
Why?
The responsibility of having children can feel weighty at times. A heavy charge given by God and an overwhelming blessing given by him as well, all mixed into one. God will sometimes give us more than we think we can handle but praise the Lord that his Holy Spirit dwells within us, giving us strength to keep going, His discernment to rightly divide His word, and His comfort for when the going gets tough. One thing I know for sure (because scripture has told us) that if we ourselves are children of God than we have to train up our children in the word of God. (Prov. 22:6)
I don’t have to labor myself in telling you that this world is wicked. As soon as sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, the world has been wicked and will continue to grow more and more wicked until Jesus returns. Satan roams about as a lion seeking the Christian mother, father, and yes child. Seeking to steal their hope and joy, kill their faith, and destroy their testimony. There’s a spiritual war waging at all times and we have to be on guard and that goes for our children as well. (John 10:10)
In recent years it’s become blatantly evident that the devil is out to devour our children’s minds. He no longer has to use stealth because the heart of man grows increasingly evil with time and these things are widely accepted as normal. The ‘children’s’ shows, the music, the push for more and more media consumption in general. He’s working double time because he knows his time is short (Rev. 12:12). The world will teach and raise our children or we will. So, make the choice to educate your children in Gods word.
How?
Teaching your children about the Bible is simple. Read it and talk about what you read. What makes it a little more tricky is that you have to know the word for yourself. So, read the word daily, pick up a trusted commentary if needed, do deep dive bible studies with a friend or two. You don’t have to attend bible college to receive an education in biblical knowledge. Like I said before, when Christ left the Holy Spirit with us after his crucifixion he left someone who physically dwells within us helping us to live the Christian life and that includes being able to read the Word of God and understand it. When we seek to know Gods word, we pray and ask for help in understanding, wisdom in who to go to for further instruction He will give us what we need.
Studying the Bible for ourselves is necessary and having a theological (the study of God) understanding is critical to the Christian life. So whether you’re a brand new Christian digging into the word for the first time or a seasoned one bring your children along. When you go through an in depth study share what you’re learning during a meal time. When a verse comes to mind while dealing with sibling bickering share it with your children to show that Gods word is used for any and all situations.
We don’t have to have a written out study specifically for our children for every morning when we gather for breakfast (if that’s your thing than go for it). The most important thing is that you’re having conversations with them. Back and forth conversations. I’ve found, it’s the best way to just talk about the Bible. I don’t have all the answers and you won’t either but when you don’t know the answer to a certain question allow your children to seek the answers with you. This will not only give them the answers to their questions but teaching them how to find them. Through prayer and sometimes going to your pastor or friend you can find most answers.
Depending on your children’s ages they may pick up on certain things more than others. If they’re really young you don’t have to go into detail about what ‘knowing’ someone means (KJV term), you don’t have to labor over the genealogies or wars and specifics found therein. If they ask, use your discernment skills to decide how much to explain. This will vary from child to child but you know them best. I want to encourage you to not skip over anything though. Read it all.
What are you waiting for?
Today, no matter the time you’re reading this, I want to encourage and challenge you to open your Bible, read a passage out loud, and then discuss what you read with your children. What stood out to you? What did you read that pointed you to the character of God? Who can you share what your read with? It doesn’t have to take an hour or even thirty minutes. Take as much time as you need but don’t make it harder than it needs to be. Just get started!
“Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare themto their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.” Psalm 78:1-8
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