Teaching Kids Theology Part 8

TLDR: Helping a child to understand who God is can be more challenging that you might think. We can make the mistake of oversimplifying a theology of God and we can make the opposite mistake of overcomplicating it. The best approach is right in the middle.

At first glance, defining God can seem like we’re trying to define blue.¹ God is just God, right? That’s true to a point. Even God has defined himself this way. In the Old Testament, one of the most common Hebrew names for God is Yahweh, which is often translated as “LORD” (with small capital letters O, R, and D to make it stand out from “Lord,” which translates something else). Yahweh basically means “I am” or “I exist” (see Exodus 3:14). So, when Moses asked God this very question—who are you?—God’s response was simply “I am God.” But God didn’t define himself only in this way in the Bible. He also gave us many other names (e.g., Elohim, Adonai, El Shaddai) and characteristics (e.g., loving, faithful, just) to know him by.

How, then, do we begin to define God for a child? Do we take the way that seems overly simple, or the way that seems overly complex? Perhaps the best approach is in the middle: focusing on an overarching description that is unique to God—a description that provides glimpses of his other important characteristics but that is simple enough for our kids to get their arms around. A description like this: God is the creator and ruler of all things. This is basically how God chose to introduce himself to us in Genesis 1. It’s simple enough, but it hints at several important undergirding truths. God is immensely powerful; he must be to make everything by speaking. He is unique; he alone isn’t created. He has all authority; that means he makes the rules for how everything works, including us. And he loves us and wants to know us; that’s the very reason we exist.

The Example of the Ten Commandments

A great way to see how we can communicate about God is to see how he did it himself through the Ten Commandments. The law that God gave to his people through Moses wasn’t just to guide them for how they were to live (that was indeed a large part of it), but it was also to introduce them to who he is. The ancient Hebrews weren’t just forging a new nation; they were forging a new relationship with a God they had not known in Egypt.

Don’t miss what God does in the preface of the Ten Commandments:

God spoke all these words: “I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery.”

Exodus 20:1–2 (NET)

Before getting to what he expected of his people, God first reminds them of what he has done. He has delivered them from bondage and he had done that in a powerful way.

Then, as we consider each of the Ten Commandments, we are drawn to learn something about God:

1. You shall have no other gods (Exodus 20:3). God is unique.
2. You shall not make any idols (Exodus 20:4–6). God cannot be contained.
3. You shall not take the Lord’s name in vain (Exodus 20:7). God is weighty.
4. You are to remember the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8–11). God is our rest.
5. You are to honor your parents (Exodus 20:12). God is our heavenly Father deserving of honor.
6. You are not to murder (Exodus 20:13). God is the source of life.
7. You are not to commit adultery (Exodus 20:14). God is our sole love.
8. You are not to steal (Exodus 20:15). God provides all we need.
9. You are not to give false testimony (Exodus 20:16). God is true.
10. You are not to covet (Exodus 20:17). God is our greatest desire.

Each of these commandments expresses a way to live that aligns with God’s character. We obey the Ten Commandments not just because they were commanded, but also because they reflect God’s identity. We can’t miss how deeply intertwined this is. We teach our kids to know God so that they love Him but also so that they understand better how to live like Him—the very way they were made to live as His image bearers.

If you are looking for a resource to help you grow as a theologian and to help you teach your children theology, Faith Foundations is for you. These ninety-nine devotions use an ancient tool called a catechism to teach the core doctrines of the faith. Each devotion features a Bible reading, a devotion, several engaging questions, a Jesus connection, and a suggested family activity. Faith Foundations releases today and is available for purchase.

1. The first two paragraphs of this blog post are a slightly adapted excerpt from Faith Foundations. (Brian Dembowczyk, Faith Foundations: 99 Devotions to Help Your Family Know, Love, & Act Like Jesus. Downers Grove: IVP, 2025.) ↩︎

Teaching Kids Theology Part 7

TLDR: A catechism is one of the greatest tools available in a family discipleship tool belt. This time-tested method of teaching theology involves a question and answer approach that not only communicates God’s truth, but also creates an environment for exploring the faith together as a family.

When many people think of a catechism, they think of guys like in this post’s feature image, which, by the way, is AI’s attempt at portraying Martin Luther. Catechisms are seen as relics of a past era, or they are perhaps associated with with certain faith traditions. But that’s about all many people know about them.

While it’s true that the heyday of catechisms was during the Protestant Reformation and the century that followed it, the history of catechisms actually stretches way back into biblical days. And while catechisms are indeed more popular with some faith traditions, their use spans nearly each one. The reason is simple: Catechisms are a tremendous discipleship tool for kids and adults.

What is a Catechism?

A catechism is a series of questions and answers concerning the basics of the faith that are meant to be recited and memorized. It comes from the Greek word katēcheō, which means to “teach by word of mouth” or “instruct.” This word is used seven times in the New Testament, most notably to speak of Apollos’s instruction (Acts 18:25), Paul’s desire to instruct others (1 Corinthians 14:19), and Paul’s command that those who receive instruction in the Word must share good things with those who teach it (Galatians 6:6).

