I’m leading a devotion time at a Christian school. I think, these guys are nearly finished high school, maybe they can choose the Bible passage and talk about it today. And guess what they choose? John 3:16? No. Too easy. Hard to interpret apocalyptic oracles? Nup. Sexually charged metaphors from Ezekiel…yes!

So, what do I do?
What would you do?

You could choose another passage and say ‘thanks guys, but I’m disappointed in you, this is not time to have a giggle’.
But then I thought about the question or issue that was at the top of their minds but wasn’t being asked.

Often tough questions are easier to spot. Kids just ask them straight up, like ‘’what happens after we die?” or ‘’why does God allow suffering?”

I’ve written and performed a few shows for Anton’s Antics covering tough questions and recently we started working on a new show for the online screen. I reckon we should do more of them; online videos answering tough questions for kids. What do you think?

But what do you do right now if you get a toughy thrown at you?
Here’s a quick guide to answering tough questions from kids.

Ten tips for answering kid’s tough questions

1.Encourage curiosity
First, if you have kids asking you tough questions, that’s great. Don’t want to extinguish that flame! In our teaching either as a leader or parent, we need to be reading the Bible with a questioning mind. If we are curious readers, it will show in the way we teach others…and that will make for curious kids. We don’t want passive kids that just accept everything. What we want is engaged kids who can teach themselves from the Bible by following our example of curiosity.

2.Second, don’t be afraid of tough questions, they’re great!
With all the assaults on Christian values and world view, we need our kids to have a robust faith. So, don’t fear enquiry, or even criticism. There are great answers out there and there are lots of flimsy mud, slinging arguments thrown at the Bible. So, keep the questions coming. If the Bible is true, it will stand and stack up against attack.

3.Clarify the scope
Often, we as parents or teachers can be quick to assume what the questioner is asking. But as we answer we soon find our listener glazing over. Why? Because we didn’t take the time to find out what they were really asking. We’ve given the full doctoral thesis when they just wanted a quick byte. Try and establish where this question has come from? This will help you work out how much you need to answer and then let them come back for more if they want.

4.Understand they need an answer so don’t be dismissive.
A question is super important as it shows a level of engagement that we might not have known if the child just sat and listened. So, we need to remove other distractions (e.g. our phones) and focus on answering (not the call, the kid!).

5. But I’m too busy to answer
Sometimes we just don’t have the time to stop and answer all the questions. So, having a question box, catching the child later or speaking privately when the other kids are on to something else can be good strategies.

6.Don’t throw your pearls to…
Sometimes kids want to poke fun and are not serious enquirers. Your call as to whether you move on or let them bury themselves in their own hole or if you’re quick, show them just how great the verse is. Also, watch out for the naughty kid asking the tough question…can be a genuine reaching out disguised as ridicule.

7.Always let the Bible be your ‘’go to’’ for answers. Show the kids the pattern for solving tough questions lies in God’s word as our top authority. Of course, we can bring other things into our answer, like science, geography, archaeology etc. but the Bible is our first port of call.

8.Let the Bible inform the Bible
Sounds circular because it is. If the Bible is God’s word, then let your questions on one issue or text drive you into the Bible for answers and let the Bible then take you to other parts of the Bible to shed light and take you deeper.

9.Don’t be the expert all the time
Mom doesn’t have all the answers, its ok to say I don’t know…and see if you can find an answer later.

10. Don’t lie –Goes without saying really. But it’s not helpful to say God doesn’t have a hell or that he won’t punish those who don’t turn to Jesus. What we need to do is better understand our problem and God’s character so we can see the need for hell and judgement.

Let’s work together and answer some tough questions!
What are your kid’s tough questions?
Send them in. Let me know. I’d love to hear from you!
I’d like to start working on some issues and questions that would really help your kids.
Imagine a video series that covered ‘’ten top tough questions’’? That’d be cool, right?
Well, let me know if that is something you’d value

Epilogue: The end of the story with those naughty high schoolers
What did I do with the boys, having a giggle at the ‘naughty language’ in the Bible?
I ran with it, calling their bluff. Ezekiel’s evocative, sexual imagery highlights human damage caused by sexual promiscuity. Yes, its talking about Judah and Yahweh; But it’s also talking about Christ and the Church; It’s talking about the prodigal son. It’s not hard for the boys to see it’s talking about them and the very thing that’s on the top of their minds. It’s no laughing matter.