4 Reasons to Teach Christian History to Your Kids

Christian history for kids is valuable! Here are 4 reasons you’ll want to teach the history of God’s people.

Christian history matters for our kids.

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Not only that, learning about Christian history can be fun for children. After all, they are drawn to story, and they gravitate toward heroes!

Let’s talk about four compelling reasons for sharing stories about the history of our faith with your kids. Then, we’ll explore some fantastic Christian history books you’ll want to check out!

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Reasons to Teach Christian History to Your Kids

1) Teaching Christian History gives kids heroes.

Humans gravitate toward celebrities, sports stars and comic book characters. Let’s give our kids some real heroes–people who loved Jesus and lived to his glory.

The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!” ~ Psalm 16:3 (NLT)

When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther for your teens.

2) Teaching Christian History gives kids peers and a family history.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” ~ Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV)

What could be better than allowing the “cloud of witnesses” to point our kids toward Jesus?

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3) Teaching Christian History gives kids a clear view of God’s sovereign hand in history.

Charles Spurgeon (the “Prince of Preachers”) once said:

Cheer up, Christian! Things are not left to chance: no blind fate rules the world. God hath purposes, and those purposes are fulfilled. God hath plans, and those plans are wise, and never can be dislocated.”

We often cannot see God’s purposes in our own lives, but we can recognize them years later in the lives of others.

4) Teaching Christian History gives kids solid examples of lives sold-out for Jesus.

One of my boys wrote a long testimony to give on the day of his baptism. He gave me permission to share the last paragraph with you. He was nine at the time:

I’m a Christian. I will follow Jesus for the rest of my life… I’ve been thinking about all the great Christians we’ve been reading about like Lillian Trasher, Mary Slessor, and Eric Liddell. I want to be like them–a God-fearing Christian who leads many lives to Christ. I will follow Jesus with my life.”

Christian History Books

When children are young, we teach Christian history simply by reading it. You can incorporate the readings into your history, science, art, music, devotions or bedtime routine.

I’m excited to share some of my favorite Christian history books and series with you.

Books about the Reformation by Danika Cooley (that’s me!)

The Reformation was an important time in both the history of the Christian Church, and in global history.God used his Word, new technology, and faithful believers to bring people to the truth of Scripture. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. Scripture alone is our authority–not the word of councils or popes. We live our lives and do all things to the glory of God alone.Teach your kids about the Reformation Church with fun narrative and important biblical truth through the Who What Why series from Danika Cooley and Christian Focus Publications.
Martin Luther’s story is exciting.There are death defying moments, epic spiritual battles, narrow escapes, a kidnapping, revolution, and war. As the “Father of the Reformation”, Luther is a vital figure in Church history. His sacrifice and willingness to wage battle against the spiritual, religious, and political powers of his medieval world allowed Christians throughout time to embrace the truth of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone as explained by Scripture alone once again.When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther from Danika Cooley and Fortress Press is the perfect family read-aloud, and a fun narrative read for your teens!

Two Great Individual Resources for Younger Kids

These overviews of the history of Christianity belong in every home library.

A Colorful Past: A Coloring Book of Church History Through the Centuries God’s Timeline: The Big Book of Church History

Christian History For the Youngest Children

The Little Lights series by Catherine Mackenzie are recommended for ages 4-7:

Christian Book: Little Lights Biographies

The Heroes for Young Readers line by Renee Taft Meloche is a set of picture books written as rhyming biographies.

Bethany Hamilton: Riding the Waves (Heroes for Young Readers)C.S. Lewis: The Man Who Gave Us Narnia (Heroes for Young Readers)Nick Vujicic: No Limits (Heroes for Young Readers)George Washington Carver: America’s Scientist (Heroes of History for Young Readers)Louis Zamperini: Survivor and Champion (Heroes of History for Young Readers)Loren Cunningham: Making God Known (Heroes for Young Readers)George Washington: America’s Patriot (Heroes of History for Young Readers)Ida Scudder: Healing in India (Heroes for Young Readers)Brother Andrew: Taking Bibles to the World (Heroes for Young Readers)Daniel Boone: Bravery on the Frontier (Heroes of History for Young Readers)Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Little House Life (Heroes of History for Young Readers

Christian Book: Heroes for Young Readers

The Trailblazers Series by Dave and Neta Jackson are a set of engaging historical fiction that incorporate lives and facts about real people.

Trailblazers: Featuring William Tyndale and Other Christian Heroes (Trailblazer Books) (v. 3)Trailblazers: Featuring David Livingstone and Other Christian Heroes (Trailblazer Books)Trailblazers: Featuring Harriet Tubman and Other Christian Heroes (Trailblazer Books)Trailblazers: Featuring Martin Luther and Other Christian Heroes (Trailblazer Books)Trailblazers: Featuring Amy Carmichael and Other Christian Heroes (Trailblazer Books)

Christian History For Middle Grades & Middle School

The Christian Focus Trailblazers line of narrative biographies now numbers more than 60 books.

