Feelings drive memory — discover how experiences anchor God’s truth deeper than any lecture.
Want to make your teaching unforgettable? Then stop aiming only for the head — and aim for the heart. Kids remember what they feel.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”— Psalm 34:8
How many books have you read? How many movies or TV shows have you watched? Countless, right? But which ones do you remember?
Without a doubt, it’s the ones that moved you emotionally — the ones that made you cry, laugh, sit on the edge of your seat… or maybe even scream if you’re one of those “scary movie” people. (Not me!)
We remember what we experience, not just what we hear.
We’ve already talked about creating surprises and involving kids in your lessons. Those are powerful — but now it’s time to go even deeper. The most Excellent Kid Communicators create emotional experiences that help kids feel the truth of a lesson — through wonder, amazement, laughter, challenge, even discomfort.
“They may forget what you said — but they will never
forget how you made them feel.”
— Carl W. Buehner
Sometimes you’ll plan a great object lesson, a game with a point, a clever skit, or a hands-on activity. But I encourage you to pause and ask, “Is there a way I can create an experience that will help them understand this on a heart level — beyond what words could do?”
Here Are a Few of My Favorites
The Persecuted Church Experience:
When teaching about Christians who can’t freely talk about Jesus, I asked a uniformed police officer from our church to interrupt my teaching and order me to stop preaching. When I refused, he handcuffed me and led me out of the room. Another leader calmly stepped in (let the kids know I was fine, and officer was a friend) and asked, “If YOU had to choose between following Jesus or staying out of trouble… what would you do?”
The Game Without Rules:
I gave kids tons of fun game equipment, split them into teams, and said, “GO!” — with no rules. Chaos ensued. Eventually, they begged me to tell them the rules. I laughed and said, “I thought kids didn’t like rules?” They explained why they were necessary. “We don’t know what to do!” Then I taught how God’s commands bring peace to our chaos and help us know how to live. They felt the need for God’s Word before I even taught it.
The Smile in the Gym:
Years ago, I taught about seeking God by hiding a smiley face high on the gym ceiling. I told kids, “Somewhere in this room is a hidden smiley face. If you find it, whisper in my ear where it is and I’ll give you a candy.” It took over ten minutes until the first child found it. Then, one by one others discovered by looking up. Finally, one little girl couldn’t resist pointing up as she whispered in my ear. Suddenly, all the kids were running at me wanting candy! They wondered how I got it up there! So I rolled out the lift and while they lay on the floor looking up, I taught how people spend their entire lives looking for happiness on earth, but “Happiness is only found when you look up.” A decade later, a high schooler came to me and said, “Pastor Karl, that smilie is still on the gym celing!” I laughed and said, “And what does it mean?” He answered, “Happiness is found by looking up.” Ten years later, he still remembered the lesson and the truth behind that smiley face.
These are just a few examples. (I will share more on my podcast for this Excellent Kid Communicator Secret.) You can find even more on Kidology.org or in my itBibleCurriculum.com. But don’t just copy my ideas — create your own. Ask the Holy Spirit, “What can I do this week to create an experience these kids will never forget?”
Consider::
- What emotion do I want them to feel?
- What story tension can I recreate?
- What moment will lock this truth into their heart?
Sometimes a little frustration is OK. Confusion is OK. Disappointment is OK — as long as you resolve it and bring the kids to a place of understanding, healing, and hope. When kids taste and see the truth, they’ll never forget the flavor. (Psalm 34:8)
My Prayer for You:
God, help me move beyond simply telling truths and start creating moments. Show me how to invite kids into experiences that stir their emotions and imprint Your Word on their hearts. Give me boldness, creativity, and discernment to create lessons they’ll never forget — because they didn’t just hear it… they felt it.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
FINAL THOUGHT:
They may forget the words you speak — but they will remember the truth they felt.
