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Case Makers Academy
Cold-Case Christianity for Kids: Investigate Jesus with a Real Detective
Between the ages of 8 and 12, kids often start to wonder if Christianity is true. In Cold-Case Christianity for Kids, detective J. Warner Wallace draws readers into the thrill of high-stakes investigation by showing them how to think rather than telling them what to think. In this children's companion to the bestselling Cold-Case Christianity, detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity. Includes author illustrations and links to a website (coldcasechristianityforkids.com) where kids can download activities, fill in case notes, and earn a certificate of merit. Detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2016
258 people are currently reading
462 people want to read
About the author
J. Warner Wallace
34 books689 followersJ. Warner Wallace is a Dateline featured cold-case homicide detective, popular national speaker and best-selling author. He continues to consult on cold-case investigations while serving as a Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He is also an adjunct professor of apologetics at Talbot School of Theology (Biola University) and Southern Evangelical Seminary, and a faculty member at Summit Ministries. J. Warner became a Christ-follower at the age of thirty-five after investigating the claims of the New Testament gospels using his skill set as a detective. He eventually earned a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from Gateway Seminary.
J. Warner has appeared on television and radio, explaining the role that evidence plays in the Christian definition of “faith” and defending the historicity of Jesus, the reliability of the Bible and the truth of the Christian worldview. Jim also speaks at churches, retreats and camps as he seeks to help people become confident Christian case makers. J. Warner’s book, Cold-Case Christianity, provides readers with ten principles of cold case investigations and utilizes these principles to examine the reliability of the gospel eyewitness accounts. In God’s Crime Scene, he investigates eight pieces of evidence in the universe to make the case for God’s existence. In Forensic Faith, J. Warner makes the case for a more reasonable, evidential Christian faith.
J. Warner’s professional investigative work has received national recognition; his cases have been featured more than any other detective on NBC’s Dateline, and his work has also appeared on CourtTV and Fox News. He also appears on television as an investigative consultant (most recently on truTV) and had a role in God’s Not Dead 2, making the case for the historicity of Jesus. J. Warner was awarded the Police and Fire Medal of Valor “Sustained Superiority” Award for his continuing work on cold-case homicides, and the CopsWest Award after solving a 1979 murder. Relying on over two decades of investigative experience, J. Warner provides his readers and audiences with the tools they will need to investigate the claims of Christianity and make a convincing case for the truth of the Christian worldview.
J. Warner has appeared on television and radio, explaining the role that evidence plays in the Christian definition of “faith” and defending the historicity of Jesus, the reliability of the Bible and the truth of the Christian worldview. Jim also speaks at churches, retreats and camps as he seeks to help people become confident Christian case makers. J. Warner’s book, Cold-Case Christianity, provides readers with ten principles of cold case investigations and utilizes these principles to examine the reliability of the gospel eyewitness accounts. In God’s Crime Scene, he investigates eight pieces of evidence in the universe to make the case for God’s existence. In Forensic Faith, J. Warner makes the case for a more reasonable, evidential Christian faith.
J. Warner’s professional investigative work has received national recognition; his cases have been featured more than any other detective on NBC’s Dateline, and his work has also appeared on CourtTV and Fox News. He also appears on television as an investigative consultant (most recently on truTV) and had a role in God’s Not Dead 2, making the case for the historicity of Jesus. J. Warner was awarded the Police and Fire Medal of Valor “Sustained Superiority” Award for his continuing work on cold-case homicides, and the CopsWest Award after solving a 1979 murder. Relying on over two decades of investigative experience, J. Warner provides his readers and audiences with the tools they will need to investigate the claims of Christianity and make a convincing case for the truth of the Christian worldview.
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May 31, 2024
From C. S. Lewis to Randy Alcorn, John White to Ray Comfort, there's a history of Christian authors who wrote books for kids. Police detective J. Warner Wallace joins this tradition with Cold-Case Christianity for Kids: Investigate Jesus with a Real Detective, an adaptation of his apologetics literature for adults. Using second-person narration to inject the reader into the story, Mr. Wallace examines historical evidence for Christianity while providing a few laughs and a contemporary mystery on the side. You and your friends Hannah and Daniel are excited when the local police force offers a junior detective training academy. You'll learn the methods and tricks of the profession, and be invited to volunteer on real cases if you pass the course. The after-school academy is taught by Alan Jeffries, a large, gruff-looking detective (and J. Warner Wallace's own mentor) who gets right down to business. Police work is primarily intellectual, he says, not about gadgets and forensic technology. One should approach any crime scene free of assumptions, ready to learn from the evidence. Are you prepared to improve how you process information?
A mystery arises by happenstance at the next academy session. Earlier, Daniel found a skateboard in an old shed behind your school, a shed that's almost always locked. Who owns the skateboard, and why was it stashed there? Jeffries reminds everyone not to jump to conclusions, which prompts a discussion of people who jump to conclusions in everyday life. Jason, another kid taking the course, says Christians assume too much by believing in the miracles of Jesus, but Jeffries suggests their faith might be based on facts rather than wishful thinking. Can detective methodology be used to assess Christianity? Along with the skateboard mystery, that's what you and the other academy recruits will investigate over the next several weekly meetings.
Jeffries begins with the issue of miracles. They're beyond the bounds of conventional science, but does that mean they're impossible? Jeffries points out the intricate design and fine-tuning of our universe to favor human life. The universe could not have created itself, and an external act of creation on that scale is more miraculous than anything Jesus did in the Bible. Jeffries illustrates his argument by dropping a marker but catching it before it hits the ground. "If I drop my marker, it falls. That's the law of gravity. But who made that law? Congress?...I'm able to stop the law of gravity from pulling this marker to the floor, and I'm only a man! Do you think the creator of the law of gravity could do even more? Could the source of the law 'override' it for a moment if he had a good reason?" People who dismiss miracles outright have a much smaller view of God than Christians do. The God of the Bible created everything that exists, so why would walking on water or healing the sick be beyond his power? Jeffries already has us thinking in new ways.
