Heart, Head, Hands

Helping children connect with Jesus and His Story takes more than programs, a good curriculum, special events, or keeping children engaged in worthwhile activities. If children are going to develop strong links with Jesus, they need hearts inclined to Him, a thirst to know Him, and a desire to live for Him. Pastor and author Paul Tripp says, “The goal of parenting is not control of behaviour, but rather heart and life change.” Heart, head, hands. Here’s how to make it more than a catchphrase:

Hearts inclined to Him

Loving, valuing, experiencing, and desiring Jesus originates in the heart. Since everything flows from the heart (Proverbs 4:23), a child’s relationship with Jesus has to be rooted in the heart (the centre of all the operations of a person’s life).

There are no superficial relationships with Jesus. A relationship with Jesus is an all-out affair of the heart. A child must believe in his/her heart that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9) and open the door of his/her heart for Jesus to come in (Ephesians 3:17). Intellectual assent is not enough. Children may know about Jesus, but they can’t build a relationship with Him if they don’t invite Him into their hearts.

Ministry to and with children must, therefore, prioritize the heart over the head. That is, nurturing a child’s desire for Jesus is more essential than teaching a child what he or she should know about Jesus. So don’t put the cart before the horse. Make sure you constantly invite and encourage children to love, value, and experience Jesus (Colossians 3:1).

A thirst to know Him

A thirst to know Jesus is an indication that a child loves Jesus. When children’s hearts are given to Jesus and belong to Jesus, they’ll have a thirst to know Him. If children don’t thirst to know Jesus, they probably don’t have Him in their hearts.

A thirst for Jesus can’t be drummed up. Love lubricates learning. Children will want to know more about Jesus when they’re spiritually thirsty. One of the big mistakes we make in children’s ministry is trying to make children drink when they’re not thirsty. If children aren’t thirsty, don’t give them a drink – we shouldn’t waste what’s precious (Matthew 7:6).

If children don’t love Jesus, the remedy isn’t to teach more Scripture. Knowing God’s Word isn’t the same as knowing Jesus. A child may be able to quote or even teach the Bible, but if he/she doesn’t know the One of whom the Bible speaks, Jesus Christ, the acquisition of Bible knowledge is useless.

Of course, when children long to know Jesus more, we should invest everything into teaching them all that the Word says about Him. Customize the teaching. Some children will be more thirsty and some less. Help each child drink until they’re satisfied. And tell the children that the water Jesus gives “them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” John 4:14.

A desire to live for Him

Love, informed by the Word, requires action. Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw said, “Imitation is the … sincerest form of learning.” When children’s hearts are beating for Jesus, they will want to work for and serve Jesus (John 14:12, Philippians 2:1-11). Children should be provided with numerous hands-on opportunities to imitate Jesus. They need to be connected to everyday opportunities to do what is fair and just, be compassionate and kind, and share His love meaningfully (Micah 6:8).

Making it practical

To help children incline their hearts to Jesus, we need to provide opportunities for them to experience Him. Less talking and more listening are required. Prioritize spiritual retreats, times of worship, contemplation, and biblical meditation. Teach children how to “wait for the Lord” Psalm 27:14. Maybe do Lectio Divina together (children can do silence), or encourage children to quietly illustrate a verse of Scripture that focuses on Jesus. It’s difficult, maybe impossible, for children to find Jesus amid high-energy, non-stop activity. Slow things down. Pray together and ask Jesus to meet with you and your children.

A neuroscience insight

Neuroscience and education expert Jessie Cruickshank says that “heart knowledge is that embodied autobiographical memory, and head knowledge is semantic.” Heart knowledge doesn’t link easily with head knowledge. Learning something semantically and then connecting it to our hearts is incredibly difficult. Cruickshank’s point is that “if you learn something as a data fact, you literally cannot – biologically cannot – apply it to your life.” In other words, if the approach taken to unite children with Jesus is mainly semantic (head) then a disconnect is more likely, but if the approach is mainly autobiographical (heart), then it’s highly likely that children will make a lasting connection with Jesus and His Word.

Heart, head, hands. Children need inspiration before information. Children’s spiritual health and growth are only possible if Jesus captivates their hearts and children capitulate their hearts to Him. Here’s the key to cultivating spiritual maturity: We must help children give their hearts to Jesus daily. When we do this, the foundation is in place for children’s minds to be transformed (through engagement with God’s Word), and for good works to ensue.

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Summary

Helping children connect with Jesus requires more than just programs or activities; it involves cultivating a heart-centered relationship with Him. Children need to develop a love for Jesus that goes beyond intellectual knowledge, with their hearts inclined toward Him and a thirst to know Him deeply. As their love for Jesus grows, they’ll be motivated to live for Him, showing His love through compassionate actions. The key to spiritual growth in children is to inspire their hearts first, allowing their minds and hands to follow in service and understanding of His Word.

© Scripture Union, 2021

2 Corinthians 4:5