Introduction:
Passing on the faith to our children might be compared to passing on the baton in a relay race.
When we don’t make an effective connection, we lost our children to the world.
Children are blessings from God for which we are responsible (Ps. 127:3).
Three important things we must give our children:
I. We must give them a positive example.
Experience is a great teacher but there is something to be said for learning by observation (Mt. 5:16; Ph. 2:14-16; 1 Tim. 4:12).
What better place for a good example than in the home?
II. We must give them diligent instruction.
Example, by itself, will not produce faith – there must be instruction.
Fathers take a leading role in providing instruction (Eph. 6:4; Gen. 18:19; Josh. 24:15; Dt. 6:4-9; 2 Tim. 1:5; 3:14-15; Rm. 10:17).
How do we teach our children?
- Give them what you have.
- Use what God has given you and He will bless it.
- Read Bible stories together.
- Pray together.
- Discuss faith issues together.
- Share your beliefs.
- Do acts of service together.
III. We must give them consistent, loving discipline.
Children must learn to follow rules (Hb. 12:6, 11-13).
There is great pressure on parents to abstain from discipline (Prov. 22:15; 29:15, 17; 22:6).
Tender plants need care and cultivation to grow.