The most important Christian miracle is the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion. Disprove the resurrection and Christianity fades away. You and the other recruits come up with four alternative explanations for the resurrection, and Jeffries reviews the historical record to evaluate whether they work. Jesus having survived crucifixion is dismissed as unreasonable, as is a mass hallucination by his disciples. They don't fit the circumstantial evidence. Direct evidence is nice to have, but the circumstantial can be just as conclusive if there's enough. You and your friends are confused, however, by the gospel accounts of Jesus' life (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) in the Bible. Not every detail seems to match from one gospel to the next; were the writers not telling the truth? Are the gospels we have today not reliable reproductions of the originals? Cold-Case Christianity for Kids explains that apparent discrepancies are normal in witness testimony; it would be a red flag if they didn't occur. "In real jury trials, jurors are told that witnesses won't always agree: 'Do Not automatically reject testimony just because of inconsistencies or conflicts...two people may witness the same event yet see or hear it differently' (from the California Jury Instructions)." "So, when you see that two gospels describe something in a slightly different way, don't panic. This is what real eyewitness testimony looks like." Approaching the gospels with an open mind allows ostensibly conflicting passages to be harmonized without much effort, and this is essential to reasonably examining the Bible. As Jeffries tests the gospels' accuracy, you see abundant proof that they are trustworthy eyewitness testimony of the life of Jesus. Even Jason is impressed.
As you probe the resurrection story, Jeffries leads you in applying the same investigative techniques to the skateboard mystery. Examining the evidence establishes a "chain of custody" for the skateboard, a sequence of students and faculty who possessed it. Detective work in the present and the distant past is not as dissimilar as you might have thought. Most of Jason's objections to the resurrection of Jesus have been answered, but he's still skeptical: how do we know the disciples didn't lie about their leader rising from the grave? That seems more likely than the alternative. Jeffries puts this to rest by demonstrating the difficulties of maintaining a conspiracy. It's usually too hard for three or four individuals to keep a secret under pressure, but more than five hundred claimed to see to the resurrected Jesus, many of whom endured persecution for saying so. In the end, it's unreasonable to conclude that Jesus did not rise from the dead. After solving the skateboard mystery, Jason still has a question about Jesus: if he believes in the resurrection, does that make him a Christian? No, Jeffries says, that requires faith in Jesus as one's savior and lord, acceptance that his death on the cross was in restitution for one's own myriad sins. That's a decision everyone must make for themselves. Your class of academy detectives all graduate, and you and Jason are left to ponder what Jesus' story means to you today.
J. Warner Wallace's approach to Christian apologetics is as effective as that of Josh McDowell or Lee Strobel. I've heard him lecture in person, and he's a compelling advocate for Christianity. The fictional part of Cold-Case Christianity for Kids is kind of clunky and not fully believable, but the excellent information contained in the book ups my rating to two and a half stars. Skeptic or believer, the arguments in these pages will challenge your mindset.
A mystery arises by happenstance at the next academy session. Earlier, Daniel found a skateboard in an old shed behind your school, a shed that's almost always locked. Who owns the skateboard, and why was it stashed there? Jeffries reminds everyone not to jump to conclusions, which prompts a discussion of people who jump to conclusions in everyday life. Jason, another kid taking the course, says Christians assume too much by believing in the miracles of Jesus, but Jeffries suggests their faith might be based on facts rather than wishful thinking. Can detective methodology be used to assess Christianity? Along with the skateboard mystery, that's what you and the other academy recruits will investigate over the next several weekly meetings.
Jeffries begins with the issue of miracles. They're beyond the bounds of conventional science, but does that mean they're impossible? Jeffries points out the intricate design and fine-tuning of our universe to favor human life. The universe could not have created itself, and an external act of creation on that scale is more miraculous than anything Jesus did in the Bible. Jeffries illustrates his argument by dropping a marker but catching it before it hits the ground. "If I drop my marker, it falls. That's the law of gravity. But who made that law? Congress?...I'm able to stop the law of gravity from pulling this marker to the floor, and I'm only a man! Do you think the creator of the law of gravity could do even more? Could the source of the law 'override' it for a moment if he had a good reason?" People who dismiss miracles outright have a much smaller view of God than Christians do. The God of the Bible created everything that exists, so why would walking on water or healing the sick be beyond his power? Jeffries already has us thinking in new ways.
The most important Christian miracle is the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion. Disprove the resurrection and Christianity fades away. You and the other recruits come up with four alternative explanations for the resurrection, and Jeffries reviews the historical record to evaluate whether they work. Jesus having survived crucifixion is dismissed as unreasonable, as is a mass hallucination by his disciples. They don't fit the circumstantial evidence. Direct evidence is nice to have, but the circumstantial can be just as conclusive if there's enough. You and your friends are confused, however, by the gospel accounts of Jesus' life (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) in the Bible. Not every detail seems to match from one gospel to the next; were the writers not telling the truth? Are the gospels we have today not reliable reproductions of the originals? Cold-Case Christianity for Kids explains that apparent discrepancies are normal in witness testimony; it would be a red flag if they didn't occur. "In real jury trials, jurors are told that witnesses won't always agree: 'Do Not automatically reject testimony just because of inconsistencies or conflicts...two people may witness the same event yet see or hear it differently' (from the California Jury Instructions)." "So, when you see that two gospels describe something in a slightly different way, don't panic. This is what real eyewitness testimony looks like." Approaching the gospels with an open mind allows ostensibly conflicting passages to be harmonized without much effort, and this is essential to reasonably examining the Bible. As Jeffries tests the gospels' accuracy, you see abundant proof that they are trustworthy eyewitness testimony of the life of Jesus. Even Jason is impressed.
