Where Does God Live?
See also: Where is God? Why can't I see God?
How you might answer: The simple answer (well, relatively simple I guess) is that God isn't like us, where our existence is only in one particular place at one particular time. Back in ancient Israel, they used to believe that God was only present in the tabernacle or temple - sacred spaces that contained God. Over time, though, people began to realize that nothing could "contain" God. God is bigger than us - God is at once a part of us, God is a part of the world, and God is a part of what is beyond this world. While humanity experienced God in physical form (Jesus, "God with us"), today we don't really think of God being in a physical place.
What might be behind their question: Many kids would answer that God only lives in heaven, but as Christians we often talk about how God is with us... it can get very confusing! This may just be a simple question based in curiosity, but there's also a chance that your child might be feeling that God is not with them -- it may be worth asking follow-up questions to see if there's anything else behind what they're asking.
How you might answer: The simple answer (well, relatively simple I guess) is that God isn't like us, where our existence is only in one particular place at one particular time. Back in ancient Israel, they used to believe that God was only present in the tabernacle or temple - sacred spaces that contained God. Over time, though, people began to realize that nothing could "contain" God. God is bigger than us - God is at once a part of us, God is a part of the world, and God is a part of what is beyond this world. While humanity experienced God in physical form (Jesus, "God with us"), today we don't really think of God being in a physical place.
What might be behind their question: Many kids would answer that God only lives in heaven, but as Christians we often talk about how God is with us... it can get very confusing! This may just be a simple question based in curiosity, but there's also a chance that your child might be feeling that God is not with them -- it may be worth asking follow-up questions to see if there's anything else behind what they're asking.