Exploring Who I Am in Christ with Kids
Helping children discover what the Bible teaches about belonging to Jesus, being known by Him, and finding our identity in Christ.
Who do you belong to?
That’s an interesting question, isn’t it?
Children often describe themselves by the things they love, the people in their families, or the activities they enjoy.
“I’m a soccer player!”
“I’m an artist!”
“I’m a big brother!”
And those are all wonderful things to discover about ourselves. But the Bible invites us to explore something even more important.
Who are we in Christ?
What does it mean to belong to Jesus? How does He describe those who follow Him? And what does Scripture tell us about the new life we have in Him?
Let’s open our Bibles and explore!
I Am His: Something I Noticed in Scripture
One of the passages I love exploring is John 10. Jesus is speaking about Himself as the Good Shepherd.
And in John 10:27, He says:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (KJV)
Did you notice the words in the middle?
I KNOW THEM.
We often focus on hearing Jesus’ voice or following Him. But Jesus says something wonderful about His sheep.
He knows them.
And when we continue reading, John 10:28 tells us that Jesus gives His sheep eternal life and that no one will pluck them out of His hand. What a beautiful picture of belonging to Him!
Now turn to John 15:4–5.
Jesus uses another picture to describe our relationship with Him. This time, He’s the vine, and His followers are the branches. A branch doesn’t have life on its own when separated from the vine.
It needs to remain connected.
And Jesus tells His disciples to abide in Him. Did you notice the connection?
Sheep belonging to a shepherd. Branches remaining in a vine.
Two different pictures, but both help us understand our relationship with Jesus.
And here’s another passage worth exploring.
In 1 John 3:1, John writes:
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…” (KJV)
What an incredible statement!
Those who belong to Christ are not simply people who know about Him. Scripture describes believers as God’s children.
And in 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul tells us that anyone who is in Christ is a new creature.
Known by Jesus. Belonging to God. Made new in Christ.
These aren’t just encouraging labels. They are truths Scripture teaches us about those who belong to Jesus.
And they give us something wonderful to remember when we’re tempted to define ourselves only by our abilities, accomplishments, or the opinions of others.
Helping Kids Discover Who They Are in Christ
Here’s a simple way to explore this together.
Read John 10:27–28.
Ask your children:
What does Jesus call His followers?
What does He say about His sheep?
What does Jesus give them?
What do these verses teach us about belonging to Him?
Now read 1 John 3:1.
Ask:
What does John want us to notice about God’s love?
What are believers called?
How does this help us understand our relationship with God?
You might also read 2 Corinthians 5:17 and talk about what it means to be made new in Christ. As you explore, help children notice that these promises describe those who belong to Christ through faith.
We don’t become God’s children simply by being good, knowing Bible verses, or attending church. Our relationship with Him begins with what God has done for us through Jesus.
A Who I Am in Christ Discovery
Gather a piece of paper, crayons or markers, and your Bible.
Draw three large shapes across the page.
Inside each one, write a Scripture discovery:
KNOWN BY JESUS — JOHN 10:27
A CHILD OF GOD — 1 JOHN 3:1
MADE NEW IN CHRIST — 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17
Read each passage together.
Then invite your children to illustrate what the words mean.
They might draw a shepherd and sheep, a family, or a butterfly to represent new life.
As they create, talk about what each passage teaches us about belonging to Christ.
You might ask:
- Which of these discoveries would you like to remember?
- What does this verse teach us about Jesus?
- How does knowing who we belong to change the way we think about ourselves?
The goal isn’t simply to make a poster filled with positive statements.
It’s to help children discover what Scripture actually teaches about our identity in Christ.