For me, it was fossils.
What was it for you?
When I was eight years old, I sat in the field behind our house slamming rocks together. I’d like to say it was a carefully constructed scientific experiment, but the truth is that figuring out which rock was hardest seemed like a good way to fill a summer afternoon.
Eventually, one sandy rock cracked, splitting in two. And there on the ground, staring up at me, lay the fossil of a trilobite.
Create a children’s ministry environment where wondering is part of your DNA.
That’s all it took to get me wondering. I wondered if more fossils were nearby, maybe a brontosaurus skull grinning away just a few inches beneath the weeds. I wondered where I should start digging, if I should tell anyone about my discovery, if I was on the brink of being rich and famous.
“Boy Archeologist Makes Find of The Century.” I could almost see the headlines.
Children Live in Wonder
My sense of wonder about fossils carried me into years of exploration and discovery. I still haven’t found that brontosaurus, but I’ve hiked my share of eroding outcrops and excavation sites poking and prodding in an effort to unearth something amazing.
For me, it was fossils that sparked a sense of wonder. Perhaps for you it was a starry night sky, a first glimpse at the ocean, a backflip that drew all “10’s” from the judges.
You found yourself motivated to explore and stick with something—because to you it mattered. Nobody had to tell you to keep learning, no one had to hand you assignments.
Your sense of wonder was motivation enough.
And what was true about fossils—or sticking the landing on that backflip—is also true about discovering what a life with Jesus can become. If we can somehow get our kids wondering about Jesus we won’t have to keep reminding them to pay attention to Him. They’ll be off and running on their own.
Your Wonder Ink lessons intentionally leave room for kids to wonder—and for good reason. When kids wonder they’re engaged and thinking. They’re questioning, exploring, discovering. They’re kicking the tires on truth, deciding if it holds up and is relevant to their lives.
Children’s ministry is meant to aim kids toward a full, fulfilling relationship with Jesus—and when they encounter Him, they can’t avoid being amazed and awestruck.
Truth that Sticks
They’re paying attention all the way to the soles of their feet—and that’s when kids make lasting connections. Why? Because they’re not believing something because you said it’s true. They’re believing because they’ve decided for themselves it’s true.
And those are the truths that stick.
But be warned: inviting kids to wonder can be scary. They might ask a question you can’t answer. They might—okay, they will—suggest less than perfect answers now and then. You’ll have to listen carefully and nudge them the right direction if they’re a bit off course.
But it’s worth it because when those “a-ha!” light bulbs blink on and kids realize the Bible is true, God is real, and they’re loved eternally, they’ll be all-in. They’ll hold those truths with confidence.
So create a children’s ministry environment where wondering is part of your DNA. Foster curiosity and declare your space somewhere safe for questions, even questions that might feel risky to ask.
Your Wonder Ink lessons are already designed to help that happen—but creating the environment is up to you. Here are a few suggestions for accomplishing that:
Encourage Curiosity
Okay, you didn’t plan on talking about how it felt to be a Bad Guy standing on the walls of Jericho when they fell—but your kids are wondering. So pause and let kids imagine what it was like to experience God’s power in that moment. Let them to describe what it might have been like before moving on.
Always be looking for moments kids’ curiosity gets them wondering … and if possible go with the flow.
Be Patient
Learning doesn’t happen at a steady pace—not for kids or for you. When we wonder we slow down and let an idea roll around in our heads awhile. We look at it from all sides, consider where it might take us, decide if it fits with what we already know.
The wondering process takes time, which means when you ask your kids a question it’s important to not demand an instant response. Let kids grapple, wondering about the options and implications. Don’t be afraid of a long pause after you ask a question—those seconds are often when kids are wondering and thinking.
Wonder Ink’s 3-year, 52-week children’s ministry curriculum offers kids space to fully find their place in God’s Big Story. Children discover they are Known by God, Loved by Jesus, and Led by the Holy Spirit.
Rely on the Holy Spirit
In Sunday school I’m a bit of a control freak. I know what I want to teach, I’m prepared, and it’s tempting to plow on ahead to make sure I get where I want to go no matter what. But do you know who doesn’t always work that way? The Holy Spirit, that’s who.
By all means come to class prepared—but never walk into the room without first praying, “Help me listen well today. Fill me with wonder and give me wisdom for connecting with kids where they are, not where I think they should be. Let’s teach this class together, Lord.”
If you pray that and mean it, you’ll have an amazing lesson.
Embrace Awe
The ultimate goal of your children’s ministry isn’t for kids to master Bible facts or excel in service projects. It’s to aim kids toward a full, fulfilling relationship with Jesus—and when they encounter Him, they can’t avoid being amazed and awestruck.
A sense of wonder stops us in our tracks as we try to take in something we don’t fully understand. We respond not just with our thoughts but also with our emotions. It’s okay if in your class emotions surface—especially in moments of worship. That’s wonder at work.
Each of your kids is a marvelous stew of ideas, emotions, leftover consequences, and half-finished thoughts. I know that because—let’s be honest here—so are we adults. God isn’t finished with any of us yet and with many of your kids He’s just getting started.
So be a place where kids can wonder about who God is and what He’s done and is doing. Wonder lays out a welcome mat for discovery and what could be better than helping a child discover God?
And if you happen to have an extra brontosaurus skull laying around, give me a call. I’m in the market.
