Parenting and Raising children for the glory of Christ
God’s Word is clear: faith in Christ, our Lord and Savior, is a generational faith. Parents are to raise their children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). We should not hide “the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might and the wonders that he has done” from our children, but teach them so that “the next generation might set their hope in God” (Psalm 78:4, 7). All of the Lord’s words are to be taught “diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7).
Admittedly, what follows is most applicable to parents. However, if you don’t have children—or no longer have children at home—please don’t think you are exempt from responsibility. If you are a Christian, you have a responsibility to love and help others follow Jesus. As a member of a local church, this absolutely includes the children who gather with the family of God. Your generosity, your joy in Christ, your reverence for the Lord, and your love for others (and much more) all proclaim to our children, “This is what it means to follow Jesus.” Don’t take that lightly.
With that in mind, I want to encourage and exhort you on how we can be deliberately obedient to God’s Word and raise our children for His glory. These are some of the areas Tessa and I are focusing on as we seek to love our boys for the glory of God. There are no golden tickets, and we do all of this in prayer, trusting that God will do the grand work in their hearts. We hope that something here may be helpful to you. Keep in mind, these are things we are aiming at, failing at, and having another crack at by the grace of God.
Culture | Jesus is King
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” —Joshua 24:15
I consider our children blessed because God determined they would be placed in a home and a family where Jesus is King. This influences our family culture, and it’s where we all need to start. Is it evident to the little people in your home that Jesus is King? It should be.
By God’s grace, it should be seen in how we live as examples of repentance and faith, in the way we love one another in humility, and in how we forgive quickly when hurt. It should be heard in the language you use and felt in the joy you have. The culture of your home will be seen in what you value—and you will prioritize what you value most. Do your children witness you being quick to pray in times of difficulty? Is the Bible open and heard in your home? Is there anticipation and delight in gathering with the saints on the Lord’s Day?
As parents, let us consider how our homes exists within Christ’s kingdom. Remember, our children will likely learn as much from how we live as from what we say.
Content | The Way of the King
“Blessed is the man… who delights in the way of the Lord.” —Psalm 1:1-2
We have been given the responsibility of teaching our children the way of the Lord. This may feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t need to be. Remember, teaching happens as much through your example as through your words. With that said, here are a few places to start when it comes to the content we consume as families.
God’s Word
Obviously, there is no better place to start than the word of God! Our first inclination is likely to think that we need to find a helpful resource – but why not just go to the Bible. Read a Psalm, or a gospel like Mark. You can also find the text for the weekly sermon on The Bible App post, so your children can engage better on a Sunday. There are also great Devotionals around the place – our favourite is The Biggest Story Devotional.
Learning Truth
We learn through all the content we consume, everything that is allowed to will shape your children, so we should consider how we can best train them to know and love the Lord. As well as feeding them the word of God here are a couple of ways to reinforce and teach truth.
- Join in the weekly Catechism
You may do this by memorising the question and answer as a family, or by simply using it as an opportunity to talk about a core truth. Put the songs on in the car, read the scripture that goes along with each, ask your children if they have questions.
- Stories
We are all shaped by the stories we love and tell. Fill young hearts and minds with great tales that tell the truth, or imaginative worlds that help them consider their world and their creator: Narnia, The Wingfeather Saga, Green Ember, A Little Pilgrim’s Progress
- Music
Fill you home with music – I am sure you have your favourite worship playlist. Here are a few others we love specifically for kids: Songs for Saplings, Jesus Kids, The ology, Simple Songs for young and Old
Correction | Living for the King
“Raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” —Ephesians 6:4
When we get to the topic of correction in parenting, we immediately think of disciplining bad behavior. While that is certainly part of it, this view jumps a few steps. Specifically, it overlooks the grander matter of the heart. Our goal as parents isn’t just to train our children’s hands but to help shape their hearts, their affections, and their desires. Leading them to trust in God’s grace for sinners like each of us.
Correction is a form of teaching. It shapes how our children understand boundaries, how they relate to us as parents and others, and ultimately, it will shape how they view themselves before God. This is too big a topic to deal with here, but may I encourage you to consider how you can teach your children the gospel as you correct and discipline. A simple place to start – is by calling sin – sin; then, teaching them of the grace of God. “It is okay when we fail, because Jesus was perfect for us.” Lead them in repentance, teaching them to confess and say sorry (1 John 1:9) and celebrate and give thanks for the forgiveness of God. These simple patterns are the spring of life, let’s lead our children to them.
Community | People of the King
“Do not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” —Hebrews 10:25
As people of the King, we want to exemplify what it is to be a part of the community of faith. As I mentioned, this should impact our culture and what we prioritize. However, I think it is a reductionist view to merely have a pattern of attending church once a week. Instead, my hope and prayer is that we can teach the next generation what it is to be the church, to be the people of God. We are people who love one another as Christ has first loved us (1 John 4:19), weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15). We contribute to the needs of others and pray for and follow up with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
In all, let us pray that God, according to his glorious might, would save and protect our children, and use our feeble and fumbling attempts to magnify his name.
Grace to you, glory to God