Leading Your Children to Christ
The question is often asked: can my children really understand the Gospel and be saved? The simple answer to that question is a resounding yes! When the disciples tried to hinder little children from coming to Jesus, they were rebuked by Christ when He said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14).
As parents, we have a massive responsibility to lead our children to Christ. The church, Sunday school teachers, pastors and others are there to support in this mission; but the responsibility that our children understand salvation is on us.
So, what does that look like? How can we lead our children to Christ? Consider these ideas from Scripture:
1. Model a Consistent Walk with God
- Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Children notice our actions, and those actions speak far more loudly than our words. I will never forget seeing my dad spend time in the Bible each morning when he woke up. It showed me that God's Word is important.
When God says that our children "will not depart from it," He does not mean that our children will never make wrong decisions, but rather that our children will never be able to forget the example of Christ that we were in their lives. We train through our actions, words, and attitudes; and when those are patterned after Christ, our children will always remember that true joy is found in a consistent walk with God.
Consistency is key! Modeling a consistent walk with God is not a one time act; it's a lifetime commitment.
2. Make Much of God's Word
- Deuteronomy 11:19-20 “And ye shall teach them [God's Words] your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:”
God’s Word must always be before our children and have the priority in our lives. Think of simple, yet effective ways to make God's Word important in your home:
- Have regular family devotions
- Read a chapter of Psalms or Proverbs every day
- Learn a verse each month with your children. In my family, we write a verse on a chalkboard that hangs in our living room, and we say it each time we have family devotions.
God has promised that His Word would not return void (Isaiah 55:11). Get together with your spouse and think of creative ways to keep Scripture before your children. You can lead your children to Christ by teaching them the importance of God’s Word.
3. Be Ready for God's Timing
- Mark 10:15 “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”
Your child can understand the gospel and receive Christ. Because young children are impressionable and naturally trusting, Jesus made it clear that we must believe like a child in order to be saved.
The Gospel is simple! Explain to your child that God loves him (John 3:16) and that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23). Because of our sin, there is a price that must be paid (Romans 6:23). But the story doesn't end there! Because Jesus Christ died and rose again to pay for our sins (Romans 5:8), all we need to do is repent and call upon the name of the Lord (Romans 10:9, 13).
They may not understand at first, but when your children have questions, answer them! If they're not ready, don’t try to force the Gospel on them. Keep the conversation going and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives. When the time comes, be ready to explain God's plan of salvation and to answer their questions. Don't allow the busyness of life and your schedule to cause you to miss the opportunity to lead your child to Christ.
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