Using Scripture and everyday experiences, author and editor, Brian Dembowczyk, teases out answers to 3 of the most important questions facing your children
“Why is the sky blue?” “Did Adam and Eve have bellybuttons?” Our kids’ endless questions can be exhausting, but what if we saw them as opportunities to grow together, especially when it comes to faith?
The Bible is full of questions, asked both of God and by God, showing us something quite profound: God doesn’t just tolerate questions; he welcomes them. And as parents, we should too.
When we create a safe space for our kids to ask, wonder, and wrestle with these truths, we’re helping them build a faith that is strong, resilient, and deeply rooted in God’s Word
When it comes to discipling our kids, three life-shaping questions can spark meaningful conversations in our homes: (1) “Who is God?” (2) “Who am I?” and (3) “Who are others?” Let’s explore each of these questions and see how they can help our kids—and us—grow in the faith.
1. Who Is God?
Midway through his earthly ministry, Jesus asked his disciples a critical question: “Who do people say that that Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13, NET). The disciples’ response revealed that many people didn’t really know. Some thought he was a prophet, like Elijah or John the Baptist, but few recognized him as the Son of God, the Messiah.
Jesus asked this question because it was central to his earthly mission. He hadn’t come just to teach and heal people, as important as that was. He had come to be the sinless Savior. And that hinged on people understanding his identity. That’s why it’s so important we help our kids answer this question early and answer it well.
These foundational truths help our kids to see God’s goodness and greatness and to become awed by him
To answer the question of who Jesus is requires that we first zoom out and introduce our kids to the big, beautiful truths of who God is. God is our Creator, our friend, all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfect. These foundational truths help our kids to see God’s goodness and greatness and to become awed by him. From there, we can explain that God the Father is God, Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, even if we don’t fully understand how the Trinity works (and that’s okay!).
One way to make this real for our kids is to connect these truths to their everyday experiences. For example, when they marvel at a sunset, remind them, “God is the Creator who made this beautiful world!” When they feel scared, reassure them, “God is all-powerful and always with you!”
Introducing our kids to God is the most important thing we can do. As A. W. Tozer said. “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Let’s do all we can to help our kids think rightly about God, starting today.
2. Who Am I?
When God called Moses to rescue the Hebrews from Egypt, Moses asked, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, or that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11, NET). Moses doubted himself but God reminded Moses that it wasn’t about who he was—it was about who God is. Moses wasn’t going to be the rescuer; that would be God. Moses was simply God’s chosen instrument.
Our kids wrestle with this same question. From childhood through adolescence, they’re constantly forging their identity. Sometimes they like the answers they find. Other times they aren’t quite as happy with what they discover. As their parents, we have the privilege of helping them answer this question in a way that’s grounded in God’s truth and gives them confidence.
At the most fundamental level, our identity is found in being God’s image bearers. This means that every person has infinite, irreducible, unchanging worth because we reflect God’s nature. However, sin has distorted this image. We can’t image as we should. But then when we trust in Jesus, we are made new, and we can begin to reflect God as he intended. As we grow closer to Christ, we become more like him—the perfect image of God (Colossians 1:15).
Just like Moses needed to see that his identity wasn’t about his abilities but rather about God’s power working in him and through him, so do our kids
To help our kids understand this, we can start by affirming their worth in everyday moments. When they feel discouraged, we can remind them, “You are made in God’s image, and that makes you incredibly special.” When they succeed, we can celebrate with them but also point them to the truth that their ultimate value comes from Christ within them.
We can also provide reminders of our kids’ true identity to offset the false narrative the world whispers and shouts into their hearts. Write truths like “I am loved,” “I am forgiven,” and “I am God’s masterpiece” on sticky notes and place them around the house as reminders.
Just like Moses needed to see that his identity wasn’t about his abilities but rather about God’s power working in him and through him, so do our kids. We can help them see that they are special, not because of what they do, but because of who they are in Christ. Through him, they can experience the fullness of life God intends and even help shape eternity.
3. Who Are Others?
According to Jesus, loving God and loving people encapsulates the entire Old Testament law. Everything God has commanded moves in one (or both) of those two directions. This means that not only is it critical to come to the proper understanding of who God is and who we are, but we must also come to a proper understanding of who others are.
In Luke 10, an expert in the law understood this concept but wanted to limit who he had to love. So, he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29), hoping to justify loving only certain people. In response, Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan, showing that love knows no boundaries.
Just as our kids need to find their fundamental identity as God’s image bearers, they also need to see others the same way
Just as our kids need to find their fundamental identity as God’s image bearers, they also need to see others the same way. This means helping them reject any mindset that divides people into “us” and “them” based on race, gender, nationality, or any other difference. The only distinction that matters is whether someone is in Christ or not—and even that isn’t about being “better.” It’s about the grace of God.
To help our kids love others fully and equally, encourage them to step outside their comfort zones by inviting a family from a different cultural background over for dinner, or volunteering at a local shelter. These experiences help kids see the beauty in diversity and develop compassion for others.
It’s also important to model this love in our own lives. When our kids see us treating everyone with kindness and respect, they’ll learn to do the same. Remind them that distance often leads to misunderstanding, but proximity fosters understanding and compassion—the kind of love God wants for all of us.
Read more:
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Why should I care about others?
Why go to church if God is everywhere?
Quick Questions: Long Answers
These three questions are too big to answer in a single conversation. We will spend years unraveling them layer by layer with our kids as they grow in their understanding of God, themselves, and others.
And that’s the beauty of it. Questions don’t have to undermine faith; they can deepen it. When we create a safe space for our kids to ask, wonder, and wrestle with these truths, we’re helping them build a faith that is strong, resilient, and deeply rooted in God’s Word.
So, start small. Ask your kids one of these questions at dinner or bedtime. Listen to their thoughts, share your own, and explore what the Bible says together. You don’t need to have all the answers – just a willingness to walk together as you seek them.