As you probe the resurrection story, Jeffries leads you in applying the same investigative techniques to the skateboard mystery. Examining the evidence establishes a "chain of custody" for the skateboard, a sequence of students and faculty who possessed it. Detective work in the present and the distant past is not as dissimilar as you might have thought. Most of Jason's objections to the resurrection of Jesus have been answered, but he's still skeptical: how do we know the disciples didn't lie about their leader rising from the grave? That seems more likely than the alternative. Jeffries puts this to rest by demonstrating the difficulties of maintaining a conspiracy. It's usually too hard for three or four individuals to keep a secret under pressure, but more than five hundred claimed to see to the resurrected Jesus, many of whom endured persecution for saying so. In the end, it's unreasonable to conclude that Jesus did not rise from the dead. After solving the skateboard mystery, Jason still has a question about Jesus: if he believes in the resurrection, does that make him a Christian? No, Jeffries says, that requires faith in Jesus as one's savior and lord, acceptance that his death on the cross was in restitution for one's own myriad sins. That's a decision everyone must make for themselves. Your class of academy detectives all graduate, and you and Jason are left to ponder what Jesus' story means to you today.
J. Warner Wallace's approach to Christian apologetics is as effective as that of Josh McDowell or Lee Strobel. I've heard him lecture in person, and he's a compelling advocate for Christianity. The fictional part of Cold-Case Christianity for Kids is kind of clunky and not fully believable, but the excellent information contained in the book ups my rating to two and a half stars. Skeptic or believer, the arguments in these pages will challenge your mindset.
October 3, 2021
Engaging book on apologetics for kids. Our boys enjoyed it and it promoted good discussion.
January 1, 2020
This is an apologetics’ book geared towards kids. The publisher labeled the book as Juvenile Nonfiction. Technically it’s actually a book that lets the readers enter a fictional story of being a cadet in a “Cadet Academy” analogous to the Police Explore program (where kids have the opportunity to understand how the police work) but with a twist: the detective teaching the class also present reasons why Christianity is a faith that is true. The author is Jim Warner Wallace who in real life has worked for decades as a police officer and cold-case detective. As a detective he became a Christian when he started to look into Christianity. With his background he applied his detective skills in evaluating and later defending the Christian worldview. There’s definitely a lot of good illustrations, examples and analogy that detective Wallace draws upon to make his point throughout the book. I read this aloud to my daughters and they enjoyed this book more than I expected (my oldest is eight and youngest is four).
The book is narrated in a way that involves the reader’s participation as a kid in the Cadet Academy. When some kids discovered a mysterious skateboard in the school shed the detective who teaches the class used the situation to teach about police investigative methods and also how it relates to the truthfulness of Christianity.
The book consists of eight chapters. Chapter one begins with a warning of not being presumptuous which here is termed as being a “Know-it-all.” The first chapter and various other chapters teaches readers how to think and I appreciate that rather than it just telling readers what’s the evidences for Christianity is without an awareness and consciousness that methodology matters. Also as I mentioned earlier I enjoyed the author’s ability to draw examples from the world of investigation to apply it to apologetics especially in the area of historical apologetics. These two reasons makes Jim Wallace one of my favorite evidential apologist.
Readers will enjoy the author’s own illustrations, something the author often do in his own work as a detective to show visually what’s the evidence and case for something. There’s also helpful sidebars throughout each chapter such as “CSI Assignment” that encourages readers to look at biblical passages and fill in the blank as an assignment. Also there is the “Detective definitions” sidebar that my daughters find helpful since sometimes they wanted to know or need a further discussion and time to understand a term being used. This is very helpful. I also like how the chapters also deal with objections of the skeptical kind and how the fictional detective in the book refutes it by pointing out we are inconsistent not to argue in that same skeptical way in real life and in other investigative situation. The book also encourages readers to use further resources from the book’s website and also ends with “A Challenge from J. Warner Wallace” that encourages kids to be a witness to others. There is also some sample Fill-in Sheets after that and a certificate of promotion in the very end.
Overall I found it interesting and creative. I do wish there were more worldview level discussions since I think one’s worldview shapes how we interpret evidences. Yet Wallace’s book for kids shows more consciousness of how we know what we know than even some basic apologetics books written for adults. From my own family experience having read this aloud to my kids I enjoyed further discussions the chapters provoke about Christianity, the Bible, history, worldview, epistemology and yes also police and detective work. There are things one can learn from this book and not just only for kids but parents as well.
The book is narrated in a way that involves the reader’s participation as a kid in the Cadet Academy. When some kids discovered a mysterious skateboard in the school shed the detective who teaches the class used the situation to teach about police investigative methods and also how it relates to the truthfulness of Christianity.
The book consists of eight chapters. Chapter one begins with a warning of not being presumptuous which here is termed as being a “Know-it-all.” The first chapter and various other chapters teaches readers how to think and I appreciate that rather than it just telling readers what’s the evidences for Christianity is without an awareness and consciousness that methodology matters. Also as I mentioned earlier I enjoyed the author’s ability to draw examples from the world of investigation to apply it to apologetics especially in the area of historical apologetics. These two reasons makes Jim Wallace one of my favorite evidential apologist.