Catechism Terms

The word catechism is a noun, describing the content of this question and answer instruction. Here are four other terms to be aware of:

• Catechesis | The method of instruction
• Catechumen | The recipient of instruction
• Catechist | The giver of instruction
• Catechize | The process of instruction

Popular Historical Catechisms

Again, catechisms can be dated back to biblical days, but they became quite popular during the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation and into the seventeenth century. Here are a few of the more well-known catechisms:

• The Small Catechism (1529) | Martin Luther (the real one, not the AI Martin Luther on this post) created this catechism intending it to be used by families.
• The Geneva Catechism (1542) | John Calvin created this catechism also to be used by families.
• The Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
• The Westminster Shorter Catechism (1646) | This is perhaps the most famous of catechism, being a hallmark for many Presbyterians.
• The Baptist Catechism (1677)

Example Questions and Answers

So, that’s a lot about catechisms, but you still might be wondering what one is like. Here are a few sample questions and answers to give you a feel for what the are and how they work:

• WHO IS GOD? | God is our creator and he is the ruler of everything.
• WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT GOD IS OMNISCIENT? | That God is omniscient means he knows everything that was, that is, that will be, and that could be.
• WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A NEW IDENTITY IN CHRIST? | To have a new identity in Christ means the core of who we are has changed; we have been recreated to live the way God made us.

Often, the catechist reads the question, and then the catechumen responds by reading the answer or reciting it from memory. In this way, theological truths are embedded into the minds of everyone, and prayerfully, that truth works its way down into their hearts and onto their hands in daily life as well.

Catechisms and Family Discipleship

Like many people, I didn’t know much about catechisms until I was in seminary. I loved what I heard about them and immediately decided it was a tool I wanted to use with my young son. After looking at various catechisms, I couldn’t find one that I loved. There’s certainly an appeal to using a historic, tested catechism, but I wanted something more approachable and practical to use in my home.

So, I wrote one and used it for a while. That catechism was later expanded and published by B&H as Cornerstones. This resource became key for my family’s discipleship. During dinner, we’d randomly choose catechism questions to ask our three children. Not only did this help our kids learn the basics of the faith, but it provided a safe, fun, meaningful context for fantastic conversations as my kids would often want to go beyond the questions and answers. They wanted to know the why behind many of the truths, or they wanted to understand how they were strung together. I can say without a doubt that using a catechism fueled family discipleship in our home more than anything else.

That’s why I am grateful that IVP has published Faith Foundations, based on this catechism. I’ve seen this work firsthand, and believe it can work in other homes too.

If you are looking for a resource to help you grow as a theologian and to help you teach your children theology, Faith Foundations is for you. These ninety-nine devotions use an ancient tool called a catechism to teach the core doctrines of the faith. Each devotion features a Bible reading, a devotion, several engaging questions, a Jesus connection, and a suggested family activity. Faith Foundations releases October 21, 2025 but you can preorder a copy today.

Teaching Kids Theology Part 6

TLDR: Teaching theology is much like teaching math; you start with the basics and then build on them. As we teach a child theology, we start with the big ideas a child can handle, and then we build on them as the child grows and matures.

Theology is like math; it builds on itself. When you learn math, you start with the basics: numbers, addition, and subtraction. Then you move on to multiplication and division, which are based on addition and subtraction. After that, you progress to fractions, decimals, exponents, and algebra before moving on to higher math like geometry and calculus.

The Basics of Theology

Kids best learn theology the same way. We start with the basics, thinking in big categories like God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, people, sin, salvation, the Bible, Christian living, the church, and last things. And then within those categories, we think of the bigger ideas, like God is Creator. God is good. God is love. These bigger ideas in these big categories make up the foundation of theology that we teach to a child.

If we are introducing a young child—say a preschooler—to theology, we would begin with simple words too. “God made everything” might be better than “God is Creator.” At the same time, if we were introducing an older child to theology for the first time, we would likely use the latter phrasing.

Building on the Foundation

From there we’d move toward precision and expansion of these core ideas. “God is Creator” might become “God is Creator of everything from nothing.” We could then add on key ideas like God created everything good, he created everything for a purpose, and he created people as the pinnacle of all he made.

From there, we’d begin to connect ideas. We might focus on why God made people, which would lead to the relationship we can have with God, which would lead to sin breaking that relationship, which would lead to Jesus being God’s provision to make things right again.

That’s the beauty of theology—it’s all interconnected. And because most kids are naturally curious, these connections offer amazing opportunities for us to share the gospel with our kids. So, don’t be afraid of the questions your child might ask. Each question is a yearning for knowledge and understanding. It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers; no one does. Instead, when your child asks you something you can’t answer, say so, but then make a plan to research an answer together.

Moving at Each Child’s Pace

While there are suggested benchmarks for what a child should be learning (like the Levels of Biblical Learning), keep in mind that these are general guidelines. Each child is unique. Some kids might take a little longer in general or perhaps in one area. Others might move more quickly. And it makes quite a difference when a child begins learning theology.

What matters most is that we move with the child, going at the pace they need. Learning theology is not a race! It’s a marathon. It’s a life-long pursuit of understanding God and His ways. Know that whatever foundation you lay with God’s help will be a solid foundation that He will continue building upon for the rest of your child’s life.

