Do you remember your most significant childhood experience with the Holy Spirit? Many who grew up Pentecostal would say it was when they received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. While there is nothing wrong with this answer, I wonder whether it is a result of conditioning.

Personally, the details of that moment are a little hazy. Yet I have many vivid memories of the Holy Spirit’s ministry in my life before and after I received the Baptism.

For example, I remember how, following the death of my great-grandmother, I read the Bible and knew for the first time the Holy Spirit was comforting me.

I recall praying for adults and having them tell me the Holy Spirit had led me to pray exactly what they needed to hear.

And I can think of numerous times in my youth when I worshipped and wept in God’s presence while the Holy Spirit healed my heart.

I have observed ministry to children across America, and it concerns me that teaching on the Holy Spirit is often limited to camp services, where the main emphasis is on the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Too often, we make the Baptism the pinnacle experience, rather than seeing it as part of a deepening relationship with the Spirit. Rather than the ultimate destination, baptism in the Spirit is an important stride in a lifelong adventure.

Certainly, we should encourage kids to seek the Baptism, and celebrate with them when they receive this gift. However, children also need an understanding of, and experience with, the Holy Spirit that goes beyond a single moment.

Children shouldn’t have to wait until they graduate into youth or adult ministry to learn what it means to walk in the Spirit.

To navigate today’s culture and mature in their faith, kids need a deeper understanding of three components of the Holy Spirit’s ministry:

1. Salvation

The Holy Spirit helps us come to Christ. One of the most misunderstood teachings about the Holy Spirit is His role in salvation. It is the Spirit of God who convicts our hearts (John 16:8) and guides us to the truth (John 16:13). It is the Holy Spirit who comes to live in us at salvation (Romans 8:9).

When we speak to children about the Holy Spirit, it’s important to communicate that the Spirit’s indwelling is not the same as the baptism in the Spirit. As children accept Jesus as their Savior, we should teach them to begin a relationship with the Holy Spirit and learn to follow His guidance. The Spirit is the one we should send them to for comfort and help.

There are several ways we can help children understand this aspect of the Holy Spirit’s work. A simple place to start is to teach about the different titles the Bible gives the Spirit, including Helper and Comforter.

If our children are to survive the culture and thrive in their faith, they must have a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Talk often about how the Holy Spirit can convict our hearts and show us truth. Create opportunities for kids to respond whenever you read or teach Scripture. This will help them become comfortable and familiar with sensing the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts and minds.

2. Sanctification

The Holy Spirit helps us become like Christ. One of the most undervalued aspects of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is His role in sanctification.

Explain to kids that the Holy Spirit works in and with them to show the results of their salvation (Philippians 2:12–13). Scripture teaches that the Spirit helps us say “no” to things that don’t please God (Romans 8:13). The Holy Spirit wants to grow good things in our lives, like kindness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).

We have a tendency to oversimplify the biblical message when teaching kids. Many curriculums encourage children to act like Jesus, love others, or practice patience. However, we often neglect to mention that these fruits of the Spirit are only possible because they are a product of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.

Regularly provide space in their services for children to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. Encourage kids to write down or verbalize the things the Holy Spirit says to them.

This reinforces that the Spirit is their Teacher, and it provides opportunities for us to help kids learn to recognize the Spirit’s voice. He alone can heal their hurts, speak to their hearts, and help them become more like Jesus.

3. Spiritual Gifts

The baptism in the Holy Spirit gives Christians power and boldness to reach the world with the gospel (Acts 1:8). On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached a message that resulted in many people coming to Jesus. Later, the apostles shared the good news far and wide — and the Spirit was with them, just as Jesus had promised.

Children need to hear these stories. They also need to know the Spirit of God desires to work through them before and after they receive the Baptism.

The Bible says the Spirit equips us with special gifts to help us further the mission of the Church (1 Corinthians 12:4–11). The Holy Spirit can lead and guide us to do greater things than Jesus did (John 14:12).

While talking about the Holy Spirit, we need to share the purpose of being filled with the Spirit. We should also provide teaching on the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

We may be hesitant to teach kids all that the New Testament has to say about the Holy Spirit. But if we only talk about the Spirit in terms of the Baptism, we inadvertently teach kids this experience is the finish line, rather than a milestone in their growing relationship with God.

Provide opportunities for children to pray for one another, encouraging them to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading as they do so. This is a simple way for kids to learn to allow the Holy Spirit to work through them in a safe setting. Model for children what it means to be led by the Spirit when praying for others, showing them how to pray with power and boldness.

If our children are to survive the culture and thrive in their faith, they must have a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit in their lives. It’s up to us not only to point children to the doorway, but also to challenge them to go beyond it and embrace a lifelong adventure with the Spirit.

This article appears in the April–June 2021 edition of Influence magazine.