Children are full of wonder. And not simply wonder, but wide-eyed wonder. Without the pressure of responsibilities and to-dos, they can take their imaginations for a ride. They find joy in things big and small, from piles of rocks to the big blue sky.
We were all made for wonder. We just sometimes lose it as we get older or replace it with other things. When things are too great to understand, kids stand out as the best wonderers of all. What a gift! And we should allow them to continue in that wonder as we trust in a big God!
And what is more of a wonder than God Himself? We see glimpses of just how great He is when we look at His creation—from the earth to the heavens. We see it in our imago Dei.
“The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders.”
Psalm 65:8
We can invite kids into wonder and faith formation in our Bible lessons, prayers, the words we use, and the lives we choose to live.
Scripture is Full of Wonder
The Bible is the most amazing book ever written. We have the very Words of God at our fingertips!
Scripture shares some huge wonder—God parts the Red sea, He makes the sun stand still, He shuts the mouth of lions, He sends fire from heaven, Jesus heals the sick, and He raises from the dead!
As adults, we sometimes lose our ability to wonder at these awesome events. But kids, however, they know how to use their imaginations to wonder at a really big God who does really amazing things.
We see glimpses of just how great He is when we look at His creation—from the earth to the heavens. We see it in our imago Dei.
As you share these real stories from Scripture in your classrooms and groups ask kids to imagine. You can ask them questions like:
- What do you think that looked like?
- How do you think God’s people felt?
- What would you have been thinking if you were there?
Jesus in the Gospels
We see so much wonder in Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection.
- He was dead and came back to life, meaning death has no power over Him (Matthew 28:6).
- Jesus faced every temptation that we face, yet He was without sin (Hebrews 415)!
- We get to be blameless before God because of Jesus and our faith in Him (Jude 1:24).
- We get to approach the throne of God with confidence because of Jesus (Hebrews 4:16).
- The Holy Spirit given to us, fills us with God’s power (John 14:16-17).
From the beginning to the end, God’s Word is full of wonder that we need to share with kids. And we need to sit with them in that wonder as we talking about our very good, holy God.
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.
Wonder in Prayer and Words
As we pray and lead kids we can share awe-inspired wonder. In Psalm 145:4 NIVTM, Scripture says, “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.”
We need to make sure we are speaking in understandable ways and teaching how kids learn as we pray and speak. We want to do this so they can be amazed!
One children’s ministry leader, Leura Jones, says it like this, “When we pray that they will see the power of the Spirit in their young lives—the same Spirit who raised Jesus Christ from the dead—how can they not be in awe?”
And if you have trouble sharing the wonder of God as you teach kids, take time to be curious yourself. Take time to look at His creation, dig into His Word, and spend time in prayer. Let the childlike faith in you rise to the top of the agenda.
Every Child is a Wonder, And You Are Too
Psalm 139 NIVTM reminds us that “[He] created my inmost being; [He] knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise [Him] because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; [His] works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Let the childlike faith in you rise to the top of the agenda.
Everything God creates is good because He is good. He gives good gifts and in the middle of life as He draws us to Himself. As we live and teach and walk this journey of faith with kids, remember that it’s okay—even necessary to sit in that wonder.
As we remind ourselves who God is, we can shine a really big light so that others can know Him too. And we want that for our kids. We want them to know who they are because of who He is, so they can go and tell the whole world of just how good He is.
He loves you, He loves them, and “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6 NIVTM)
What a wonder that is.
