Sharing the Gospel with Preschoolers

The following is an excerpt from an article provided, along with other resources, on the Cubbies Teaching Plans Resource CDs. The original article is titled “Sharing the Gospel with Cubbies,” and we thought it would be helpful to post on our blog as well. Share it with anyone who could use it in their work with preschoolers!

The Goal: Consistent, Frequent, and Low-Pressure

Preschoolers can trust Christ as Savior, and many of them do. Often, the ones who trust Him have heard consistent and frequent explanations of
 the gospel at home and church. However, young children are very eager to please adults, so adults must never pressure children to make this step. The child should take the initiative. Avoid directly asking a child if he or she wants to trust Christ as Savior, unless the child has been asking questions and showing clear signs of readiness to make this decision. It is also wise to avoid invitations where Cubbies must raise their hand or come to the front of the room to show their desire to trust Christ. Not only do children want to please adults, but they are also prone to copy the behavior of other children. Instead, simply tell children that if they want to trust Christ as Savior, they can talk to a leader after the lesson or during Handbook Time.

You Are A Gospel Seed Planter

Overall, you should see your evangelistic role as
 a gospel seed planter. You are laying a foundation of biblical truth and repeating the gospel message clearly, consistently and frequently, so Cubbies will be prepared to understand and receive the gospel when they are ready. Children often need to hear the gospel message many times before they can understand and respond to it.

A Step-By-Step Explanation

Here is a step-by-step explanation of the gospel that you can share with individual Cubbies who are asking questions and expressing readiness
 to understand and respond to the gospel. This explanation is included on the back cover of the Cubbies Apple Acres Entrance Booklet so parents can also discuss it with their child at home.

1. God loves you and wants you to be His friend forever.

Children can understand that God, the Creator of the whole world, made them and loves them.

Verse to use:  For God so loved the world … (John 3:16) 

2. Because we are all sinners, we can’t be friends with God. 

Sin is anything we think, say or do that disobeys God (lying, hitting, disobeying parents, etc.). We were all born sinners (Romans 5:12-21). God 
is perfectly good, and He must punish sin. The punishment for sin is dying and being away from God forever. (TIP: To help your child understand the concept of punishment, remind your child of a time he or she experienced consequences for disobedience.)

Verse to use:  For all have sinned … (Romans 3:23) 

3. God helped us to be His friends.

He sent His Son, Jesus Christ (who never sinned), to be punished instead of us. Jesus died on the cross for our sins because He loved us so much. Then Jesus came alive again!

Verse to use:  … Christ died for our sins … He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) 

4. When you trust that the Lord Jesus died to save you from sin and rose again, you are God’s friend forever.

All your sins are forgiven. God’s Spirit comes to live in you (Ephesians 1:13), and someday, you will live with God in heaven.

Verse to use:  … “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved …” (Acts 16:31) 

Involve the Parents! 

Ideally, when you find that a Cubbie is asking questions about the gospel or showing sensitivity to spiritual matters, bring this to the attention of the child’s parents right away. What greater joy could a parent have than to lead his or her own child to Christ! The Spirit can also use
 a child’s growing awareness of God to challenge 
a parent into evaluating his or her own spiritual standing. Leaders can use the opportunity afforded by the child’s questioning to talk to parents and explain fully what the decision to trust Christ is all about.

Do you have a story of how a child in your club has responded to the gospel through Cubbies? Share it in the comments below!