1 Corinthians 13:11 – “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. Speaking like a child and acting like a child are not the same To do the first does not require the second A sign of maturity is knowing the difference Who are the kids we are communicating with? Generation Z Born 2005 to Present Experienced radical changes in technology and understanding of family, sexuality and gender They talk in images: emojis, symbols, pictures, videos They communicate more frequently in shorter bursts of “snackable content” They want to be talked to as adults They like to make stuff – they’re industrious They are collaborative They want the story told across multiple screens 6 Points for success when speaking with kids Search for words and concepts that are difficult to understand or that have multiple meanings (slave) Use multiple translations, paraphrases, and Bible storybooks Write the passage in your own words Research Bible dictionaries and reference books Practice presentation, listening for words that need to be explained Use a variety of illustrations, visuals, and teaching styles Be real and transparent (but filtered) Reference experiences familiar to kids Connect to previous lessons and experiences Expose the same concept/truth in a variety of ways Don’t shy away from questions Questions reveal a kids journey from concrete to abstract Teach lessons in bite-sized chunks It is better for a child to remember one point correctly than multiple points incorrectly Serve lesson with the appropriate-sized spoon Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. What’s your point? Repetition is critical – especially for a generation that communicates in shorter bursts of “snackable content” Beware of symbolism Avoid explanations that create more questions than answers (Trinity – three-legged stool) Admit you do not have all the answers or understand everything yourself (allow room for faith) “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” – George Bernard Shaw Jerry Wooley teaches children weekly and provides incredible leadership as an advocate for reaching families through Vacation Bible School.  He serves at LifeWay Christian Resources and is a great friend to Mr. Mark’s Classroom and many others.