Talking with Your Kids About Jesus includes 30 topics for conversations to have with children. The target audience is probably parents, though this book could be read by anyone who interacts with those under 18. I appreciate that Crain presents evidence and discourages “blind faith.” If you’re looking for a quick overview of Jesus--this is a good place to start.. Each topic is its own chapter and only takes a few minutes to read. If you want to dig deeper, there is a list of resources in the back. TWYKAJ includes “Key Points” at the end of each chapter which would be a good place to jump to if you want the highlights. A “Conversation Guide” is included with each chapter to help you start the conversation, whoever “your kids” are. “Apply the Conversation” is a good deeper discussion question to challenge older or more advanced kids or even adults.

There is some great information and evidence and good tools for teaching kids. I do not agree with every presentation. In chapter 7, Jesus’ atonement, or death on the cross, was the ONLY way God could forgive us. Yet Jesus was forgiving people BEFORE He died on the cross. (I’m not discounting the need for the cross, but questioning its connection to God’s forgiveness). In chapter 8 Crain acknowledges that we need to talk about Hell, but waffles on whether it should be feared. While the author cites appropriate verses for the existence of Hell, but fails to highlight that Hell was designed for the devil and his demons--so Christians need not fear Hell. Chapter 9 was dedicated to why Christianity should be considered a religion regardless of the possible confusion. On one page the definition is “an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies and rules to worship a god or groups of gods.” However, on another page of that chapter the author says Christianity is “a religion centered on relationship (when religion is appropriately defined).” Yet “relationship” is not mentioned in the first definition. While chapter 12 says “What if Jesus is silent,” but seems to tackle what parts of the Old Testament should we still follow. The author says “We don’t follow [certain] laws today because we don’t live in ancient Israel.” What’s to stop someone from using that reasoning for every law of the Old Testament? A much better explanation was made by Paul when he said Jesus’ work on the cross created a new covenant and we are no longer under Old Testament law. In Chapter 14 it is reiterated (from Chapter 7) that “sacrifices were to satisfy God for the offense of sin.” If that is so, why are there multiple verses that say God does not delight in sacrifice? In the scapegoat example, the goat isn’t even killed, but sent into the wilderness. In Chapter 18, Crain questions whether Jesus “descended into Hell.” In other chapters when validating the historicity of Jesus’ life, death and burial, the author has no problem citing works from Josephus or Tacitus and archaeological evidence. However, when questioning the Apostle’s Creed, the author does not reference early church fathers. Instead Crain resorts to no one really knows what I Peter means, so we have to question the Apostle’s Creed.

Overall, I think Talking With Your Kids About Jesus is a good introduction to Jesus, but don’t stop there. I think that is all the book is meant to be. God to the Notes section and check out the additional resources. The biggest takeaway is that there is evidence and there are additional resources.

I received a digital copy from Netgalley for my honest and unbiased review.

Having read Natasha’s other books, I was very much looking forward to reading her latest title, and it did not disappoint! Just like her previous books, this one is both authoritative and easy to read. Each of the 30 thoroughly researched and sourced chapters guide you through Jesus’ life, resurrection, and what that means for Christ followers, in order to help you have meaningful conversations about Jesus with your kids, grandkids, or any person who has questions about their faith! At the end of each chapter are key points that provide a tidy wrap up to the information presented, as well as a conversation guide, which provides age appropriate guidance for each topic with a series of questions. I found these questions to be especially helpful in thinking through some questions my own children have asked. In addition, the final part of each chapter is titled ‘apply the conversation’, which I thought was incredibly helpful to critically think through the concepts presented in each of the chapters. I highly enjoyed this book and learned a tremendous amount about Jesus and Christianity. It is a MUST READ for parents who want to equip their kids with the knowledge and answers they need to stand up to challenges they may face in their faith.

One question people should always ask when picking up a new book is, “who is this for?” If you are reading this right now you are probably wondering the same thing yourself. This is an important question and it can make a book experience better knowing what you are to expect. Talking with your Kids about Jesus by Natasha Crain is no exception. With this review I hope to answer that prime question for you so you can decide for yourself if this book is for you.

Christian Parents:
This is the obvious one. If you are a Christian parent this book is clearly aimed primarily at you and for good reason. Young people are leaving the church at a record rate and the US in particular is extremely Biblically illiterate. I suspect the problem is not “the church” as much as it is parenting. I’m not saying that all Christian parenting is “bad”, rather that most Christian parents aren't prepared to defend their own beliefs much less teach someone else how to understand criticisms. If the thought of your kids being left unprepared sends a cold shiver down your spine, just go ahead and order this book now. This Talking with your Kids about Jesus shows how to inoculate your children and teach critical thinking about Christian beliefs. In the process, Natasha gives you everything you need to start some great conversations with your kids and she gives you the evidence that backs up the Christian view. I should note that there is no need to have even beginner apologetic knowledge to jump right in and make the most of this book. However, Natasha also does a great job mentioning sources and other resources that are great for parents to explore in more depth.

Christian Grandparents/or other family:
See Christian Parents for additional thoughts. In a nutshell everything that would apply to parents applies here as well. In addition though, Natasha gives insight into parenting and life with children in most chapters. These are more than just relatable anecdotes. These brief chapter introductions help to get the reader in the mindset of a parent and/or a child. This alone gives the book an additional edge in addressing the topic at hand. These examples help stimulate thought processes and lead to readers uncovering their own examples to use in conversation.