Readers will enjoy the author’s own illustrations, something the author often do in his own work as a detective to show visually what’s the evidence and case for something. There’s also helpful sidebars throughout each chapter such as “CSI Assignment” that encourages readers to look at biblical passages and fill in the blank as an assignment. Also there is the “Detective definitions” sidebar that my daughters find helpful since sometimes they wanted to know or need a further discussion and time to understand a term being used. This is very helpful. I also like how the chapters also deal with objections of the skeptical kind and how the fictional detective in the book refutes it by pointing out we are inconsistent not to argue in that same skeptical way in real life and in other investigative situation. The book also encourages readers to use further resources from the book’s website and also ends with “A Challenge from J. Warner Wallace” that encourages kids to be a witness to others. There is also some sample Fill-in Sheets after that and a certificate of promotion in the very end.
Overall I found it interesting and creative. I do wish there were more worldview level discussions since I think one’s worldview shapes how we interpret evidences. Yet Wallace’s book for kids shows more consciousness of how we know what we know than even some basic apologetics books written for adults. From my own family experience having read this aloud to my kids I enjoyed further discussions the chapters provoke about Christianity, the Bible, history, worldview, epistemology and yes also police and detective work. There are things one can learn from this book and not just only for kids but parents as well.
January 31, 2021
An EXCELLENT Apologetics book for preteen kids!
November 4, 2016
Imagine my joy as a father when my older 2 kids aged 11 and 9 picked up a book about the foundation of the Christian faith, and they were so eager to read it they couldn't decide who should have the chance first! Everything about this book does an excellent job at capturing the attention of children, from the eye-catching cover, to the graphics within the book which do a good job at adding meaning to the text and bringing it to life. My kids loved that they were reading a book that reads like a fiction story but is actually presenting solid educational truths. "Cold-Case Christianity for Kids"is a great book for your kids to read on their own, but even better it works as a book that you can read through as a family together. And what I appreciate as a parent is the accompanying website that goes along with the book, providing videos for each chapter, downloadable fill-in and activity sheets, etc. It is clear that a lot of thought went into developing this book and the website, and the result is a really well-done teaching tool for kids. By the end, your kids will have grown in their understanding of why they (and we) believe what we do about Jesus and about Christianity.
I am speaking for my children here when I tell you that this book is an absolute winner. Entertaining and informative, I encourage you to get a copy for the kids in your life (or maybe just for you)! We award this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher and the Litfuse Publicity Group.
I am speaking for my children here when I tell you that this book is an absolute winner. Entertaining and informative, I encourage you to get a copy for the kids in your life (or maybe just for you)! We award this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher and the Litfuse Publicity Group.
October 21, 2016
I read this book with my son and, I honestly think, I enjoyed it even more then he did!
It was extremely interesting to get the author's perspective on investigating Jesus as a cold-case mystery. His expertise is evident on every page and the evidence is explained in a very easy way to understand. Looking at it from the standpoint a professional detective would, made the case for Jesus being a real person and the Bible being accurate even more true. This book lays out the evidence for Jesus in a systematic way that answers every question a doubter would have with a logical and realistic answer. I like that this book gives readers without spiritual faith a thought process of being able to believe in Jesus as a person and then make their own decision from there. It has a gentle salvation message at the end of the book as well for readers to take the next step and make this "case" real in their own lives and eternity.
I received this book from the author/publisher but was not required to leave a review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
It was extremely interesting to get the author's perspective on investigating Jesus as a cold-case mystery. His expertise is evident on every page and the evidence is explained in a very easy way to understand. Looking at it from the standpoint a professional detective would, made the case for Jesus being a real person and the Bible being accurate even more true. This book lays out the evidence for Jesus in a systematic way that answers every question a doubter would have with a logical and realistic answer. I like that this book gives readers without spiritual faith a thought process of being able to believe in Jesus as a person and then make their own decision from there. It has a gentle salvation message at the end of the book as well for readers to take the next step and make this "case" real in their own lives and eternity.
I received this book from the author/publisher but was not required to leave a review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
September 17, 2019
You and two of your friends, Daniel and Hannah, want to be police cadets. There is a special student training that you all sign up for--detective training academy. You will be learning to think like a cold-case detective. A boy from another school signs up to take the class, too--Jason. Jason wants to know if “Jesus” is a case too old for a cold-case investigation.
I had already read Wallace’s Cold-Case and was impressed by the logic he applied and conclusions he made. So I wondered how he would translate that into something upper elementary and junior high kids could understand. I think J Warner and Susie Wallace did a great job of communicating that logic within the context of a story for kids.
I bought this book and this is my honest and unbiased review.
I had already read Wallace’s Cold-Case and was impressed by the logic he applied and conclusions he made. So I wondered how he would translate that into something upper elementary and junior high kids could understand. I think J Warner and Susie Wallace did a great job of communicating that logic within the context of a story for kids.
I bought this book and this is my honest and unbiased review.
March 1, 2020
Great kids’ work on apologetics
I love that it’s a narrative that weaves in lessons for how to investigate the claims of Christianity. It doesn’t just teach the ideas and truths of Christian apologetics, it illustrates them through a story. I used this book, and I intend to use the next two as well, as a resource for teaching jr high youth group. We’d talk through the concepts and then read the story together. I highly recommend it!
I love that it’s a narrative that weaves in lessons for how to investigate the claims of Christianity. It doesn’t just teach the ideas and truths of Christian apologetics, it illustrates them through a story. I used this book, and I intend to use the next two as well, as a resource for teaching jr high youth group. We’d talk through the concepts and then read the story together. I highly recommend it!
January 21, 2024
For what it is, it's great. It teaches basic, "Is the New Testament's witness about Jesus reliable" apologetics in a clear way that even I can remember. (Normally my brain has no ability to hold onto apologetics arguments for more than a few days. It's the same with economics!)
I do think that the additional materials (videos and worksheets) on the website, which the book constantly refers to, are not that worthwhile. Most of them are just nearly verbatim restatements of what you've already read in the book. Still, it's a good resource and we enjoyed it.
