You’ve heard them. You’ve probably even said them. These phrases may work fine when teaching adults, but not when you’re teaching kids.
Below are six common phrases KidMin leaders should avoid, but before looking at specifics, here are five broad principles to remember:
1. You’re telling a story, not just studying a text.
2. Love what you’re teaching. And they’ll love it too.
3. Give them a reason to listen. Raise the need.
4. Kids are literal. Use language that makes sense.
5. Content doesn’t necessarily trump delivery. Be engaged.
“The text says…”
Think of your lesson like an exhibit at a children’s petting zoo: Kids want to play with it – not put it under a microscope. They want to smell it, touch it, and see if they can get it to make noise. They want to interact with it. Kids want a story – not a grammar lesson. Building your lesson as a story rather than a text is an important distinction to make because kids naturally see Scripture as part of their world. They want to imagine themselves as Daniel, Esther, or Noah. Making your lesson about “text” can make your lesson cold, and uninteresting.
“The Greek / Hebrew word is…”
Adults understand the complexities of linguistics and translation issues. Showing the different nuances between words can be helpful. But for kids, injecting that level of study into your teaching can communicate that either Scripture is too complex, or they need to learn Greek to follow Jesus. And you don’t want either of these to happen. Instead, teach toward the original meaning. If you know the original meaning behind a word or idea, that’s great. But your teaching should be clear enough that you can communicate the point without overwhelming or alienating your audience.
“Let’s unpack that…”
For some reason, this phrase works with adults, but it gets lost with kids. Say “unpack” and they’ll look around for your backpack. Instead, say something more concrete like, “..let’s try to figure out what this means.” Or (even better) ask, “what do you think God means when He says that?” Involving them in the process is much more rewarding and invites them to learn more actively.
“Consider the context…”
Context is important. Understanding what’s around a particular verse, subject, or story is a huge part of understanding the Bible. But, like the Greek-word-rule, kids don’t need to hear you say “context” to understand it. Instead of prefacing with “let’s consider the context…,” tell the story, or relate the point by including the context from the get-go. Think of your lesson as a painting: you’re free to use different colors, just don’t go off of the canvas.
“It struck me that…”
Teachers often use this phrase to show others that they’re connected to the text too. They’ve studied. And God’s taught them something in the process. Showing your audience that God is teaching you is a good thing. But kids (especially younger kids) will pick that up through how you say it, not just what you say. If you’re teaching something that’s relevant to you, your freshness and excitement will come across.
“Let’s apply that…”
Apply is something you do with stickers. Or duct tape. Adults apply scriptural truth to a busy life that’s already in motion. When teaching kids, be direct. Instead of saying “here are a few things you might consider as we apply that…” make it easier by saying “here’s what we’re going to do, guys.” And then give a concrete action. Distilling your teaching into one action step will make your lesson even more memorable.
Getting to the heart of these phrases will make your teaching more effective, memorable, and helpful.
What do you think?
Agree / Disagree?
Are there any other phrases you’d like to add?
