Teaching Children About God, Jesus, and The Gospel

Children love to snuggle in their parents or grandparents lap and read a book. Whether it be a bedtime story or just simply story time, reading with and to children is a great way to spend quality time. Reading to children is also a great way to teach them about who God is and what He has done for us. There are many great books currently on the market that aid parents in teaching children the truths of Scripture. Last year, author Devon Provencher and his wife Jessica Robyn Provencher published three books in the Big Theology for Little Hearts series titled God, Jesus, and The Gospel (Crossway, February 2020). These books are excellent resources to convey deep theological truths to kids in a story book form. Below is a brief review of each in turn.

The first book God is a primer on the doctrine of God the Father. As the first member of the Trinity, knowledge of God the Father is foundational to right theology. On a level young children can understand, the book walks through doctrines such as God the creator, God the king, Trinity, the enteral nature of God, the justice of God, etc. The illustrations in the book are a wonderful aid to children to help them better understand what is being conveyed. They are well done and age appropriate. This is an excellent resource to introduce young readers to deep theological topics, but in a way that they can relate.

The second book in the series Jesus is a basic introduction in Christology for young children. Understanding the person and work of Jesus is a foundational component to discipline the hearts of the next generation. The book walks through doctrines such as the diety of Christ, the incarnation, the sinlessness of Jesus, his role as prophet, priest, and king, the work of Jesus on the cross, and the resurrection. The illustrations in the book, as in the first book, help the reader better understand what is being conveyed. They are well done and age appropriate. This is an excellent resource to introduce young readers to who Jesus is and what He has done for them.

The third book in the series The Gospel is an introduction to soteriology, the doctrine of salvation. Understanding the gospel is of “first importance” as the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15. The book provides a foundation to the gospel in a way that young readers can understand. It walks through the basic storyline of the Bible: creation, fall, redemption, new creation. The illustrations in the book, as in the other two books, help the reader better understand what is being conveyed. They are well done and age appropriate. This is an excellent resource to introduce young readers to the good news of God’s love.

The Big Theology for Little Hearts series are excellent resources for families to incorporate into intentional family worship time or even informal discipleship moments. Just as with learning a new language, the best way to learn the truths of Scripture is through continual exposure. I would highly recommend this series to families who are seeking a way to begin discipleship with their children. These books can help provide that opportunity for children through the joy of reading.