I do think that the additional materials (videos and worksheets) on the website, which the book constantly refers to, are not that worthwhile. Most of them are just nearly verbatim restatements of what you've already read in the book. Still, it's a good resource and we enjoyed it.
August 20, 2017
We discussed each chapter as a family. A good apologetic of the Bible. Luke probably could have dealt with something heavier, but it helped us think about our faith and the proofs we have for Christ.
August 16, 2024
Good book and prompted good discussions.
September 5, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this with my 8 year old. It uses a fictional, child friendly mystery to go through the process of how to investigate something you aren't sure if you believe. J.Warner Wallace takes the gospels and explores every angle for the young reader to come to the conclusion on their own. My daughter and I loved it!
November 20, 2023
4.5 Stars!
August 13, 2025
read this out loud to my kids (8+10). they loved it. thought provoking
November 2, 2016
Introduction
Several years ago cold-case homicide detective J. Warner Wallace wrote the book "Cold-Case Christianity." When Wallace first read the gospels, as an atheist, he noticed that they read like eye-witness accounts that he was used to analyzing everyday. He decided to conduct an investigation of Jesus' resurrection just like a cold case. "Cold-Case Christianity" takes the reader through his investigation and encourages the reader to be the "jury" to evaluate the evidence. You can read my full review of it here: Book Review: Cold-Case Christianity.
That book has been quite popular and has helped numerous people to see the evidence for the truth of Christianity. Because of that, Wallace and his wife decided to take the content and adapt it for a younger audience. The result is the book "Cold-Case Christianity for Kids."
The Story
Wallace wrote this edition as a story of a police cadet academy, where the new recruits (including the reader) learn how to investigate mysteries. One of the cadets locates an old skateboard that their instructor, Detective Jeffries, uses during their eight-week training to explain the various techniques used to investigate mysteries. The first thing Detective Jeffries explains to the new cadets is to never come to an investigation with their minds already made up- do not be "know-it-alls." One of the cadets asked if Christians were "know-it-alls" for saying that Jesus did miracles and came back from the dead. Detective Jeffries decides to take the cadets on an investigation into the evidence for Jesus' resurrection alongside the mystery of the skateboard. As principles are taught using the skateboard mystery, the cadets then apply them to the claims made in the Bible. The detective teaches eight basic principles to the cadets:
1. Don't be a "Know-It-All"
2. Learn how to infer
3. Think circumstantially
4. Test your witnesses
5. Respect the chain of custody
6. Hang on every word
7. Separate artifacts from evidence
8. Resist conspiracy theories
After learning each one and using it to get closer to the owner of the skateboard, Detective Jeffries asks pointed questions to the cadets to guide them on their application of the principle to the claims in the gospels. As the training and investigation progress, the cadets build their case for the owner of the skateboard and the best explanation for the claims of the Bible. Once the final piece of the skateboard puzzle is discovered and the owner identified, the cadets conclude their investigation of the gospel accounts- discovering that the most logical explanation of the claims of the gospels is that Jesus was actually raised from the dead.
The Cadet Academy
What is really great is that the experience the kids get is not limited to the book. The way the book is written, the reader is actually one of the cadets. Wallace has created a companion website (ColdCaseChristianityForKids.com) to guide kids and their parents through the same "Cadet Academy" that is in the story. Once the academy is completed the kids receive a certificate that they can show off and use to start conversations with friends and family.
My Recommendation
I really like how Wallace and his wife converted the content of the original book to an exciting mystery for kids. The book is a great length for kids, and Wallace includes sketches on nearly every page to visually bring the kids into the story, as one of the cadets. The way that Wallace wrote this edition is quite entertaining for kids who like mysteries (or one to may need to get hooked on them). The content taught is presented in ways that are easy to understand. Obviously, I highly recommend this book for kids, but I want to be a bit more specific in my recommendation. As a homeschool family, we do plan to use this as part of our Bible curriculum. I see how this could be quite a fun study in Sunday School or children's church (what kid wouldn't want to tell their friends that they learned to solve mysteries at church?). Of course, this could be a good book for book reports or vacation reading. This is a book that every parent needs to have for their kids.
For more book reviews from Luke, check out his Book Reviews page.
Several years ago cold-case homicide detective J. Warner Wallace wrote the book "Cold-Case Christianity." When Wallace first read the gospels, as an atheist, he noticed that they read like eye-witness accounts that he was used to analyzing everyday. He decided to conduct an investigation of Jesus' resurrection just like a cold case. "Cold-Case Christianity" takes the reader through his investigation and encourages the reader to be the "jury" to evaluate the evidence. You can read my full review of it here: Book Review: Cold-Case Christianity.
That book has been quite popular and has helped numerous people to see the evidence for the truth of Christianity. Because of that, Wallace and his wife decided to take the content and adapt it for a younger audience. The result is the book "Cold-Case Christianity for Kids."
The Story
Wallace wrote this edition as a story of a police cadet academy, where the new recruits (including the reader) learn how to investigate mysteries. One of the cadets locates an old skateboard that their instructor, Detective Jeffries, uses during their eight-week training to explain the various techniques used to investigate mysteries. The first thing Detective Jeffries explains to the new cadets is to never come to an investigation with their minds already made up- do not be "know-it-alls." One of the cadets asked if Christians were "know-it-alls" for saying that Jesus did miracles and came back from the dead. Detective Jeffries decides to take the cadets on an investigation into the evidence for Jesus' resurrection alongside the mystery of the skateboard. As principles are taught using the skateboard mystery, the cadets then apply them to the claims made in the Bible. The detective teaches eight basic principles to the cadets:
1. Don't be a "Know-It-All"
2. Learn how to infer
3. Think circumstantially
4. Test your witnesses
5. Respect the chain of custody
6. Hang on every word
7. Separate artifacts from evidence
8. Resist conspiracy theories
After learning each one and using it to get closer to the owner of the skateboard, Detective Jeffries asks pointed questions to the cadets to guide them on their application of the principle to the claims in the gospels. As the training and investigation progress, the cadets build their case for the owner of the skateboard and the best explanation for the claims of the Bible. Once the final piece of the skateboard puzzle is discovered and the owner identified, the cadets conclude their investigation of the gospel accounts- discovering that the most logical explanation of the claims of the gospels is that Jesus was actually raised from the dead.
