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Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry: How the gospel will transform your kids, your church, your community, and the world
The story of Jesus interacting with the Emmaus disciples after his resurrection provides an outline for what a gospel-centered kids ministry looks like: gospel-centered teaching that points to Jesus in every session, gospel-centered transformation that positions the gospel to change a child's heart and then his or her behavior, and gospel-centered mission where kids join in on the big story of Jesus that continues to unfold.
Seven out of ten kids will walk away from church after they turn eighteen. About five will return when they have families of their own. But two will never return. Clearly, something isn’t connecting with our kids. As kids ministry leaders, we need to take a hard look at what we are missing in our kids ministries and provide kids the one thing that will satisfy them and keep them connected to the church—the gospel.
Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry also addresses how to communicate with and encourage gospel-centered leaders and parents as part of your ministry.
Seven out of ten kids will walk away from church after they turn eighteen. About five will return when they have families of their own. But two will never return. Clearly, something isn’t connecting with our kids. As kids ministry leaders, we need to take a hard look at what we are missing in our kids ministries and provide kids the one thing that will satisfy them and keep them connected to the church—the gospel.
Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry also addresses how to communicate with and encourage gospel-centered leaders and parents as part of your ministry.
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2017
36 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Brian Dembowczyk
10 books6 followersBrian Dembowczyk has worked in publishing the past ten years, including serving as the Managing Editor of The Gospel Project, a Bible study curriculum used by over one million people each week. He is also an adjunct professor and speaker. Brian served in local church ministry for seventeen years, primarily in family ministry and discipleship ministry.
Brian holds a PhD and ThM from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a DMin from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and an MDiv from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminar. He, his wife Tara, and their three children—Joshua, Hannah, and Caleb—live in Middle Tennessee.
Brian holds a PhD and ThM from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a DMin from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and an MDiv from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminar. He, his wife Tara, and their three children—Joshua, Hannah, and Caleb—live in Middle Tennessee.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 31, 2017
I really enjoyed the ideology of this book, but I struggled figuring out how to get to the practical side of things. I felt like there was some good starting points for application with the questions and the content discussed was critically important, but I needed more practicality on how we can do this and evaluate ourselves as leaders.
February 28, 2022
This is one of the best non fiction books I've read. On a personal note, it is super easy to read with each chapter being short and to the point. Generally, Brian could've easily come off as jaded by failed experiences in kids ministry but instead each page resounds with his passion for teaching the gospel regardless of age. His passion and love for the church seems to drive his desire to see kids ministry done well. Even though he doesn't include a explicit to do list with each chapter I was reviewing things that could change or be added to our church's kids ministry. Great read!
December 17, 2025
A good and easy read on making disciples through the kids ministry at church with the gospel at the center. Lots of good points and helpful truths!
“When we teach the Bible through a history lens, we position our kids to receive a beautiful, lasting gospel transformation. Our target is a transformed heart, not changed behavior. A transformed heart will always result in changed behavior that honors God, but changed behavior will not always result in a transformed heart that yields to God. We are changed not by being told what we need to do for God, but by hearing the news about what God has done for us.”
“When I say that many churches see their kids as buckets, I mean that they see their kids as collectors of something—of Bible knowledge or perhaps even the gospel. The vision of these churches is to fill each bucket up as much as possible.
This would sound great if discipleship were all about us.
However, we know it's not. Discipleship is about making disciple-makers. This is why we have to see our kids as pipes.
We need to pour the gospel into our kids, not with the aim of only filling them up, but with the goal of moving the gospel through them. They accomplish this by sharing the gospel and by putting it to work wherever they go.”
“And what does the Holy Spirit do? He guides us and directs us. He convicts us of sin. He comforts and consoles us. He changes us. That involves more than merely saying affirming things doesn't it? God intends for us to gather together and put sin to death in our lives. We are to week and mourn together. We are to laugh and celebrate together. We are to hold one another accountable toward our calling. We are to help one another live differently today than we did yesterday. We are to change. This is what it means truly to encourage one another. Left to ourselves, we are not strong enough to achieve any of these acts of transformation. This sanctification can only take place because Jesus calls us while we are sinners and provides us with His enabling righteousness. This is where the church differs from any other institution. While other human gatherings might seek to achieve behavior modification, only the church can experience gospel transformation.”
“When we teach the Bible through a history lens, we position our kids to receive a beautiful, lasting gospel transformation. Our target is a transformed heart, not changed behavior. A transformed heart will always result in changed behavior that honors God, but changed behavior will not always result in a transformed heart that yields to God. We are changed not by being told what we need to do for God, but by hearing the news about what God has done for us.”
“When I say that many churches see their kids as buckets, I mean that they see their kids as collectors of something—of Bible knowledge or perhaps even the gospel. The vision of these churches is to fill each bucket up as much as possible.
This would sound great if discipleship were all about us.
However, we know it's not. Discipleship is about making disciple-makers. This is why we have to see our kids as pipes.
We need to pour the gospel into our kids, not with the aim of only filling them up, but with the goal of moving the gospel through them. They accomplish this by sharing the gospel and by putting it to work wherever they go.”
“And what does the Holy Spirit do? He guides us and directs us. He convicts us of sin. He comforts and consoles us. He changes us. That involves more than merely saying affirming things doesn't it? God intends for us to gather together and put sin to death in our lives. We are to week and mourn together. We are to laugh and celebrate together. We are to hold one another accountable toward our calling. We are to help one another live differently today than we did yesterday. We are to change. This is what it means truly to encourage one another. Left to ourselves, we are not strong enough to achieve any of these acts of transformation. This sanctification can only take place because Jesus calls us while we are sinners and provides us with His enabling righteousness. This is where the church differs from any other institution. While other human gatherings might seek to achieve behavior modification, only the church can experience gospel transformation.”
