3 Difficult But Vital Lessons To Pass On To Your Children Before They're Adults

Parents, we need to know how to make a case for the truths and teachings of Christianity and how to apply them to every day life. Call it apologetics, call it theology, call it what you will - we need to do it. 

This doesn't always entail a sit-down session but it should. Often, it will be in passing, when we wake, when we travel, before we go to bed, etc. It will/should also take place when tragic world events happen, when a loved one passes away, when a friend betrays us, when you lose a job, and so on. Before they're adults, use those circumstances to draw near to God and the counsel of His Word, together with your child(ren).

​Here's a short list of three important topics to discuss...

1) Being a Christian doesn't eliminate suffering

Make it clear to your children that following Jesus and surrendering our lives to God doesn't mean we will no longer have problems. That may sound elementary as you read this, being an adult, but there are children who might grow up thinking that Christianity is a protection from the outside elements. False. We don't live in a bubble. We are in the world (the physical place; planet earth) but not of the world (the evil system and ideology; the 'way' of the world).

Discussion starters:

• Talk about Job and all he suffered; Highlight the fact that God knew everything he was going through and that He was Sovereign over it all, including over the devil.
• Talk about the disciples. Every one of them (besides Judas) suffered in one way or another, during and after Jesus was with them. They remained faithful.

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2) God will not give you a reason for everything He does in life. And He doesn't have to.

This ties into the first discussion topic. You will come to a point in life, if you haven't already, when you will not understand why something happened or is happening to you (or people around you). The same goes for your children. Talk with them and teach them that even if we don't understand all God is doing, He can still be trusted!

​Discussion starter:

• Talk about Joseph and everything he experienced (read through Genesis chapters 37 to 50). Even in the midst of suffering, he remained faithful.
• Talk about the three young men in the book of Daniel (see chapter 3) who refused to worship false gods. They were prepared for the fire before they were thrown in the fire...and we must be too!

3) This is not our home
We have moved at least four times in the last several years (and are probably not finished yet). Our boys have done so well as we packed, moved things into a new place and got familiar with new surroundings. They are more or less conditioned for what's next. You know what? We're okay with this. We are at a point now where we are fairly settled but we never truly want to be "settled." Why? Because we won't be here forever. Our children need to know this. They need to see that we are longing for our eternal home and that we can't wait to be with Jesus!

Discussion starter:

• Read through and discuss some of THESE VERSES from the Bible that deal with the fact that this is not our home

Keep the Fire Burning,
​Danny