The Cadet Academy
What is really great is that the experience the kids get is not limited to the book. The way the book is written, the reader is actually one of the cadets. Wallace has created a companion website (ColdCaseChristianityForKids.com) to guide kids and their parents through the same "Cadet Academy" that is in the story. Once the academy is completed the kids receive a certificate that they can show off and use to start conversations with friends and family.
My Recommendation
I really like how Wallace and his wife converted the content of the original book to an exciting mystery for kids. The book is a great length for kids, and Wallace includes sketches on nearly every page to visually bring the kids into the story, as one of the cadets. The way that Wallace wrote this edition is quite entertaining for kids who like mysteries (or one to may need to get hooked on them). The content taught is presented in ways that are easy to understand. Obviously, I highly recommend this book for kids, but I want to be a bit more specific in my recommendation. As a homeschool family, we do plan to use this as part of our Bible curriculum. I see how this could be quite a fun study in Sunday School or children's church (what kid wouldn't want to tell their friends that they learned to solve mysteries at church?). Of course, this could be a good book for book reports or vacation reading. This is a book that every parent needs to have for their kids.
For more book reviews from Luke, check out his Book Reviews page.
October 21, 2016
About this book:
“Between the ages of 8 and 12, kids often start to wonder if Christianity is true. In Cold-Case Christianity for Kids, detective J. Warner Wallace draws readers into the thrill of high-stakes investigation by showing them how to think rather than telling them what to think. In this children's companion to the bestselling Cold-Case Christianity, detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity. Includes author illustrations and links to a website (coldcasechristianityforkids.com) where kids can download activities, fill in case notes, and earn a certificate of merit. Detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity.”
Series: This book is based off of the adult version, “Cold-Case Christianity”.
Spiritual Content- All about investigating who Jesus is, the Bible being true and evidence, & the case for Jesus; Assignments throughout the book have you look up Scriptures & fill in the blanks; Witnessing & how to accept Jesus as your Savior; Talks about Jesus, miracles He did, church & the Bible; Talks about & mentions of those in the Bible & events; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God & Jesus; There’s a skeptic in the class that finds it difficult to believe the Bible is true;
*Note: A couple mentions of evolution (not actually named, but hinted).
Negative Content- A couple mentions of con artists; A couple mentions of keeping a secret from a set of parents, but feeling guilty & telling them; Mentions of lies & lying.
Sexual Content- N/A
-You!
Written in 2nd person P.O.V.
{Non-fiction}
128 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Four Stars
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
This is such a neat little book! Very well done & super interactive, this technical non-fiction—but written in story form—has many great points about the Case for Christ. I could also see churches taking this book and expanding it into a Vacation Bible School, wouldn’t that be fun?!
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher for this honest review through Litfuse.
“Between the ages of 8 and 12, kids often start to wonder if Christianity is true. In Cold-Case Christianity for Kids, detective J. Warner Wallace draws readers into the thrill of high-stakes investigation by showing them how to think rather than telling them what to think. In this children's companion to the bestselling Cold-Case Christianity, detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity. Includes author illustrations and links to a website (coldcasechristianityforkids.com) where kids can download activities, fill in case notes, and earn a certificate of merit. Detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity.”
Series: This book is based off of the adult version, “Cold-Case Christianity”.
Spiritual Content- All about investigating who Jesus is, the Bible being true and evidence, & the case for Jesus; Assignments throughout the book have you look up Scriptures & fill in the blanks; Witnessing & how to accept Jesus as your Savior; Talks about Jesus, miracles He did, church & the Bible; Talks about & mentions of those in the Bible & events; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God & Jesus; There’s a skeptic in the class that finds it difficult to believe the Bible is true;
*Note: A couple mentions of evolution (not actually named, but hinted).
Negative Content- A couple mentions of con artists; A couple mentions of keeping a secret from a set of parents, but feeling guilty & telling them; Mentions of lies & lying.
Sexual Content- N/A
-You!
Written in 2nd person P.O.V.
{Non-fiction}
128 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Four Stars
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
This is such a neat little book! Very well done & super interactive, this technical non-fiction—but written in story form—has many great points about the Case for Christ. I could also see churches taking this book and expanding it into a Vacation Bible School, wouldn’t that be fun?!
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher for this honest review through Litfuse.
October 10, 2016
About the Book:
Between the ages of 8 and 12, kids often start to wonder if Christianity is true. In Cold-Case Christianity for Kids, detective J. Warner Wallace draws readers into the thrill of high-stakes investigation by showing them how to think rather than telling them what to think. In this children's companion to the bestselling Cold-Case Christianity, detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity.
Includes author illustrations and links to a website (coldcasechristianityforkids.com) where kids can download activities, fill in case notes, and earn a certificate of merit. Detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity.
My Review:
I tried to explain God's presence to my 6 year old the other day and it didn't go so well. Mainly, because it is hard for his little mind to comprehend the expansion of God and how He exists. Some things on my own journey are hard to explain. I can only imagine it is the same if not worse for my son and other children. It is almost they borrow our faith until they can come to their own conclusions and decisions about God and who He is.
