How to Teach Kids Theology by Sam Luce and Hunter Williams takes the deep truths of the Christian faith and gives practical, actionable direction for sharing them with children.
What comes to mind when you think about teaching theological truths to children? Glazed eyes? Over-their-head discussions? Theology doesn’t have to be “too deep for kids.” For kids to stand firm in a culture that suppresses the truth of Christianity, we need to give them a grand view of God that overwhelms their hearts and fills them with wonder.
A child’s faith is only as strong as the God they believe in. For their faith to be great, they need to learn about their great God. In each chapter, the authors diagnose problems that hinder leaders from teaching kids theology, explain principles to combat these problems, and suggest practices for applying these principles to your ministry.
AUTHOR
Sam Luce, MACCS, MABTS, is the Pastor of Global Ministries at Redeemer Church in Utica, NY, where he has served for over twenty-six years. A prolific writer and speaker, he's known for his influential contributions to children's ministry and passion for fostering lasting faith in the next generation. He is the coauthor of Forming Faith and How to Teach Kids Theology. Sam and his wife, Sandra, have four children.
Hunter Williams, BA, is the children's pastor of Ridgedale Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN and cohost of the Cross Formed KidMin podcast. He has served in various ministry roles, including chaplain, youth pastor, and missionary with Awana. He has written articles for numerous ministries such as INCM, The Gospel Coalition and KidzMatter magazine and is the coauthor of How to Teach Kids Theology. Hunter and his wife, Sammie, have four children and love serving in their local church.
"This book made me pray big prayers for my children and for the children of our church and to pray them with hope and expectation. It lifts our gaze and our goals for discipling the next generation, to give them nothing less than a captivating, transformative, and thoroughly biblical vision for God and his gospel."
Glen Scrivener, Evangelist at Speak Life; author of The Air We Breathe; presenter of the 321 course
"While working on my next video projects on a theology of sexuality for elementary kids, I realized a problem. Many think theology isn't for kids. According to Luce and Hunter, 'When we downplay the importance of teaching theology to kids . . . we're basically telling God that the importance of his commission and glory depends on the age and location of those we serve.' If you're looking for a book with principles to teach the Bible to kids with theological conviction and competency, this is the book."
Christopher Yuan, Speaker; author of Holy Sexuality and the Gospel; producer of The Holy Sexuality Project video series for teens (holysexuality.com)
"Sam Luce and Hunter Williams's message about the difference between simplifying truth (by watering it down and making it more palatable) and distilling truth (by making it more potent, sharp, and clear) is one every children's ministry leader and volunteer needs to hear. Their book inspires teachers to learn theology and apply it rightly and gives them the tools to communicate theology intentionally and with a clear plan. I highly recommend it to everyone who serves in church ministry with kids."
Jared Kennedy, Editor, The Gospel Coalition; author of The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible and Keeping Your Children's Ministry on Mission
"With the rapid rise of aggressive secularism and its formation on our vulnerable children, I have become increasingly concerned about the biblical illiteracy in children and the lack of theological depth in our children's ministries. How to Teach Kids Theology by Sam Luce and Hunter Williams is a huge answer to prayer. The gift they have given the church will equip leaders and volunteers with the knowledge, practical ideas, skills, and tools needed to help today's children to learn the Bible in a robust way that meets the challenges in today's world. I will be buying a copy for myself and my entire team and I can't recommend this practical resource enough."
Matt Markins, President and CEO, Awana; cofounder, Child Discipleship Forum
"How to Teach Kids Theology by Luce and Williams emphasizes the vital role of theology in shaping children's understanding of God. This practical resource helps educators and parents identify a sound theological framework for their children's biblical instruction with an emphasis on applying what they learn to their daily lives. A must-read for Sunday school teachers and parents alike."
Marty Machowski, Family Pastor; author of The Ology, Long Story Short, The Gospel Story Bible, and other gospel-centered resources for church and home
"Hunter Williams and Sam Luce have written a God-centered, doctrinally rich, and gospel-driven resource that will help parents and pastors teach children the core truths of the Christian faith. How to Teach Kids Theology will help you capture a biblical vision and the practical tools to encourage children to develop a deep and robust faith in Christ. This book is a valuable resource to help you focus on what matters most in ministry to children and I highly recommend it!"
Josh Mulvihill, Executive Director of Church and Family Ministry, Renewanation; author of 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home
"To say that our children are growing up in a world of confusion and deception is an understatement. More than ever, our kids must not only know the Word of God but have the tools to properly apply it in everyday life. In How to Teach Kids Theology, Sam and Hunter offer practical insight and thoughtful reflections that will equip readers have meaningful conversations with their kids about God's Word. This is a must-have guide for anyone who influences the next generation and wants to see our kids have a greater understanding of theology."
Steven J. Adams, Executive Director, International Network of Children's Ministry
"There are plenty of books on theology and plenty of books on how to teach kids, but far too few books on how to teach kids theology. Sam and Hunter provide an important resource to help fill this void. Practical, accessible, and weighty, How to Teach Kids Theology will be a great help to the church and home."
