TRAINING CHILDREN THE LORD’S WAY
The biblical Word of God says: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6). The Son of God, Jesus Christ, said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). As a believer in the Bible, you should teach the children God has given you about the God of the Bible, who loves us all enough to have given his Son to die for us (John 3:16)
HOW YOU MIGHT TEACH CHILDREN THE WAY OF THE LORD’S
The Bible informs us that Timothy, a pastor of one of the Lord’s Early Churches, was taught about the Lord God by his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. I believe they may have done similar things my grandmother Julia did in teaching me about the Lord.
When I was just a boy, my Christ-like grandmother, whom I called “Mama,” taught me about the Lord Jesus Christ. I learned to love and appreciate the Bible by her having me read stories to her from a colorful picture-book with Bible stories. I vividly remember stories about godly boys which had influenced on me: including Jesus, the Son God; David, a boy “after God’s own heart;” Samuel, a boy whom God spoke to. I clearly recall when she told me about her “good little boy, Johnny” who saw the angels coming when he was dying. I wanted to be a good boy like Johnny so I could go to heaven.
By my grandmother sending me to Sunday School, I learned more about the Lord. “Yes, Jesus loves me,” was engraved in my mind by a song I was taught in Sunday School at a very early age.
By Mama taking me to church, I heard the gospel preached. I heard a sermon about Jesus telling a man named Nicodemus you must be born again of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior when I was about ten years old. After accepting the Lord as my Savior, the Pastor ask me if I understood what I was doing. I said, yes. Later, I was baptized. The Lord knew that I understood being saved by him. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).
Mama also taught about the Lord by the life she lived. She often sang and praised the Lord when she was working in the house or in her gardens, helping to provide for her grandchildren. Many times, I was awaken in the middle of the night by her praying for members of the family. I saw her being kind and sharing what God had given her with our neighbors.
Jesus said, the Holy Spirit will lead in teaching you and your children about the Lord God (John 16:13-14). The Bible tells us that God the Father will honor you and your children as his children, for following Jesus Christ (1 John 3:1). And the Lord God is preparing a place in heaven for all his children who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord (John14:2-3).
FOLLOWING THE LORD’S BIBLE-WAY
- The biblical Word of God says: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of God a may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.(2 Timothy 3:16-17).
- “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path” (119:105).
- Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall [b]direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
- For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).
- God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8).
- For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3
23). - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
THE BIBLE HELPS CHILDREN OVERCOME UNBIBLICAL TEACHINGS
In this world, your Children are apt to be exposed to many unbiblical teaching concerning God, in the educational system, in the secular world, and even in some parts of the religious community. We compare a few of these teaching to what the Bible teaches:
A. Our education system teaches “Big Bang” and “Evolution” theories about the existence of the world, which essentially deny the Bible’s teachings about God being the creator of all things.
The Scriptures of the Bible say: “in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1). “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathe into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Gen. 2:7). “And the rib which the Lord had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man” Gen. 2:22).
Jesus, the Son of God, demonstrated that he has power over the natural and spiritual worlds. He calmed a stormy sea and walked on water (Mark 4:35-41; Mark 6:47-51 ). He healed all manner of incurable diseases; and healed all who were under the power of the devil. Matthew 4:23; Mark 5:1-13; Acts 10:38). Not only did He raise people like Lazarus from the dead; but He rose from the dead after being dead for three days. He did many miracles which no person could without the power of God (John 9:32-33; John 15:24).
B. There are some religious teachings that say, there are many ways or paths to God.
But in the Bible Jesus said, he is the only way to God the Father (John 14:6); and no one can come to God’s Son except the Father draws them ( John 6:44).
D. Many “prosperity” preachers instruct people to focus primarily on achieving temporal things of this world.
However, the Bible says: “everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:16).
“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36). ” Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33).
E. And there are those who promote the idea that people are not sinful as the Bible asserts.
The Bible says: All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And “The wage of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
When you train children in the way of the Lord they are apt to be reminded of things said in the Word of God by Spirit of God: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,[a] to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be[b] in you.
(John 14:15-!7)
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (John 16:13-15).
