Questions to Ask Kids About Church (60 Conversation Starters for the Ride Home)

"How was church?" "Good." End of conversation. Most parents know that exchange. Better questions get better answers, and the car ride home is one of the easiest times to talk about faith. Nobody has to make eye contact, and there's nowhere else to be.

Below are 60 questions to ask kids about church, grouped by age and purpose. At the end there's a take-home card template your kids' ministry can print or text to parents each week, so families can talk about the same message.

A few tips first

• Ask one or two, not ten. It's a conversation, not a quiz.
• Ask specific questions. "What was the story about?" works better than "What did you learn?"
• Share your own answer. Tell them one thing you heard in the sermon. Kids open up when adults go first.
• Allow "I don't know." Try again later, or try a different question.
• Don't correct too fast. If a child gets the story mixed up, ask "What happened next?" and let them work it out.

For little ones (ages 3–5)

1. Who did you see at church today?
2. What song did you sing? Can you sing it for me?
3. Was there a story about a person or an animal?
4. What did you make or color?
5. Did your teacher talk about God or Jesus? What did they say?
6. What was the best part?
7. Was anything a little bit scary or sad?
8. Who was kind to you today?
9. Can you show me what you did with your hands in the song?
10. Shall we say thank you to God for something from church?

For kids (ages 6–10)

11. What was the Bible story about? Who was in it?
12. What was the problem in the story? How was it solved?
13. What did that story show about God?
14. If you were in the story, who would you want to be?
15. Was there a memory verse? Can you remember any of it?
16. What did your leader ask you to do this week?
17. What question did someone ask in your group?
18. Was there anything you didn't understand?
19. What would you tell a friend about today's lesson?
20. What game did you play, and did it connect to the story?
21. Who did you sit with? What do you know about them?
22. Did anything surprise you today?
23. If you could ask God one question about the story, what would it be?
24. Where could you remember this story at school this week?
25. What's one thing we could pray about together because of today?

For preteens and teens (ages 11+)

Older kids are more likely to talk if the question respects that they think for themselves.

26. What was the main point today, in one sentence?
27. Did you agree with it? Why or why not?
28. What did you think about [one line from the sermon you heard]?
29. Was anything said that you've wondered about before?
30. Is that easier or harder to believe at your age?
31. Where would this make a difference at school or with your friends?
32. What do you think most people your age would say about this?
33. Did the youth leader say anything you'd want to hear more about?
34. Is there something you wish church talked about more?
35. If you were giving the talk, what example would you have used?

Connecting the kids' lesson to the main sermon

Many churches teach kids and adults from the same passage. That makes these questions easy to talk about together.

36. The grown-ups heard about [passage] today. What did you hear about it?
37. The sermon I heard said [big idea]. Did your lesson say something like that?
38. What do you think [person in the story] was feeling?
39. What's one thing we could both try this week from today?
40. Should we read the story again at dinner tonight?

About church itself

41. What do you like most about church?
42. What's one thing you'd change?
43. Who is a grown-up at church you like talking to?
44. Is there anything about church that confuses you?
45. Why do you think people go to church?
46. What do you think happens during communion or baptism?
47. If a new kid came to your class, how could you make them feel welcome?
48. What would make church better for kids your age?

Feelings and faith

49. Did anything today make you feel happy?
50. Did anything make you worried?
51. When do you feel close to God?
52. Is there something you'd like to pray about this week?
53. What's something you're thankful for today?
54. Is there anyone you want to forgive, or say sorry to?
55. How do you think God feels about you?

For later in the week

Bring Sunday back on Wednesday or at bedtime.

56. Do you still remember Sunday's Bible story? Tell me the beginning.
57. Did you get a chance to do what your leader asked?
58. Where did you see someone being like [person in the story] this week?
59. Can you say the memory verse? Let's say it together.
60. What do you think next Sunday's story might be about?

Template: A weekly take-home card for parents

Kids' ministries can send this home on paper, post it on the church website or text it to parents on Sunday afternoon. It takes five minutes to fill in.

Talk about it at home · [Date]

Today's story: [Story or passage, e.g. "Jesus calms the storm (Mark 4:35–41)"]
Big idea: [One sentence, e.g. "Jesus is with us when we're afraid."]
Memory verse: [Reference and short verse]

Ask on the way home:
1. [Story question: "What were the disciples afraid of?"]
2. [Meaning question: "What did Jesus do?"]
3. [Life question: "When do you feel afraid? What can you remember?"]

Try this week: [One small action, e.g. "Pray together before bed when someone feels worried."]

The grown-ups' sermon today was on: [passage and title], so you can talk about it together.

For help writing the kids' lesson itself from Sunday's sermon, see children's sermon ideas. For a kids' notes sheet to use during the service, see the sermon notes template.

FAQ

What should I ask my child after church? Ask one or two specific questions rather than "How was it?" For example: "What was the Bible story about?", "What did that show about God?" or "What did your leader ask you to do this week?" Share one thing you heard too.

How do I get my child to talk about church? Ask specific, open questions. Ask in a relaxed setting like the car or at dinner. Go first with your own answer, and accept "I don't know" without pressure. A take-home card from the kids' ministry gives you the story and questions to start with.

What if my teenager doesn't want to talk about church? Ask what they think rather than what they learned, and allow disagreement. A question like "Did you agree with that?" respects that they think for themselves and usually leads to a better conversation.

How can our kids' ministry help parents talk about Sunday? Send home a weekly card with the story, big idea, memory verse, three questions and one action. If kids and adults study the same passage, add a line about the adult sermon so families can talk about one message.

Make the take-home card every week

Amenflow turns Sunday's sermon into a kids' lesson for ages 5–10 (big idea, story, questions, activity and memory verse) alongside the adults' small group guide. That makes a weekly take-home card quick to put together. Try it on 3 sermons for free. See a sample.