What is God? Who is God? How can I know God? What does God do? Do those questions sound familiar? Kids have a lot of questions about God (and quite honestly, grown-ups do too). 

Theologians (people who study God and His Word) use the Attributes of God to help us understand more about God. The attributes are a theological category that teaches us about God’s very unique nature, the things that make Him and Him alone God. 

Talking to Kids About the Attributes of God

As you begin to teach your kids about the attributes of God, you can describe attributes this way: We all have attributes! They are ways we can describe ourselves. You may be fast, or tall, or short, or a twin. You may be athletic, creative, or kind. But you may be able to describe other people that way too! When we talk about God, He has attributes that belong ONLY to Him. They are the things that make Him God. 

God’s Communicable and Incommunicable Attributes

There are actually two types of attributes we talk about when it comes to God: communicable attributes and incommunicable attributes. God’s communicable attributes are the attributes that God has that we can also have as people! Some examples of this: God is kind, loving, and wise. Humans can also be kind, loving, and wise. Ephesians 5:1 tells us to imitate God; His communicable attributes show us how to imitate Him. 

In this Minno blog series, we will be taking a look at God’s incommunicable attributes, the ones that are completely unique to God. These are attributes that only describe God, nothing and no one else. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be looking at six attributes of God and helping you frame these ideas for kids. 

Why Learn the Attributes of God?

Why learn the attributes? God is beyond our understanding, and yet through His Word, He has given us the ability to learn about Him and to know Him. Kids are concrete thinkers, and so when we start talking about how God is “all-knowing” and “all-present” they may have trouble grasping those BIG concepts.

And yet, it’s important that kids understand who God is as they build a resilient faith. So we’ll be digging in using kid-friendly language and ideas for teaching your kids about our wonderful, incredible God! The beauty of teaching kids about God and faith is that we can learn right alongside them. So lean in and open your heart to what God wants to teach you about who He is!

Ready? Let’s go! 

Attribute: Omniscient (God is All-Knowing)

Key Verse: 

Psalm 139:1–6 (ESV) 

      O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 

      You know when I sit down and when I rise up; 

      you discern my thoughts from afar. 

      You search out my path and my lying down 

      and are acquainted with all my ways. 

      Even before a word is on my tongue, 

      behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. 

      You hem me in, behind and before, 

      and lay your hand upon me. 

      Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; 

      it is high; I cannot attain it. 

Define It: 

Omniscient (Ohmm-nish-ent)

“Omni” – Latin for “all”

“Scient” – Latin for “knowledge” 

Know It:

God is omniscient, which means He is all-knowing. His knowledge is perfect and complete. He knows everything that ever was, is, or will be. It is impossible for us to understand this fully because only God knows what it is like to know everything. 

Talk About It:

Start by asking your kids questions like “what is something that you know a lot about?” and wait for them to answer. Ask them if they think they know everything there is to know about that thing . . . maybe it is a sports team, or a type of animal, or a favorite book or TV show. 

Then ask something like, does knowing more about that thing make you love it more?

Use their answer as a transition to talking about how God is all-knowing, or omniscient. He knows everything! Everything that has ever happened, and everything that ever will happen! But He also knows why and how things happen. In Psalm 139, David writes that God knows His words before He even speaks them! God’s knowledge is more than we can ever understand. 

But think about this: God knows everything, and He still loves us unconditionally. He loves us more than anything or anyone. So no matter what we do or think, He is still on our side. He promises to never leave or forsake us! 

Pray:

Spend a few minutes praising God for His omniscience. Thank Him for knowing everything and for loving us. 

. . . . . . . . .

Read more posts in the Attributes of God for Kids Series

God is Omniscient (All-Knowing)

God is Eternal (Forever)

God is Unity (Three-in-One)

God is Omnipresent (Everywhere)