So this book entitled, Cold-Case Christianity for Kids is written by a real detective and I have to say it is a real neat little book that I think 8-12 year olds will enjoy thoroughly. It takes you to a real briefing room and it gives you a few characters to follow on their investigation of Jesus. From testing witnesses to examining evidence this book will take the case of Jesus and all His glory to a whole other level for our children to not only enjoy but to learn more about the Creator and what role He needs to play in their lives.
My 11 year old son is very excited to dig into the book. He enjoys mysteries even ones he feels he knows the answers to. If this book turns into a series I know none of us will be disappointed. It is a very thorough book and our family loves it.
The author produces us with a very current and relevant text for our time. I love teaching my children even more about Jesus and this book can help me achieve just that.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author.
Between the ages of 8 and 12, kids often start to wonder if Christianity is true. In Cold-Case Christianity for Kids, detective J. Warner Wallace draws readers into the thrill of high-stakes investigation by showing them how to think rather than telling them what to think. In this children's companion to the bestselling Cold-Case Christianity, detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity.
Includes author illustrations and links to a website (coldcasechristianityforkids.com) where kids can download activities, fill in case notes, and earn a certificate of merit. Detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity.
My Review:
I tried to explain God's presence to my 6 year old the other day and it didn't go so well. Mainly, because it is hard for his little mind to comprehend the expansion of God and how He exists. Some things on my own journey are hard to explain. I can only imagine it is the same if not worse for my son and other children. It is almost they borrow our faith until they can come to their own conclusions and decisions about God and who He is.
So this book entitled, Cold-Case Christianity for Kids is written by a real detective and I have to say it is a real neat little book that I think 8-12 year olds will enjoy thoroughly. It takes you to a real briefing room and it gives you a few characters to follow on their investigation of Jesus. From testing witnesses to examining evidence this book will take the case of Jesus and all His glory to a whole other level for our children to not only enjoy but to learn more about the Creator and what role He needs to play in their lives.
My 11 year old son is very excited to dig into the book. He enjoys mysteries even ones he feels he knows the answers to. If this book turns into a series I know none of us will be disappointed. It is a very thorough book and our family loves it.
The author produces us with a very current and relevant text for our time. I love teaching my children even more about Jesus and this book can help me achieve just that.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author.
November 14, 2016
This book was really interesting and a great concept! The author, a detective, has the young reader examine evidence and determine facts about Jesus and Christianity. They have scriptures throughout the book, questions, and even a completion certificate at the end.
This book is recommended for ages 8-12. I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social medi review. All opinions are my own.
This book is recommended for ages 8-12. I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social medi review. All opinions are my own.
October 21, 2016
If you have kids who are interested in detective work and solving cases, they will enjoy this book as it walks through a detective training to determine if Jesus is real. The book can be used as a study for kids with accompanying activities and questions on the website. A good book for older kids with an interest in detective work. *I received a complimentary copy of this book*
November 8, 2020
This is a book for kids on Christian apologetics, targeted at children from age 8 to 11. It has 8 chapters and a postscript. My daughter and I went through a chapter of the book every Saturday for the past 9 weeks. This is a great book for kids who enjoy mystery books, because the premise is to teach kids skills that help you become a good detective. We learned about keeping our mind free form presumptions, using adductive reasoning, direct evidence and circumstantial evidence, trustworthy witnesses, chain of custody for evidence, separating artifacts from evidence, and the 5 contingents needed for a successful conspiracy to occur.
We also examined 4 facts about Jesus's resurrection, brainstormed 5 possible ways to explain these facts, and came to the conclusion that Jesus's resurrection was not imagined. We looked at four indirect evidence that point to God's existence. We looked at whether writers of the four gospels were trustworthy witnesses, whether the content of the Gospel of John changed over time, how we can conclude Peter was the source for the Gospel of Mark, how we can find out what the original Bible said by comparing multiple, varied early copies, and four reasons why the Gospel could not have been a product of conspiracy.
It was a lot of fun! I wish I had an opportunity to do this when I was 8, but....the book wasn't published then :D The author provided a website that had complementary videos and worksheets for each chapter. Kids who finish the book can also print out a certificate from the website for keepsake. My daughter really enjoyed working through this book. And as a Christian parent, I love the opportunity to strengthen my daughter's faith by addressing potential questions and doubts preemptively.
We also examined 4 facts about Jesus's resurrection, brainstormed 5 possible ways to explain these facts, and came to the conclusion that Jesus's resurrection was not imagined. We looked at four indirect evidence that point to God's existence. We looked at whether writers of the four gospels were trustworthy witnesses, whether the content of the Gospel of John changed over time, how we can conclude Peter was the source for the Gospel of Mark, how we can find out what the original Bible said by comparing multiple, varied early copies, and four reasons why the Gospel could not have been a product of conspiracy.
It was a lot of fun! I wish I had an opportunity to do this when I was 8, but....the book wasn't published then :D The author provided a website that had complementary videos and worksheets for each chapter. Kids who finish the book can also print out a certificate from the website for keepsake. My daughter really enjoyed working through this book. And as a Christian parent, I love the opportunity to strengthen my daughter's faith by addressing potential questions and doubts preemptively.
October 15, 2022
Cold Case Christianity For Kids is a great book to teach kids about Christianity as well as explore evidence as to how God is real. If your kid is reluctant to believe in Him, or has doubts, this book slowly unfolds the beautiful truth that He is real and with us all the time. It isn’t an actual bible, though, so if you’re looking for a kid’s bible of stories about things God did, this isn’t quite the same-it’s more like analyzing Christianity from a school like environment. There is a teacher figure, a guy named Jeffries, who guides a group of detective-in-training kids through their investigations on God. I thought it was an interesting, unique perspective of explaining His existence: treating it like a mystery to solve.
