In this transformative resource for youth workers, children’s ministry teachers, parents, and VBS volunteers, Jack Klumpenhower teaches how to discover the gospel connections in every Bible story. Show Them Jesus is an instruction manual for teachers of kids and teens written by a lay Bible teacher with thirty years of experience.
With a simple framework and real-life examples, Jack helps teachers identify and communicate the heart of the gospel to each child in each lesson.
Show Them Jesus challenges the culture of low-stakes, low-expectations teaching and invites teachers to do nothing less than teach and treasure the good news of Jesus—in every lesson.
Instead of leaving kids with lessons about changing their behavior, Show Them Jesus offers a new way by sweetly, masterfully, and powerfully showing kids how the gospel really applies to their lives and changes them for eternity.
In sharing example after example from his years of experience, Jack provides readers with a more enriched view of Jesus and how to teach this gospel perspective in a classroom setting. This life-changing tool will complement and enrich existing lessons or teaching materials, and it’s appropriate for teachers of children and teens in any setting.
Millions of church kids are growing up and deciding to leave the church. If we are not primarily teaching our kids about God’s love for us in Christ, we may miss our opportunity to capture their hearts. Don’t miss your opportunity to show them Jesus.
AUTHOR
Jack Klumpenhower, the son of a missionary pastor, is a television news writer by trade but a Bible teacher by passion. Jack explains, "I spent fifteen years of my life writing television news. I guess it taught me how to write. But it also taught me about news and the people whose stories make news. I saw that no matter how thrilling and successful their stories, Jesus is an even more exciting newsmaker. And no matter how tragic their stories, his Good News gives hope. Now I write about him. I write about the best news ever." Married with two children, Jack is a freelance writer living in beautiful Durango, Colorado.
"Sunday school curriculum is relentlessly moralistic. That is, it tells you what to do, but not how to do it. Jack Klumpenhower shows us how by taking us back to the person and work of Christ. Every Sunday school teacher should read this book."
Paul Miller, Director of seeJesus; author of A Praying Life and A Loving Life
"The most common way of teaching a Bible story to children involves holding up the main human character and encouraging (or discouraging) children to be like him or her. Show Them Jesus: Teaching the Gospel to Kids provides welcome relief. The book is packed full of biblical reasons, practical guidance, and bountiful examples for teachers and parents who want to show children Jesus when they teach the Bible."
Starr Meade, Author of Training Hearts, Teaching Minds: Family Devotions based on the Shorter Catechism and Mighty Acts of God: A Family Bible Story Book
"Klumpenhower states the problem well: 'Today, a frightening number of kids are growing up in churches and Christian homes without ever being captured by the gospel of Jesus.' We want them to know about Jesus, but we leave them with lessons about behavior and they leave the church as soon as possible. Here’s a book that sweetly, masterfully, and powerfully tells us what the gospel really is and how it can really change a child’s life and eternity."
Bryan Chapell, Author of Christ-Centered Preaching; pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, IL
"Show Them Jesus is a must-read for every youth worker, children’s ministry teacher, parent, and VBS volunteer. Jack Klumpenhower does a masterful job helping us learn how to discover the gospel connections in every Bible story. In sharing example after example from his years of experience, Jack gives the reader a front-row seat in his classroom to learn how to give children a 'rock-their-world' vision of Jesus. This is the perfect training tool for pastors and children’s ministry leaders to use to train their teachers. I’ll be buying a copy for all my children’s ministry leaders."
Marty Machowski, Family Life Pastor, Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, PA; author of the Gospel Story for Kids curriculum
"Jack's book has done a very rare thing—he has taken the message of grace and applied it simply and directly to both teachers' hearts and the children they shepherd. He doesn't settle for mere external obedience in his students but bravely and compassionately goes much deeper, seeking out their hearts. This is a great application of Serge's values to a central part of every church—its children."
