Sometimes I find it a challenge to teach kids biblical facts in a way that is easy for them to understand; a way that won't get confused or jumbled or mixed with all of the other things that they're trying to learn about the world in which they live. However, it's always fun to hear kids' responses to what you've taught them. Sometimes you want to laugh at their interpretations, especially when they're so very serious, and I've found that it's a good idea to keep a notebook of their innocently jumbled definitions:

"Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel. Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something."

"Samson slayed his enemies by pulling down the pillows of the temple."

"One of Jacob's sons, Joseph, gave refuse to the Israelites."

"Moses died before he ever reached Canada."

"The greatest miracle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him."

"In the gospel of Luke, they named Jesus Enamel."

"Jesus gave the golden rule which says, 'do one to others before they do one to you.'"

"Jesus' followers were called the 12 decibels."

"Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Republicans."

"The worst of the disciples was Judas Asparagus, and he was so bad they named a terrible vegetable after him."

"Jesus healed many leopards and preached to some Germans on a mount."

"David was a Hebrew king skilled at playing the liar."

"Moses led the Hebrews to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened bread, which is bread without any ingredients."

Anyone who works with kids could probably add many more definitions and opinions like these to the list, and although at times it's hard for children to understand the full meaning of some Bible stories, there is one thing that they should understand without confusion-- the way of salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. When they truly understand what the Bible is all about, they'll be so excited to share with others! Imagine, a child's enthusiasm combined with an understanding of the truth of God's Word! Now that is hard to resist!

But the question is: How does one help children understand the message of the Bible? Is there anything specific that can be done? Since much of the curriculum for teaching children the Bible is presented in intriguing story form, why not try telling the Bible stories in order from beginning to end, with one overall theme? If children can be taught how that Jesus was promised from the time of Adam, and how He fulfilled (and will fulfill) everything that was promised to Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc., they will begin to understand the history and purpose of their world, and even their own lives.

One young girl shared a book about the Bible's message (from creation to Christ) with a friend who came to spend the night. By the following morning, the friend had believed in Jesus as her Savior. If this young girl didn't understand the Gospel or its importance, she would have had no interest in sharing it, or if she had, it would have been even more confusing to her friend. Take the challenge of making sure kids around you understand exactly what the Gospel is, and how to share it with others.