Eric Liddell: Finish the Race John Chrysostom: The Preacher in the Emperor’s Court Samuel Rutherford: The Law, the Prince and the Scribe Francis & Edith Schaeffer: Taking on the World Titanic: The Ship of Dreams William Tyndale: The Smuggler’s Flame Wilfred Grenfell: Courageous Doctor Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Spoke in the Wheel Elisabeth Elliot: Do the Next Thing Betty Greene: Courage Has Wings Ulrich Zwingli: Shepherd Warrior Lilias Trotter: Daring in the Desert Isobel Kuhn: Lights in Lisuland Jim Elliot: He Is No Fool George Müller: The Children’s Champion Adoniram Judson: Danger on the Streets of Gold Patricia St. John: The Story Behind the Stories Helen Roseveare: On His Majesty’s Service John Newton: A Slave Set Free John Calvin: After Darkness Light John Knox: The Sharpened Sword Billy Graham: Just get up out of your Seat Richard Wurmbrand: A Voice in the Dark Mary Slessor: Servant to the Slave Joni Eareckson Tada: Swimming Against the Tide Hudson Taylor: An Adventure Begins Augustine: The Truth Seeker Patrick of Ireland: The Boy Who Forgave Brother Andrew: Behind Enemy Lines Lottie Moon: Changing China for Christ D L Moody: One Devoted Man Nate Saint: Operation Auca John Welch: The Man Who Couldn’t Be Stopped Michael Faraday: Spiritual Dynamo William Wilberforce: The Freedom Fighter C. S. Lewis: The Story Teller: Trailblazers Series Jonathan Edwards: America’s Genius Charles Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers George Müller: The Children’s Champion George Whitefield: Voice That Woke the World Amy Carmichael: Rescuer By Night Mary of Orange: At the Mercy of Kings Martyn Lloyd-Jones: From Wales to Westminster Hannah More: The Woman Who Wouldn’t Stop Writing Fanny Crosby: The Blind Girl’s Song Paul Brand: The Shoes That Love Made Frances Ridley Havergal: The Girl Who Loved Mountains Corrie Ten Boom: The Watchmaker’s Daughter Gladys Aylward: No Mountain Too High John Bunyan: Journey of a Pilgrim David Brainerd: A Love for the Lost John G. Paton: South Sea Island Rescue Billy Bray: Saved From the Deepest Pit John Stott: The Humble Leader Bill Bright: Dare to be Different Charles Simeon: For Christ in Cambridge (Trail Blazers)William Carey: Expecting Great Things (Trail Blazers)Jack Turner: Truth in the Arctic (Trail Blazers)Elaine Townsend: At Home Around the World (Trail Blazers)Thomas Clarkson: The Giant With One Idea (Trailblazers)John and Betty Stam: To Die is Gain (Trail Blazers)Maud Kells: Fearless in the Forest (Trail Blazers)Jim Elliot: He Is No Fool (Trail Blazers)Elizabeth Prentiss: More Love (Trailblazers)

We love this set. The History Lives set by Brandon and Mindy Withrow has stories in chronological order.

History Lives Box Set: Chronicles of the Church

Christian Book: History Lives: Chronicles of the Church

We also use Geoff and Janet Benge’s series:

Christian Heroes Books 1-5 Gift Set (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)Christian Heroes Books 6-10 Gift Set (Christian Heroes: Then & Now) (Displays and Gift Sets)Christian Heroes Books 11-15 Gift Set (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)Christian Heroes Books 16-20 Gift Set (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)Christian Heroes Books 21-25 Gift Set (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)Christian Heroes Books 26-30 Gift Set (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)Christian Heroes Books 31-35 Gift Set (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)

Christian Book: Christian Heroes by Geoff and Janet Benge

Simonetta Carr has a beautiful line of unusual subjects in a picture-book-for-older kids series.

Christian Book: Christian Biographies for Young Readers

Have fun teaching your kids about the heroes of the faith!

Christian Biographies for Kids | Christian History for Kids | Theology for Kids

“As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” – Psalm 16:3, ESV

Christian History Matters for Our Kids.

History matters. Now, more than ever, we see how important it is for our children to know and understand history and the Bible.

Here’s why:

God is the sovereign ruler of all things. It’s important for our kids to see his hand in the history of nations and in the lives of both peasants and kings.
Christian history is the story of our family history. Our kids get to see how people who love Jesus follow him.
Understanding history can help our kids learn historic and biblical theology. They learn what the Bible says and what that means for us. They also see when the study of Scripture has taken important turns that have changed the Church.
Reading Christian biographies and history can be a wonderful way for kids to think outside their own time and culture. God’s Church spans centuries and includes people from every nation.
Christian biographies help kids consider their own faith, walk with Jesus, and the impact their witness may one day have on others–and on history.