Episode #14: Why Truth Matters - Teaching God's Word with Integrity
In children’s ministry, it’s tempting to avoid teaching the difficult parts of Scripture. After all, we want kids to feel safe, encouraged, and loved. But what happens when we fail to teach them the uncomfortable, messy, or even shocking parts of God’s Word?
We may unintentionally give them a partial picture of God—and partial truth can’t produce a strong, lasting faith.
A Story That Stuck With Me
When I was growing up, there was a children’s ministry leader at my church who was teaching about Moses parting the Red Sea. She told the part about God saving the Israelites, but she left out that the Egyptian army was destroyed when the waters came crashing back.
Her reasoning? She thought it was too graphic for kids.
I understand that impulse. Talking to a room of preschoolers about God’s judgment isn’t easy. It’s the same tension we feel when explaining why Jesus had to die on the cross or why God allows hard things in the first place.
But skipping these details robs children of an opportunity to see God’s character in full—His justice, His holiness, and His mercy.
Why We Can’t Shy Away From the Hard Truths
From Genesis to Revelation, God calls His people to live counterculturally. Jesus regularly flipped expectations—welcoming outsiders, dining with “unclean” people, and challenging religious leaders to move beyond legalism toward true righteousness.
If we only teach the “safe” stories or the parts that feel palatable, we give kids a shallow faith that may crumble under the weight of real-life questions and cultural challenges.
When we tell the whole truth—carefully, lovingly, and in age-appropriate ways—we equip them to:
Trust God’s Word even when it’s hard to understand.
Recognize God’s goodness in both His mercy and His justice.
Stand firm when culture pushes back against biblical truth.
Speaking the Truth in Love
Ephesians 4:15 calls us to “speak the truth in love.” That means our delivery matters just as much as the content.
If you lead a team of volunteers, this may mean equipping them before they enter the classroom:
Preview the week’s lesson and identify potential hard questions.
Offer sample responses that keep the conversation grounded in Scripture.
Encourage them to say, “I don’t know, but let’s explore it together,” when the answer isn’t obvious.
Modeling humility and curiosity teaches kids that wrestling with God’s Word is part of discipleship.
Building Trust With Kids, Parents, and Volunteers
Kids are remarkably discerning. Even if they can’t articulate it, they notice when something is being left out or sugarcoated. Consistently telling the truth—paired with love—builds trust over time.
And this trust extends beyond the classroom. When parents know their children are learning the whole counsel of Scripture, they’re more likely to see your ministry as a trustworthy partner in discipleship. Volunteers, too, gain confidence knowing they’re supported in teaching hard truths well.
Handling Pushback With Grace
Teaching truth will sometimes lead to pushback—inside and outside the church. I’ve had difficult conversations where people chose to leave rather than align with our church’s biblical convictions. Those moments were hard.
But I’ve also seen the opposite: people flooding through the doors because they were hungry for a church that preached the truth without compromise.
Jesus wasn’t a people pleaser. He never softened the truth to avoid offense—and neither should we. Even when that means it’s challenging or uncomfortable. And believe me, it will be both challenging and uncomfortable.
Practical Next Steps
If you want to strengthen truth-telling in your kids’ ministry:
Audit your curriculum. Are you skipping hard stories? Softening uncomfortable truths?
Equip your team. Give them tools and training for age-appropriate conversations.
Model biblical integrity. Show kids and adults alike that Scripture is your foundation.
Seek resources. If you’re unsure how to teach a passage, consult pastors, commentaries, or trusted leaders.
Truth isn’t always easy, but it is always good. God’s Word is meant to shape our lives—and the lives of the children we serve. When we teach the whole truth, we lay a foundation that can withstand life’s storms.
You are shaping faith in eternal ways. Don’t shy away from the hard parts. Handle them with integrity, speak them with love, and trust God with the results.
