He Still Speaks to KidsSample

Leading Kids to Jesus—Wayne Drain

Every believer in Jesus, including very young ones, can hear the Good Shepherd’s voice. If God’s sheep can hear His voice, then it is important to understand the process of how we become sheep.

Parents, children’s pastors, and youth workers often ask me three questions:

1. “How do I lead my child to the Lord?”
2. “How do I know when they are ready?”
3. “What do I say?”

My answer is simple: trust the Holy Spirit to help you lead your kids to salvation. After all, He has already done the “heavy lifting” of drawing your children toward Jesus (see John 6:44; 16:8). It is still Jesus who seeks and saves those who do not know Him yet. A young boy once approached me after I spoke to his children’s group and said, “I’m looking for Jesus around here. Are you Jesus?” I said, “I’m not, but I know Him. And I can help you find Jesus if you would like.”

Children have tender hearts but short attention spans. Have answers to three basic questions when a child expresses an interest in Jesus and salvation:

1. What is salvation?

It is Jesus’ gift of making us right with God.

2. Who can be saved?

Anyone! We are saved when we put our faith in Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 2:8–9).

3. What do I have to do to be saved?

I use the ABCs of salvation:

a. Admit you have sinned.

b. Believe that Jesus died for you on the cross and rose from the grave in new life.

c. Commit to living your life for Jesus.

Many adults have asked me, “What do I say and do when a child is ready to receive salvation?” First, ask the child what they understand about Jesus and salvation. Don’t rush or coach their choice of words. If you sense the timing is right, then ask, “Do you want to be a Christian and start living for Jesus today?” If the child says, “Yes,” then lead them in a simple prayer, such as:

Jesus, I believe You are the Lord. Please forgive my sins. I believe that God raised You from the dead. Lord Jesus, come into my life as my Savior and Lord. With Your help, I will follow You all the days of my life. Amen.

Tell the child how proud you are that they decided to follow Jesus and encourage them to tell their family and friends about this incredible decision.

Many parents, grandparents, pastors, and youth workers worry that children may be pressured to make premature commitments to Christ by overzealous adults or peer pressure from friends or youth groups. That can happen, so be ready to invest time when a child expresses interest in becoming a Christian.

If you are a parent, understand that God gave you the primary authority and usually the best insight into your children. Be confident in that. As a Christian parent, you are best equipped to discern if your child is sincere and ready to follow Jesus in genuine discipleship. I believe the Holy Spirit will help you sense that nudge in your spirit when the timing is right.