“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” (Ephesians 6:19, NIV)
I’ve been working my way through the book of Ephesians in my devotions and this morning as I read vs.19 I couldn’t help but think about the responsibility we have as parents to teach our children to share the gospel. You may be thinking, “HOW do I teach my child to share the gospel?”
Teaching our children to share the gospel is like teaching them how to make their bed. When my kids were young and I was teaching them how to make their bed, I first showed them what to do and asked them simply to watch. The next time, I talked through exactly how to do it, instructing them why I pulled the bed sheets up tightly and placed the pillows just right. Then it was their turn, I watched them, coached them and cheered their end result. Finally, I sent them off on their own and fully believed and trusted they could get the job done. Teaching them to share the gospel works the same way.
We start by role modeling to our children and taking them into situations that allow them to watch you share the gospel to non-believers. I’m not sure exactly how that situation looks for you, but I trust that if you ask God to give you that opportunity, He will provide it.
Here are some activities to try:
➡️ Questions to ask your children at dinner time:
∙ How did you share the gospel today?
∙ What does sharing the gospel look like?
∙ If you can’t speak the gospel, how can you show it?
➡️ Teachable Moments
∙ Go looking for opportunities to share the gospel
∙ Take time after a “gospel moment” to talk about what you said and did
∙ Encourage your children to share the gospel on the playground
➡️ Prepare to See
∙ Pray with your children that they will see opportunities
∙ Send them off with a blessing in the morning ~ “May God make you fearless today to make known the gospel.”
∙ Greet your child at the end of the day by asking, “Did you get to share Jesus today?”
Teaching our children to live for the future as kingdom changers can be a challenge just as it can be for us to live as kingdom changers. Stay focused on Jesus, in the Word and connected to your tribe…
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:6 (NIV)
Together we are building kingdom changers,
~ Kimber Krosschell