Bob Osborne, Executive Director, Serge
"Show Them Jesus deals with the tough questions that keep children’s ministry leaders up at night. How do I encourage kids to repent and obey without becoming a legalist? Should I tone down Old Testament violence when I’m teaching fourth graders? Klumpenhower answers these questions and more with his eyes on Jesus from first to last. But he doesn’t just speak to the head. He engages heart and hands as well, giving teachers an inspiring and practical framework for preparing Bible lessons, classroom environments, and family ministry where Jesus is the focus. I plan to purchase a copy for every volunteer in our children’s ministry."
Jared Kennedy, Family Pastor, Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY
"In Show Them Jesus, Jack Klumpenhower tells how to make Spirit-fed renewal, which springs from a foundation of love for Jesus, the overarching theme of our teaching. He impresses on us the importance of being 'good-news' teachers who 'exit' every Bible story through the cross of Christ. Make your aim in teaching to build in your kids a love for Jesus, because that’s where the Christian life begins. Read this book for your kids; and reread it for yourself."
Nancy Winter, Curriculum writer and editor; long-time Sunday school teacher
"This book is a must-read for every Christian and challenges us to ask the question: How are we handling the good news about Jesus? Do we really believe that Jesus is the goal of God’s great story of redemption—'the way, the truth, and the life'? Jack reminds us that our teaching and application of the Scripture is to be unflinchingly centered on Jesus. Why? So we can all fall more in love with him and worship him wholeheartedly!"
Rosemarie Green, Director of Children’s Ministry, New Life Church, Glenside, PA
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Drew Hill
Patric Knaak
Kristen Hatton
This book is wonderful. Klumpenhower shows how to teach the gospel effectively and rightly. Though his examples are of teaching children, what he says applies across the board. Anyone who desires to teach the gospel to anyone (so every parent) needs to read this book.
It claims to be for Sunday school teachers, but is even more useful for me as I parent my own kids and point them to Jesus from day to day. Not to mention the growth in my own faith as I'm reminded of how the Father views me. Best book I read in 2015.
First few chapters into it, I was hooked! Definitely worth it.
Just a phenomenal book. Not only does Jack tell you "focus on the Gospel more when you teach" BUT HE ACTUALLY WALKS THROUGH HOW TO DO THAT. We hear lots of "gospel this, gospel that" lately, but Jack walks through specific OT passages and shows how he brings out Jesus in them rather than the moralistic messages that are all too common in my own mind and teaching. A must read for anyone, not just kids teachers.
Wow! Best book on teaching kids I have read in a long time. I have always had trouble finding books that really connect with me and show a deep desire to teach children the Gospel. Every chapter leaves me with a renewed passion to do what I do. I have already used some of his illustrations in my AWANA council time and they have gone over exceptionally (The God Report Card was SO good). As a children's pastor I will be buying this for all my teachers in my children's ministry. Also, my husband who is a worship pastor and preaches from time to time is reading this book and has found it helpful for his own sermon preparation. This book gets to the heart of who Jesus is and what he has done for us and how we can foster a deeper love for him not only in children, teens, but our own hearts as well. I can't recommend this book enough!
This book is an excellent and ongoing resource. I'll use it for years to come and know of others who use it also, such as a pastor and a children's ministry leader.
I am so thankful for a book about teaching the Gospel to children that avoids moralism, points to our sin and our complete need for a Savior, and shows Jesus to be the real center of the Bible's message. I would highly recommend this book, and am adding it to a collection which includes the likes of The Jesus Storybook Bible, and Grandpa's Box.
This is a great book for anyone involved in teaching the Gospel to children.
Klumpenhower gives a humble yet powerful look at teaching children the Gospel. Show Them Jesus gives practical wisdom and insight into making every Bible story pop with the power of Christ.
Very significant book for children's ministry - but also for the whole church. We bought copies for every member of the SS/children's ministry volunteer staff, elders, and Bible study leaders because it's a perfect fit with our church's purposes/principles statement. I've also given copies to two dear friends in missions, because it's so helpful there too.