The book is even divided into sections that go in order depending on what part of Christianity is being investigated, which I thought was really nice, in case you wanted to reread a portion. It was almost like a table of contents!
My only complaint is that it’s told from a second person viewpoint. I guess I’ve never really liked second person accounts, though. I hate thinking that a person who is nothing like me is me, and it makes the character harder to relate to-they don’t even have a name! Of course, that’s just my opinion. Overall, it’s a wonderful book!
The book is even divided into sections that go in order depending on what part of Christianity is being investigated, which I thought was really nice, in case you wanted to reread a portion. It was almost like a table of contents!
My only complaint is that it’s told from a second person viewpoint. I guess I’ve never really liked second person accounts, though. I hate thinking that a person who is nothing like me is me, and it makes the character harder to relate to-they don’t even have a name! Of course, that’s just my opinion. Overall, it’s a wonderful book!
June 30, 2024
This was a fun change of pace. J Warner Wallace, a police detective, writes this as a mystery-crime-scene-style adventure to read along with a child. It is a great simplified introduction to the reasons for trusting the Gospels and to apologetics in general. I felt like a kid again as I parsed through the evidence and, instead of finding candy or a Lego set at the end of my adventure, I found a good case for the Resurrection. I think a kid between 7-12 would get a lot out of reading this.
As a bonus, he even has a chapter devoted to St John’s disciples, such as Papias, St Ignatius, St Polycarp, and St Irenaeus. Perhaps he could write a cold case for the real presence of the Eucharist in these fathers? Perhaps another time.
As a bonus, he even has a chapter devoted to St John’s disciples, such as Papias, St Ignatius, St Polycarp, and St Irenaeus. Perhaps he could write a cold case for the real presence of the Eucharist in these fathers? Perhaps another time.
July 31, 2024
This book was SO helpful. Even better when coupled with the adult companion Cold-Case Christianity. I had so many wonderful discussions with my child as we worked through this book and it’s led them closer to full belief in Jesus. The accompanying activities were enjoyable and engaging as well and it was nice to have accompanying videos from the author himself.
The only thing I had a brief pause about was the way the skateboard crime was solved. It was a child disobeying their parents. However, they did explain they felt guilt and confessed, so I was appreciative of this conclusion.
All in all, this book was very much worth the time and effort. Adults, don’t miss out on reading the companion book!
The only thing I had a brief pause about was the way the skateboard crime was solved. It was a child disobeying their parents. However, they did explain they felt guilt and confessed, so I was appreciative of this conclusion.
All in all, this book was very much worth the time and effort. Adults, don’t miss out on reading the companion book!
March 20, 2017
My favorite thing about this read was spending quality time with my eldest daughter (age 8). I read this out-loud to her, often cuddled together before bed. My youngest daughter (age 6) joined us for a few chapters as well. I thought this book was very well done and the apologetics were excellent. Appreciated ending with the Gospel and a call to share your faith as well. Nothing negative to say except that a lot was above their heads so probably better for someone a few years older. But if you have a 10-13 year old get this for them!
March 25, 2025
I read this book with my two boys over a one-month period. We used it during homeschool as a break in our regular routine. I though it was going to be a little more interesting, but it did jumpstart some good discussions. It introduced the idea that scripture is defensible and not a fairy tale.
This is written in the rare second-person POV. I didn't care for it. I kept forgetting to put "myself" or in this case "ourselves" into the role of protagonist, but it didn't seem to hamper our understanding of the overall concepts.
This is written in the rare second-person POV. I didn't care for it. I kept forgetting to put "myself" or in this case "ourselves" into the role of protagonist, but it didn't seem to hamper our understanding of the overall concepts.
January 1, 2023
Fairly well written apologetics book for kids. It did get confusing with the detective story happening alongside testing the claims of Christianity, but it was the best way to make Wallace’s original book accessible to younger kiddos.
At times it is 8-12 appropriate, and then it distills some points down too far. Wallace seems to underestimate the information younger kids are capable of processing. (That’s coming from me as a licensed K-12 teacher.)
At times it is 8-12 appropriate, and then it distills some points down too far. Wallace seems to underestimate the information younger kids are capable of processing. (That’s coming from me as a licensed K-12 teacher.)
October 23, 2017
I have read this with my 9 yo daughter and 11 yo son. I really like the real life skills taught for critically evaluating information in any context. I love that it shows you don't have to park your brain to believe in God. My children love it and remind me it's time to study a chapter if I forget. Highly recommend.
October 29, 2017
Great way to teach kids critical thinking skills. Also, a great way to help kids navigate the truths of the gospel, especially teaching how to infer truth from a preponderance of evidence. I read this to my French grandkids aged 7 through 13. The older ones were ready to hear. The younger kids enjoyed the story.
December 7, 2017
Excelente
Ojalá hubiese tenido uno de estos mientras crecía; sin embargo para quienes son padres, tíos, hermanos mayores, es una forma muy amena de incentivar el pensamiento crítico en los hijos, sobrinos hermanos o primos menores.
Y sobre todo, dejar que se familiaricen con la fe cristiana, que sí es una fe, y además es razonable.
Ojalá hubiese tenido uno de estos mientras crecía; sin embargo para quienes son padres, tíos, hermanos mayores, es una forma muy amena de incentivar el pensamiento crítico en los hijos, sobrinos hermanos o primos menores.
Y sobre todo, dejar que se familiaricen con la fe cristiana, que sí es una fe, y además es razonable.
April 5, 2018
I bought this for my 8 year old grandson who had read this and then asked me to read it too. It made quite an impression on him so I read it. I can honestly say that it kept my interest and I highly recommend it for any children you know who might have questions about the Christian faith and the basis for it and reliability of it.
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