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One of the most popular teaching methods used in Children’s Ministry today for presenting the Gospel to kids is the ABC’s of becoming a Christian. It associates the Gospel with the alphabet, Admit, Believe and Confess, seams simple enough! While there is truth in this, each step must be properly explained. Quickly and carelessly leading a kid through the ABCs of Becoming a Christian will produce nothing more than another confused lost child.

Admit you’re a sinner. To help a child understand that they have sinned we tell them to admit they have messed up. Which is not hard to do at all, as a matter of fact it is really easy to get a kid to admit they have messed up. They get moved from the green light to the yellow light school, or they pull a clothespin, or any other visual teaching tools that teachers use as part of their discipline procedures. At home they may have had their favorite toy taken away. Regardless of the consequence and regardless of the consistency, all children realize they mess up. They may not agree that their behavior is out of line, but they do realize their behavior does not always meet the expectation of an authority figure.

And have you noticed what entertains our society today? Boys today play video games that glorify a thief! The point of the game is to steal a car and drive it around, the character even looks cool. Our society puts athletes high on a pedestal, and when they mess up, they seem to only elevate higher. Have you ever heard the phrase, “bad publicity is still publicity”? An athlete messes up, says he’s sorry and continues to make millions. Girls look up to teenage stars that wear next to nothing, just turn the TV on tonight. Channels that play music videos I would be embarrassed to watch if my mother was in the room during the commercial break of a cartoon intended for a 6 year old.

That is what we are facing as Children’s Ministry Leaders and as Parents. Kids ask, “What’s so bad about being bad?” They see immorality glorified all throughout society. Again, just turn the TV on tonight. Go to iTunes and see what music is popular. It’s cool to be a sinner!

So our goal cannot be to get a child to Admit they are a sinner, they know. We have to get our children to realize what their sin does to them. They have to become Aware that their sin keeps them from having a special and intimate relationship with God. Teach them Genesis 3!