Every parent wants to give their kids everything they can - a great life full of fun, experiences, love, safety, life lessons, great skills, etc. But truly - the most important thing we can do for our kids is to give them the Gospel, and help to cultivate their relationship with Jesus. A life full of fun experiences doesn't matter one bit if our kids miss Jesus and the opportunity to know Him. Sharing the Gospel with your children is an essential responsibility, and one that requires patience, love, and a lot of creativity. But how exactly can we do this? What are some concrete ways to teach our children the word of God? In this blog post, we’ll explore some tips and strategies to help you share the Gospel with your kids.
1. Start with Prayer
Prayer is a powerful tool that can help you tremendously in sharing the Gospel with your kids. When you become a parent, you'll quickly find out that you have a lot less structured time for "formal" prayer. Thankfully, that's not a requirement for prayer! You can talk to God anytime, anywhere - and that's actually a great thing to model for your kids! Being able to model that you go to God for any and every need or request that you have, praising and adoring Him and seeking His wisdom throughout all of your life. Throw away your thoughts that prayer has to be long, eloquent, formulaic, or any other notions. It's simply having a conversation with God. Before you start discussing the Bible or any specific topic with your kids, begin with prayer. Ask God to give you wisdom, patience, and understanding, as you teach your children about Him, and to help you see opportunities to share the Gospel with them. Pray for your children’s hearts to be open and receptive to the word of God, and for them to be able to apply it to their lives. One of my favorite things to pray for my kids is that God would apprehend their hearts and draw them to Himself.
2. Use Simple Language & Always Point to Scripture
When sharing the Gospel with your children, it’s important to use simple language that they can understand, and don't rely on your own words or explanations. Use the Bible as often as possible to share the Gospel with your kids! Avoid using overly complicated terms or concepts that may confuse them. Deep theology discussions will come later down the road, but thankfully God made the Gospel SIMPLE, and the Bible verses that share the Gospel and how to be saved are simple to understand. You can read from children’s Bible storybooks or use other resources that are age-appropriate, but it's also important to read the actual Bible and not just storybooks. We like The Biggest Story Bible because it is beautiful and tells the over-arching story of Scripture, pointing always to Jesus. I also really like Truth & Grace Memory Book to introduce important theological concepts in very simple term. s One of the ways I practiced sharing the Gospel with my kids was to talk to them even as babies about how everyone is a sinner, and Jesus died on the Cross for their sins because He loved them and wanted to make a way for them to be a part of His family again.
3. Be Consistent
Consistency is key when it comes to sharing the Gospel with your kids. Try to make it a daily habit, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Set aside a specific time each day to read a Bible story, pray, or discuss a specific topic. This consistency will reinforce the importance of their faith and help them develop a deeper relationship with God, and also give them a safe place to ask questions and share their hearts as they process the Bible and spiritual matters. Attending a Bible-believing church consistently is also a huge part of this. The Church can never replace the discipleship that needs to take place in your home, but it can play an important role in reinforcing the Gospel message that you are sharing at home! It can be tempting to make Sunday mornings about fun breakfasts, sleeping in, or sports. Trust me - as an introvert mom myself, I get it! But it is more about being obedient to God's Word when it tells us to "not neglect gathering together" in Hebrews 10:25. We truly need the encouragement & community of other Christ-followers to stay strong in our faith.
4. Be Creative
One of the best ways to keep your kids engaged and excited about learning the Gospel is to be creative. You can make Bible crafts, play games, learn songs, share videos or put on skits or plays that teach important lessons from the Bible. Use props or dress up in costumes to bring the stories to life. The more creative you are, the more memorable the lessons will be for your children. This is another great way that the Church and its programs and activities for kids can help enliven the message of the Gospel by presenting it in creative, kid-friendly ways. One way that we have tried to creatively share & reinforce the Gospel with our kids is to attend a yearly walk-through Nativity at Christmas at a local church. It's always a fun experience that shares the Gospel story in an interactive way.
5. Lead by Example
Finally, the best way to share the Gospel with your kids is to lead by example. You've heard the phrase "More is caught than taught"? Statistics show that many people walk away from their faith in their early adult years, even if they grew up in church, largely because the example at home of walking with Jesus was not authentic. This can feel like a big weight for a parent, because we know how imperfect we are! We will never be "perfect Christians", and thankfully that isn't what our kids need. They need to see authentic, sincere following of Jesus at home. A picture-perfect portrayal of life and pithy answers will not produce authenticity. Show them what it means to live a life of faith by being kind, loving, and forgiving. Let them see you pray, read the Bible, and attend church. Be transparent with them about your struggles, and show them how you rely on God’s strength to overcome any challenges that come your way. When your children see that faith is an integral part of your life, they will be more likely to embrace it as well. If they see that you put on your "Christian hat" on Sundays, but take it off for the rest of the week - your kids will quickly figure that out, too.
It's important to remember that God is the One who is mighty and able to save. It is not YOUR responsibility to save your children. The most we can do as parents is share the truth of the Gospel and live out our faith authentically, pointing to Jesus and Scripture as often as possible throughout our days with our kids. But ultimately, what they choose to do with Jesus is their decision - not yours. This can be a tough pill to swallow as a mom - as with everything in life, we can't control what our children do. But we can commit our children to prayer, consistently share the Gospel with them, and do our best to help them see us living for Jesus in our daily lives. The results we have to trust God with.
Sharing the Gospel with your kids is a humbling, but rewarding experience that can have a profound impact on their lives. As a believing mom, I consider it my primarily calling & role in life to share the Gospel and disciple my kids while they are in my home. I hope that with some of the tips and strategies discussed in this blog post, you can help your kids grow in their faith and relationship with God. Remember to start with prayer, use simple language, be consistent, be creative, and lead by example. With these tools, you can help your children develop a strong and lasting faith that will guide them throughout their lives.
Do you have any favorite resources or strategies for sharing the Gospel with your kids?
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