Brian Dembowczyk, Author of Gospel Centered Kids Ministry and Family Discipleship That Works
"This book is much more than a how-to guide. It's also rocket fuel. It will get you fired up about the unsearchable riches of Christ and eager to help kids see every angle of his splendor. If you teach the Bible and want to do it even better, in ways that wow your students with Jesus, read this book."
Jack Klumpenhower, Author of Show Them Jesus
"Sam Luce and Hunter Williams have a remarkable ability to take deep, complex truths and present them in ways that resonate with both kids and adults. In How to Teach Kids Theology, they provide a vital resource for ministry leaders and parents, offering practical tools to build a solid foundation of faith in the next generation. With over twenty years in family ministry, I know how crucial it is to shape young hearts with the truth of Scripture, and this book not only makes those timeless truths accessible but also transforms how children understand and navigate the world around them."
Andy Kirk, OneHope Global Kids Ministry Ambassador
"This book provides such great insight and helps to reorient our thinking around our first ministry: our own children. The helpful illustrations, big-picture mapping, and sample lessons will give you a game plan to be an effective teacher to your kids. It is a must-read for the church today!"
Nate Sala, Teacher; speaker; president of Wise Disciple
"Sharing our knowledge of God with our kids might be the greatest thing we ever do with our lives. This book is such a gift to those who desperately want help in training their children to know and obey everything Christ commanded. For the parent or ministry leader who is intimidated by theology, Sam and Hunter expertly walk us through both how to think about theology and how to make what we know about God accessible for our whole family. This book is exactly what Christian parents and churches need right now."
Adam Griffin, Lead Pastor, Eastside Community Church, Dallas, TX; host of The Family Discipleship Podcast; author of several books and resources for families
"Luce and Williams bring the lofty topic of theology down from the top shelf, making it accessible and engaging for all ages. Every teacher and parent will find this book invaluable for those curious questions that arise. With its creative approach, these pages will help you answer tough questions and spark meaningful and lasting conversations. Keep this book close—you'll reach for it often."
Ron Hunter Jr., CEO of D6 Family Ministry; author of several family ministry and leadership books
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I was given the opportunity to read and review How to Teach Kids Theology and I was excited to dive in. My own background is one of getting saved at 4, growing up in a Christian home, Christian high school and university and then marrying a pastor's son. And then we quit going to a box church 14 years ago. And we have largely raised our 9 kids outside the institutional church for that time. This book...How to Teach Kids Theology is what I wish we could have had when our first son was born 22 years ago. We read parenting books...you know...when to spank and why...but we DID NOT UNDERSTAND how to point our kids to Jesus beyond John 3:16. Having minors in Bible from a Christian university...my husband and I both associated theology with heavy doctrine...ideas that were too big for kids. We had no framework for bringing this down to a child's level. In this book though...the authors really do two things. First, they help adults understand what simple theology is....and how to learn theology for themselves. And then they help adults understand how to talk to kids about the truths in the Bible...and how that applies to life. One of the biggest problems in the modern church is that everyday people don't know how to read the Bible for themselves and understand what God is teaching us. This book is an excellent foundation for parents and teachers who are committed to raising children who are confident in their faith. When our faith journey led us to leave church 14 years ago...this book did not exist. We were trying to figure this out alone. We were taking an unpopular step and praying that God would help us figure this out. When we left church, it was largely over a crisis in our own faith where we realized that we were just going through the motions, were letting strangers teach our kids the Bible...and we didn't REALLY know why we were doing a lot of the things we were doing. We had lots of little kids and we were overwhelmed with life. When we quit, we came home and started teaching our own kids the Bible. That meant we had to read it...understand it...and then teach it to them. Rinse...wash...repeat. And in that process... our faith came alive. Suddenly, the "theology" that we learned in church and school became something we were really looking at. Did we ACTUALLY believe this? What about the questions we had? Better look those words up in the Greek and Hebrew.... It was a crazy journey. Conversations at our house regularly sounded like, "Oh my gosh...read this! Do you EVER remember learning THIS in church?" Suddenly...we were responsible for our faith...not a pastor. We were responsible to teach our kids the Bible...not a Sunday School teacher. We were the ones who had to say, "What does the Bible say about THAT?" Our kids heard us talk about our faith all day long. It was woven into conversations about anything and everything. They thought we were weird. :) And that process...the process of learning and applying the Word to our lives and teaching it to our kids was completely transformational. I always say we left church and ran straight into Jesus...because we dove into the WORD like we never had before. And now 14 years later...we see the fruit of teaching our kids theology. They are analytical and observant about faith. They will hear someone teach the Bible and say..."Does it really say that...let me check." They will ask us to help them figure out the best path for them. They are thinkers who love Jesus. They ask a lot of questions...and they know that together we are going to look for answers in the Bible. This book is an amazing gift to parents who are sensing that something is off. Maybe they don't know what they believe. Maybe church feels like its "not enough." Something is missing. This book is an invitation to a closer walk with Jesus and a closer walk with people. If a church decided that THIS was their top priority in children's ministry...and not entertainment or watered down lessons, it would absolutely transform those children and teens as they enter into adulthood. And if the church committed to do this with parents too...it would change generations.
