These suggestions come from Dan Scott, writing for Today’s Pastor:
- First, Fewer kids have a background in Scripture.
How we talk about the Bible needs to be both foundational and exploratory. If kids don’t have a reason to believe that this book matters, simply sharing stories might not be enough. You need lay a foundation of why the content of the Bible matters to people both inside and outside the faith.
- Second, Faith is abstract, and Preteens are primarily concrete thinkers.
As preteens move from concrete to abstract, they will start having lots of questions about faith.
Remember it’s not about your answer but their process of discovering an answer for themselves.
- Next, Faith is connected to personal identity.
As this generation struggles to find themselves, it’s important to help preteens see themselves as God sees them: deeply loved and worth saving.
We should always start any discussion on sin and salvation with the reminder that the Bible starts in Genesis 1 and not Genesis 3. Remind kids that they are created in God’s image for a unique purpose.
- Fourth, The Preteen Phase is one of many faith environments at your church.
When we create the right environments, kids will be drawn to return week after week for the long haul.
- Finally, Faith should be championed in the home.
Even though kids need multiple adults in their life who champion their faith journey, parents are still the primary influence in a child’s life.