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| Artwork Credit: Teacher with Children in a Class (1932) by Gustáv Mallý (1879–1952). Public domain image accessed via Artvee.com. |
If our calling is to lead children to the cross and to help them see Christ in every part of Scripture, then we must also take time to know the children themselves. God has entrusted to us not an audience to keep entertained, but souls to shepherd. The more we understand who they are, the better we can speak truth in ways they may grasp and remember.
Children do not all learn in the same way or at the same pace. Some listen quietly and reflect, others process by asking questions, and a few may seem distracted until a detail in the story catches their attention. In our own small church, we have learned that the same lesson can bear fruit differently from child to child. A younger one may remember a vivid image from a Bible account, while an older one may dwell on a question about why God acted in a certain way. Neither response is insignificant. Each is part of the Lord’s work in their understanding.
We may also notice that their home situations vary. Some children come from families who talk about God often, while others hear His name only in Sunday School. This should not discourage us; it should help us prepare. If we know a child rarely hears the Bible outside of church, we can make sure each lesson includes clear Scripture reading. If we know a child is already familiar with the stories, we can guide them to think more deeply about what those stories reveal about God’s character.
Age is another factor. A child just learning to read may connect more through visuals, songs, or simple questions. Older children may be ready to look up verses themselves and discuss their meaning. In our own class, we have found that pairing younger and older children during activities can encourage learning on both sides. The older ones begin to explain truths in their own words, and the younger ones see that even children can speak about God.
We may never know in full how these small adjustments shape a child’s understanding, but we can trust that the Lord sees. Knowing our students is not only about making lessons easier to follow; it is about loving them well. The Apostle Paul spoke of being “gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children” (1 Thess. 2:7, NKJV). This is the kind of care we may aim for—not hurried nor impersonal, but marked by patience and personal attention.
When we take time to know the children God has placed before us, we are better able to meet them where they are and to lead them, step by step, toward the truth. In the weeks ahead, we may continue to adjust, to listen, and to learn alongside them. For the One who knows each hair on their heads has also appointed us, in this season, to help them know His Son.
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