BIBLICAL PARENTING

2010-01-06

Your Kids and Christ

 

How to teach your little ones all about Jesus

 

 

ONCE your kids turn a year old, it’s very exciting to see them take in their surroundings. Expose them to music and you see them tapping their feet to the rhythm. When they see you cook, they readily volunteer as the assistant chef. As they sit in the car and see the bulldozer zoom by, they immediately sing the song from Bob the Builder. And this is exactly the perfect moment to teach them about Jesus. If you think that learning their ABCs, 1-2-3s and memorizing those nursery rhymes are important, then teaching your kids about Jesus should be a priority.

 

 

1) RECOGNIZE WHO JESUS IS

 

The Bible is a very rich resource that speaks volumes about Jesus. But among all Scriptures, this verse from the book of John basically sums up who Jesus is: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus walked this earth, fully man and fully God to bridge our way back to the Father since we are all lost to sin. Jesus came to teach us how to live, yet he recognizes the difficulties and challenges that face humanity. (Seriously, how can you actually love the unlovable and forgive the unforgivable?) In human equation, these things are impossible, but in God’s equation, through Christ, these things are possible.

 

Children need to recognize Jesus’ divinity in order to appreciate our own humanity. As humans, we will always fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). We can never work our way to heaven, nor is our good works the ticket to salvation. Only through Jesus, our savior, can we be assured of being saved and have an eternal life of peace and joy. That’s why it’s important that children appreciate the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Otherwise, they will simply live their lives working their way to please themselves (life is all about “me”) and in the end, be weighed down by disappointments and regrets. Whose perspective do we want to train our children to live by—the world’s or God’s?

 

 

2) MAKE JESUS REAL IN YOUR LIFE

 

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

 

It is so important to allow God and His Word to permeate your home—from your speech to your actions to your reactions. Practice what you preach. Christ-like parents are the best witnesses a child can have.

 

If you follow Jesus’ command to love others as yourself “Love God above all and the second, love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-40), then your love and respect for Jesus will be an obvious and understood priority. Understanding Christ’s love also means understanding His authority over us. If Christ reigns in every detail of your life, including your family and home, children will understand the rationale behind the words “obedience,” “submission,” “authority” and “respect.”

 

 

3) TALK TO THEM ABOUT HOW JESUS IS WORKING IN YOUR LIFE

 

Children gain treasures of wisdom by simply listening to their parents talk—which is why mentioning Jesus beyond the traditional mealtime and evening prayer is very important. Share with your children how blessed your family is with the work or livelihood he has given you. Relay to them a specific trial you are facing or an important decision you have to make and how confident you are that Jesus will see you through.

 

 

4) READ STORIES ABOUT JESUS

 

Some parents may not realize it, but the Bible is truly a treasure of exciting stories about our Father’s love for us. It’s just a pity that not many opt to read such stories to children and simply pass it off as a “boring” read.

 

Reading from the Scriptures on a regular basis is a very effective way to teach children about Christ. Bibles for children and even toddlers are available for parents who wish to begin early. Taking every opportunity to teach them bite-sized topical issues (e.g., forgiveness, sin, faith, courage, etc.) will give them a bird’s eye view on God’s message of salvation and the part that Jesus played.

 

 

5) PRAY TOGETHER

 

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Teaching your children to pray is definitely one of the best ways to teach them about Christ. While memorized prayers may be meaningful, children can develop a more intimate relationship with God by praying from their hearts. Teach your children to share their innermost thoughts and feelings with the Lord at an early age.

 

 

When children experience that Jesus is at the center of our family, they will recognize that putting our faith in Him is the only way to live a peaceful and confident life.