines to your students for the very first time.
Some kids may not really know what a Bible study means. Teach them how a Bible study is more than just reading the Bible. Ask good questions and encourage kids to think about how these truths apply to their own lives. You may need to show them what this looks like!
Expect to answer a lot of “why” questions. Remember, much of their experience in your Bible study could be very new to them. Know that you’re helping them make sense of the Bible and how they could use it themselves to grow closer to God. What a cool opportunity!
Pray, Pray, Pray
As you can tell, leading a Bible study for kids is an important responsibility. Take time to pray to God and ask for his wisdom, grace, and guidance to lead these kids well. Do this before every Bible study lesson. Also, remember that it’s not up to you to change these kids’ hearts. That’s God’s job!
Intentionally make time to pray during your Bible study as well. Kids may not know what prayer means or how to pray. Make sure to explain why it’s important to pray and demonstrate for them what prayer looks like.
Have your class pray for each other out loud during the study. It’s a wonder to hear the prayers from the faith of a child.
Get the Parents Involved
If you’re leading a Bible study for kids who aren’t your own, be sure to connect with their parents, too. Leading a kids’ Bible study is a big task, so don’t be afraid to ask some parents if they’d like to help lead with you.
Encourage the parents to talk to their children about their Bible study and what they learned on the car ride home. Tell them about any take-home projects the kids may have. Ask the parents to have their kids share how the project ties into the Bible study lesson.
Final Thoughts
You’re about to begin a wonderful journey of helping kids study the Bible and learn about God. Take each step with gratitude knowing God is using you to make a difference in the lives of these children. We’re here to help you along the way.
