Let them not say one day that no one ever told them about the cross

Image Credit: Kids at the Cross by Balazs Toth, via Canva.

 

    The world will not wait until children are old enough to understand. It speaks now. It teaches now. And so must we.

    I have the privilege of serving as a Sunday School teacher for children. That role may appear small to some, but God has used it to show me the weight of Christian instruction. Each week, I stand before young hearts who may never be told again, outside the church, what sin is, who Christ is, and why the cross matters. Most of these children did not grow up in believing families; that fact is one reason they may never be told of Christ again. It is a mournful reality I hate to ignore.

    Some now question the place of Sunday School. Some believe it belongs to another time. Others feel that attending a worship service as a family is enough. I understand these thoughts. I have asked them myself. But what weighs more heavily on my heart is this: if we do not lead them to the cross while they are still young, will they know where to turn when the world tells them that sin is no longer sin, and truth is whatever they feel? Isaiah once warned of a time when people would call evil good and good evil (Is 5:20). We live in such a time. It is not enough to expect children to figure things out later on. The Apostle Paul reminded Timothy that he had known the Holy Scriptures from childhood (2 Tim 3:15), and that foundation helped guard him in ministry.

    But I also know that not every church has the same capacity. Some are still gathering strength. Others lack volunteers or leaders who feel ready to teach. In these situations, it would be unfair to accuse them of neglect. A faithful church may desire to teach, but if no one is yet ready, it can seek the Lord’s provision. In the meantime, it can encourage the home to take the lead. The home remains the primary place for instruction, and Sunday School can never replace that. But where the church is able, it can complement the work of the home by offering faithful, Christ-centered teaching that supports the parents’ efforts. When churches wait on God and not on programs, they will not be put to shame.

    Still, I hope the absence of Sunday School in some places will not become indifferent. If the Lord provides even one faithful teacher, a beginning can be made. It may be quiet and small. It may take place in the back of a church building or under a tree. But children listening to the Word of God, even when taught in the simplest way, is no small thing in the eyes of the Lord. He does not measure ministry by how polished it looks. He honors what is faithful.

    Of course, I also recognize that some may have concerns about Sunday School itself. Some feel that separating children from the main service can lead to unnecessary division in the church or even encourage a consumer mindset. These are valid cautions. But when approached with wisdom, Sunday School does not need to draw children away from the gathered body. It can strengthen the church by helping children understand the Word in ways suited to their age, while still drawing them into the life of the whole church. It can serve as a faithful support, not a replacement.

    As a woman, I have often thought about my role in this. I do not preach. I do not lead in the assembly of men. But the Lord has not made me useless. His Word has shown that women are to teach what is good and guide the younger (Tit 2:3–5). This includes children. Many of us first heard of God not from pulpits, but from mothers, aunts, or teachers. If the church allows me to serve in this way, then I will receive it with gratitude. I am also careful to remain within the boundaries of God’s design. I do not exercise authority where Scripture forbids it. But I do see the gravity of the task entrusted to me. I must teach with care, knowing that I am not just explaining stories, but helping shape how children see God, sin, and salvation.

    Yet, I must also be honest—some Sunday Schools lack gospel clarity. There are programs that entertain but do not edify. There are materials that give lessons about good behavior, but never mention Christ. We must not treat Sunday School as a way to keep children occupied. The goal is not to keep them quiet, but to bring them to the truth. We must ask ourselves, are we giving them the Scriptures, or just a moral substitute? Are we teaching them to obey rules, or are we pointing them to the only One who ever fulfilled the law perfectly?

    In my own experience, I have seen how often a simple lesson leads us back to the cross. Sometimes it happens without planning. A teacher shares about Noah’s ark or the bronze serpent, and before long, we are speaking of sin, judgment, and mercy. That gives me joy. It reminds me that these are not disconnected tales. They are shadows that point to Christ. I have seen children begin to understand why sin must be punished and why we cannot save ourselves. I have heard them say that Jesus died so we could live. These are moments I carry in my heart. They assure me that the gospel is not beyond a child’s reach.

    That is why Sunday School still matters. Not because it is a tradition to preserve, but because it is a path to truth. We do not know how long we will have these children with us. Their lives are filled with competing voices. Let them not say one day that no one ever told them about the cross.

    Let us not abandon this sacred task, even if it begins in weakness. The Lord often chooses what the world sees as weak to show His strength (1 Cor 1:27). Whether you are a teacher, a parent, or someone who simply desires to pass on the truth, may I encourage you: lead them to the cross. The need is great, but our God remains faithful.

    “We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done.” (Ps 78:4)