November 18, 2025
This book has changed me for the better. WOW!! I’m excited to say this is one of my favorite books and I will be referring people to it.
Dembowczyk, has put so much in a small book. It’s packed with helpful material for children’s ministry and ministry in the home.
This book is direct and straight to the point, there’s not a lot of filler. And safe to say I underlined like half the book!!
It helps connecting church ministry to home life and vise versa. And provided helpful insight on teaching kids about Jesus, hard passages and helps articulate how to partner with parents.
Dembowczyk, has put so much in a small book. It’s packed with helpful material for children’s ministry and ministry in the home.
This book is direct and straight to the point, there’s not a lot of filler. And safe to say I underlined like half the book!!
It helps connecting church ministry to home life and vise versa. And provided helpful insight on teaching kids about Jesus, hard passages and helps articulate how to partner with parents.
August 7, 2021
I appreciate the brevity and focus of Brian D’s book. If you’ve spent any amount of time in Serge, Gospel Project or Gospel Coalition type stuff, you’re probably already familiar with gospel-centrality. What Brian does is apply that to how we envision kids ministry. He doesn’t get too specific but he at least admonishes would-be children’s ministers to recruit well and do more than download info onto kids heads. They are pipes not buckets (great image).
July 3, 2025
A lot that is in this book I already knew, but there were some very good takeaways. I want to do better with kids worship and there were some things that I will try implementing this year. I really enjoyed how short it was overall, but the chapters were a little too short. I treated the parts as chapters and it worked well for me. The entire book did a great job staying focused on the main goal though some stories felt forced.
September 27, 2025
An amazing and convicting breakdown of how important it is not to lose sight of the Gospel in children’s ministry. Children need to hear the Gospel - by any means necessary. Great reflection questions and practical points of application in your home church. I am definitely better off having read this.
January 29, 2019
So much good stuff in this book, I underlined something on almost every page and have several flags marking passages I want to go back to later. It’s short and to the point but should be read at a pace which allows you to read process through the ideas.
July 19, 2017
This little guy just became one of the books I'll put in all of my children's leaders hands.
July 21, 2017
If you work in children's ministry, read this. Such a refreshing book on the importance of teaching kids with the Gospel! I Highly recommend this book.
March 19, 2018
Great overview of why Kids Ministry is important and how to turn kids ministry into more than just story time. I think it's a great resource especially for any lay leader within Kids Ministry.
September 28, 2019
This challenged the way I teach and now I will be more thoughtful about weaving the story of redemption through everything I teach. Excellent book.
December 29, 2019
This is a must read for every pastor, in kids ministry and otherwise. It paints a beautiful, practical, biblical vision of discipleship that is so desperately needed in churches today.
September 29, 2020
This book was eye opening, educational and convicting.
January 13, 2021
Good resource! I recommend it to parents, children’s ministers/directors, volunteers, and people working with youth! Lots of relevant and biblical truths.
June 16, 2021
Love this book! Very informative and convicting
December 31, 2021
Kids ministry isn’t the future church, it 👏🏻 is 👏🏻 the 👏🏻 church 👏🏻
August 6, 2022
Every Christian should read this book. It’s a quick read and has so many good thoughts even for those not involved in children’s ministry.
August 10, 2022
Excellent book! An important read for anyone that calls themselves Christians.
November 28, 2022
Brief chapters, quality content
March 29, 2023
Great books for those working in children’s ministry as well as just Christian parents. Information is easy to read and apply.
January 13, 2024
Very insightful! Very much oriented around the full gospel, which is as hopeful as it is helpful! Only wish that it maybe had a few more practical ideas for those who are still new to Kids Ministry.
September 22, 2024
Good points for application but also a very broad covering for children’s ministry.
September 22, 2025
there’s a few really good chapters and lines in here, but i’ve never been totally blown away by this book.
September 25, 2025
Excellent book! Outlines what the goals of Kids ministry are and how to implement them!
January 20, 2019
This book made many great points about how children’s ministries can impact children in a life-changing way. The discussion on parenting and partnering with parents to disciple children I especially agreed with. I did feel the author was pointing to the curriculum his company sells a little too much. This was worth reading and caused me to think.
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April 26, 2017On the back of the book:
"Seven out of 10 kids will walk away from the church after they turn 18. About five will return when they have families of their own, but two will never return. Clearly something isn't connecting with our kids.
As kids ministry leaders, we need to take a hard look at what we are missing in our kids ministries and provide kids the one thing that will satisfy them and keep them connected to the church – the gospel.
In Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry, the story of Jesus interacting with the Emmaus disciples provides an outline for what a gospel-centered kids ministry looks like: teaching that points to Jesus, transformation that positions the gospel to change a kid's heart, and mission where kids join in on the big story of Jesus that continues to unfold.
Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry also addresses communicating with and encouraging gospel-centered leaders and parents as part of your ministry.
"Seven out of 10 kids will walk away from the church after they turn 18. About five will return when they have families of their own, but two will never return. Clearly something isn't connecting with our kids.
As kids ministry leaders, we need to take a hard look at what we are missing in our kids ministries and provide kids the one thing that will satisfy them and keep them connected to the church – the gospel.
In Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry, the story of Jesus interacting with the Emmaus disciples provides an outline for what a gospel-centered kids ministry looks like: teaching that points to Jesus, transformation that positions the gospel to change a kid's heart, and mission where kids join in on the big story of Jesus that continues to unfold.
Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry also addresses communicating with and encouraging gospel-centered leaders and parents as part of your ministry.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews