Overview

Kids are full of questions. Sometimes really good questions. In 2 Timothy 2:15, we are told to, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Notice that it says, “do your best”. It does not say, “be perfect.” It does not say, “know every answer in order to be approved by God.” It says, “do your best.” Modeling humility and an acceptance of the unsearchable mysteries of God is probably the most important answer of all.

Recall

If God’s desire is NOT perfection and knowing all the answers, what IS His desire for us?

Reflect

Do you feel comfortable admitting that you do not know an answer to a complex question from your kids?

Respond

On a 1-10 scale, how would you rank your hunger and desire to know God in a deeper way? 1 = Not there right now 10 = Deeply growing

Rethink

Although we may not know all the answers right now, we are called to “increase in the knowledge of God”. What are you doing to grow?

It’s OK If You Don’t Know

Kids are full of questions. Sometimes really good questions.

Have you ever had your son or daughter ask you a spiritual question that not only stumped you, but even remotely confused you? I mean, isn’t it just like a kid to ask the most profound of questions and accentuate the deepest mysteries of the kingdom of God?

We are going to get real practical today. You are not expected to know every answer under the sun about every scriptural concept that exists. Yeah right. What I am here to communicate is that it is completely acceptable and appropriate to respond to kids with the following phrase, “You know something, I don’t know.  I’m not sure. I’ll check on that.”

I have a degree in chemistry. I happen to know a lot about this particular topic. Yet, as a chemistry teacher, sometimes kids would ask me, “WOW, how does that really work?!?!”   PAUSE.  UMM.  I have no idea.

Now, I could bluff and make up some high-tech answer that everyone knows is made up. “Umm, Yeah, it is the poly-olly-morpho-toxins, but THAT is way above what we are going to talk about here in high school.” Or I could just say that I just don’t know.

Humble yourself. Your kids do not expect you to be the Bible answer man or woman. Really, they just expect you to be faithful, love God transparently and vulnerability in the presence of your family. When kids ask a question to which you don’t know the answer, affirm the validity of their question, consult another friend or leader that might know the answer or do some research and come back with your best stab.

In 2 Timothy 2:15, we are told to, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

As I recently looked at this passage, I noticed something I’d never seen before as it says, “do your best”. It does not say, “be perfect.” It does not say, “know every answer in order to be approved by God.” It says, “do your best.” Modeling humility and an acceptance of the unsearchable mysteries of God is probably the most important answer of all.

  • Recall: If God’s desire is NOT perfection and knowing all the answers, what IS His desire for us?
  • Reflect: Do you feel comfortable admitting that you do not know an answer to a complex question from your kids?
  • Respond: On a 1-10 scale, how would you rank your hunger and desire to know God in a deeper way? 1 = Not there right now  10 = Deeply growing
  • Rethink: Although we may not know all the answers right now, we are called to “increase in the knowledge of God”. What are you doing to grow?