Most of us probably don't realise the amount of spiritual or Church jargon that has crept into our language. When we ask children to "open their hearts to Jesus" or tell them that "Jesus paid the price for your sins", we often leave them victims of confusion.
To effectively get the gospel message across to children, special care must be made to avoid the barriers and distractions that jargon often create. Here are some suggestions.
Ask Jesus into your heart
When you say this: Ask Jesus into your heart.
The child may think this: How is he going to fit?
You should say this instead: Start a personal relationship with Jesus today.
Jesus paid the price for your sins
When you say this: Jesus paid the price for your sins.
The child may think this: How much does a lie cost?
You should say this instead: Jesus allowed himself to be punished instead of you.
Jesus is knocking on the door to come into your heart
When you say this: Jesus is knocking on the door to come into your heart.
The child may think this: What door? Is that the sound coming from my heart?
You should say this instead: Jesus wants to be your friend.
Let Jesus be Lord in your life
When you say this: Let Jesus be Lord of your life.
The child may think this: Lord of the Rings?
You should say this instead: Follow what Jesus says and ask him to help you do the right thing.
He rose again
When you say this: He rose again.
The child may think this: He rows again? In a fishing boat... gently down the stream?
You should say this instead: Jesus became alive again.
God is a holy God
When you say this: God is a Holy god.
The child may think this: God is full of holes? Must be the nails.
You should say this instead: God is good and perfect.
Man has sinned
When you say this: Man has sinned.
The child may think this: I’m not a man. I’m a girl.
You should say this instead: We all have done wrong things.
So that you can have eternal life
When you say this: So that you can have eternal life.
The child may think this: And never, ever, ever die?
You should say this instead: So that you can be with God forever, and when you die you will go to heaven.
The grace of God
When you say this: The grace of God...
The child may think this: The grays of God? That’s the color of heaven before it rains, right?
You should say this instead: God is very loving, kind and generous.
What we say is not necessarily the same as what the child hears. Removing spiritual or church jargon from your gospel presentation is one big step you can take to improve clarity and understanding.
This blog was originally published on Let the Little Children Come, a website that provides creative child evangelism resources. Click here to learn more about their gospel tracts and evangelism tools.