If you are looking for a resource to help you grow as a theologian and to help you teach your children theology, Faith Foundations is for you. These ninety-nine devotions use an ancient tool called a catechism to teach the core doctrines of the faith. Each devotion features a Bible reading, a devotion, several engaging questions, a Jesus connection, and a suggested family activity. Faith Foundations releases October 21, 2025 but you can preorder a copy today.

Teaching Kids Theology Part 5

TLDR: Theology isn’t just what we learn; it’s also what we do. While pastors and teachers can help kids learn and apply theology, they are more limited in the latter because of time and proximity. But parents have the unique opportunity to greatly influence how their kids live out what they learn.

Imagine that one of your children came to you one day and told you that they wanted to play soccer. So you go online and buy the necessary equipment and a handful of books about soccer. When the shipment arrives at your door, you have your child put on the gear and sit down on the couch, and then you read book after book to them. A few hours later when you’re done, you announce, “Okay. We’re all done. How did you like soccer?”

How do you suspect your child would respond? Probably something like, “What? That wasn’t soccer! I learned about soccer, but I wanted to play soccer!” And they’d be right.

Applied Theology

This story is a silly illustration for what theology is. When we think of theology, we probably think of what we learn—and that’s true, of course. Theology is taught. But theology isn’t only taught. Theology is lived. We can call this applied theology. This is what Paul wanted for his young protégé Timothy to understand:

Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NET)

We can see that “teaching” comes first, but it doesn’t stop there. “Reproof” and “correction” imply not just a change in thinking, but in behavior too. But then we see “training in righteousness” and that becomes even clearer that theology is to lead to action. And if we still had any doubt about the active nature of theology, Paul concludes with the grand purpose of all this: so that we are “equipped for every good work.”

Theology, then, isn’t just an exercise of the head. It’s also to be an exercise of the heart and the hands. Head. Heart, Hands. Orthodoxy. Orthopathy. Orthopraxy. That’s the fullness of theology that we’re after.

Applying Theology

Now, some of you might be thinking, “Wait a minute. I was pretty uncomfortable with the idea that I was supposed to teach my kids theology, but now I also need to somehow figure out how to apply theology? Now I’m really uncomfortable.” And that’s okay if you are. But remember, God doesn’t call us to do anything he doesn’t equip and empower us to do. And when you understand the Rosetta Stone of applied theology, you’ll see it really isn’t as difficult as you might think. So what is that Rosetta Stone? What is the key to driving theology learned to theology lived? Jesus.

Here’s the big idea we need to remember. God made us as his image bearers (Genesis 1:26–27). And Jesus is the perfect image of God (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3). So if we want to know how it is that we are to live, we look to Jesus.

Now, we know that Jesus is the Son of God come to earth in the flesh. So, he is fully divine and fully human without either of those two natures mixing or being compromised. He isn’t 50 percent God and 50 percent human. He isn’t 100 percent human-God. He is 100 percent God and 100 percent human. So when it comes to imitating Jesus, we don’t imitate his deity, of course. We imitate his perfect humanity. And this is where we find our key to apply theology.

Two Lenses to See Jesus

Whatever we learn in Scripture, we connect to Christ. We do this in one of two ways: (1) we connect it to Christ’s redemptive work and (2) we connect it to Christ’s perfect character. Sometimes we can do both. Take Abraham’s near-sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22 for example.

When we read this account, it becomes quickly apparent that this is a picture of the cross. The father is to offer his beloved son’s life. They walk up a mountain that many scholars believe would have been where Jerusalem was later built. The son carries the wood. And when we read and interpret this true historical account through that lens, we are left shaking our heads in awe of what God the Father did for us. Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac; God the Father sacrificed his Son.

But we also see something else in this passage. Genesis 22:2 is the first verse in the Bible to mention love. God wanted to know if Abraham loved him more than anything, even his son. And we are struck that Abraham did. Abraham’s obedience is impressive, humbling even. And so as we consider this passage, we also are drawn to how God wants us to live in complete devotion and obedience to him. Just like we see with Jesus in the Gospels.

The Marks of Jesus

To help you apply Scripture and theology to Jesus, it might help you to consider the marks of Jesus’ perfect human character. These marks can provide a sort of target for you, but be careful not to restrict everything to them. We never want to force a Scripture passage or theological truth to say what we want it to say. We want to follow it to where God leads.

With that warning, here are a few character marks of Jesus to consider: love, humility, kindness, generosity, obedience, compassion, and friendship. Or, think of the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” As we seek to apply theology—to live as God’s image bearers and like Jesus, the perfect image of God, these are what should mark us and our kids too. All applied theology should ultimately lead here.

If you are looking for a resource to help you grow as a theologian and to help you teach your children theology, Faith Foundations is for you. These ninety-nine devotions use an ancient tool called a catechism to teach the core doctrines of the faith. Each devotion features a Bible reading, a devotion, several engaging questions, a Jesus connection, and a suggested family activity. Faith Foundations releases October 21, 2025 but you can preorder a copy today.