New Christians or those exploring the Christian worldview:
This is an excellent book not just for parents but also for new Christians or those who are trying to honestly explore Christianity. Natasha uses clear and precise examples that distinguish “popular” christian views from theological correct views. This book would be excellent for small groups, new believer classes, etc. while the questions are geared towards children they masterfully get people thinking about the issues at hand. The sections on the identity and the teachings of Jesus are extremely solid and refute many “pop” views that are viewed as traits of Christianity but do not actually line up with the Christian view. The next 2 sections on the death and resurrection of Jesus provide excellent introductory material on one of the core defenses of Christianity. The book finishes up with a solid explanation of what Christianity actually is and the difference it makes

Atheist Parents:
Whoa, bet you didn't expect to see this here. Why would this be good for atheist parents? Most skeptical, agnostic, or atheist parents I have met are very honest and forthright people and many care about letting their children make their own decisions when it comes to religion. For anyone who genuinely believes that picking up this book and exploring it with your children would be a fair and honest approach to make sure you don’t “strawman” the Christian view. This book's biggest strength is drawing a line between what Christianity actually teaches and what people think it teaches or what pop culture says it teaches. If you are looking to give your children an honest look at Christianity this is a great start.

Conclusion:
With all that said I think this book is top notch and if you fit into one of the above categories it should go on your short list for next reads. Better yet, be prepared for a month of great conversations as you explore the questions and answers raised with the younglings in your life. This is not a book made to be read and forgotten. Instead, this book is made to be interacted with on a thoughtful, emotional, and interpersonal level. Along the way Natasha welcomes you into her life with personal stories that are both touching and relatable. I can’t imagine a better example of a book for families to explore together. If you want your children to think about WHY they believe the way they do and not just believe something “because I said so” then this is well worth the read. Hope you and your family get as much out of it as me and mine did.

Although I have not read her previous two books, Natasha Crain's passion for parents to pass on their Christian faith to their children is evident in her book Talking with Your Kids about Jesus: 30 Conversations Every Christian Parent must Have (Baker, 2020). After a good introduction on using the book effectively for children of different ages, she jumps into various key discussions parents need to have with their children. She deals with the "big questions" of the faith, and is not shy about the difficult topics (eg. hell).

One of the strengths of the book is Crain's ability to highlight the key points of discussion and not get lost in "details" or theological nuances and debates (yet honestly recognize they exist). Methodically mapping out a process for engaging and interacting, she helps parents identify the key conclusions desired, without being narrow-minded. Though the questions may not come up in the devotional-like style offered, the book can also serve as an index for "how to handle" [such-and-such] topic when it arises. Likewise, she does provide a good bibliography for additional study.

Her chapters discussing What does Jesus Teach about Religion (ch. 9), Loving Others (ch. 10) & Judging Others (ch. 11) are especially excellent dissecting the difference between Western cultural understandings of common phrases in contrast with the biblical truth.

The same points of strength can also make the conversations a little too nuanced for younger children. While many of the main ideas can be grasped by elementary school children, most of the in depth learning is for junior high (middle school) or older children.

Overall, I would recommend this book, whether for a family "devotional," a manual for youth leaders to work through with teens over a few months, or even a young adult study.

This book is a great resource for anyone who wants to talk to children about Jesus, His identity as the Messiah, His teachings, His death, and His resurrection. The need for apologetics is great and Natasha Crain has done a phenomenal job putting together biblically sound information in order for all of our children to know Who Jesus is and what believing Him and His words truly mean.
Each chapter is broken down into subtopics and each one of those is short but impactful.
Grateful for a biblical resource.

Even though I'm not a parent, I found Talking With Your Kids About Jesus really helpful, and I'd recommend it for anyone who has opportunities to share about Jesus with children. It covers thirty key questions to help children get to grips with who Jesus is and why he is so important. Each question is dealt with in a short chapter, which includes both biblical and non-biblical evidence for the Christian point-of-view as well as looking at some of the key objections raised by others and identifying some ways to respond.
There is a lot of information, but it is presented in a clear and understandable way. The idea is not necessarily to unload all of the information in the book to children at once, but to build up a habit of discussing matters of faith and to have regular conversations that are age-appropriate, taking it deeper over time.
I loved the practical advice on how to open up conversation with children on each of the topics, as well as how to take it deeper. There are some great questions to get them thinking and spark discussion, and I appreciated the clear way each topic is presented. I certainly learned new things myself too!

As my teens get ready to leave the nest and enter into the world on their own, these crucial faith conversations are deeply needed. This book has been a gift to both remind us of what we know, and expand our minds with what we don’t.

Natasha breaks it into chapters and sections, asking a topic-related question, answers the question historically and Scripturally, gives key points, and closes with a conversation guide to continue dialog and application.

This book offers thirty topics that are integral in discipling teenagers to understand why and what they believe about Jesus. In a day and age where apologetics is becoming more and more necessary, Talking with Your Kids about Jesus gives helpful tools and information to guide kids (and adults!) into those conversations.