Published by Parents, Are we doing our job? Raising children who know Christ who know they are loved by God and love him in return can be a scary task. The good thing is you are not alone in it. Here’s some ideas to get you on your way.
Scripture says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) That’s what the Children’s Ministries of your local church is trying to help do. But the fact is, even if your kids attend everything there is, that’s still only 3 hours a week in an environment where they’re learning God’s word, getting to know Him better and are given opportunities to meet Jesus. What about the other 166 hours of that week. I need to ask my self what I am doing to teach my own children.
The church exists to supplement what we are already teaching them. Scripture said that it’s our job as parents, to impress God’s word on our children. (Deuteronomy 6:5-7) To talk about it when we sit at home or when we’re walking (or driving in our car), when we lie down or when we get up. Uh-oh. That can seem very scary. But you are not alone, your local church is there to help and the God who formed your child is there. He has given you his word and he sends his Spirit to help you teach them and to help them understand.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Ask God for help
- Read the Bible with your children
- Pray with your children
- Play Christian music at home or in the car
- When your child is having a problem, see what the Bible has to say about it and pray with them
- Use Christian family websites to help you
- Become involved in adult Sunday school classes, Bible studies and/or small groups to help you grow and teach them
- Do family devotions together
- Don’t be afraid to say that you don’t know the answer to something
