Raising children is one of the greatest responsibilities God entrusts to us. We spend years preparing them for adulthood, teaching them to read, write, work, make decisions, and navigate the world around them. Yet among all these responsibilities, none is more important than teaching them about the Lord. Childhood is a formative season, and the lessons established during these years can shape how our children understand God, approach difficult decisions, and respond when life challenges what they believe. We cannot determine the path they will ultimately choose, but we can be intentional about the foundation we give them.
Scripture does not present spiritual instruction as something parents should leave entirely to the church. In Deuteronomy 6:6–7, Moses instructed Israel, “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children.” Notice the order: God's commandments were first to be on the parents' hearts. Before teaching their children, parents were called to live in devotion to the Lord themselves. The instruction was to take place throughout ordinary life, whether sitting at home, walking along the road, lying down, or rising in the morning. Faith was not meant to be confined to a building or a particular day of the week.
The passage begins with what is known as the Shema, from the Hebrew word shema, meaning to hear or listen, with the sense of attentive listening and responding. Deuteronomy 6:4–5 declares, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” This was a declaration of Israel's devotion to the one true God. Jesus reaffirmed this commandment in Mark 12:29–30, identifying it as the greatest commandment. Consider what this means for parenting: our goal is not simply to raise children who know religious rules or can repeat Bible verses. We want them to understand who God is and what it means to love Him wholeheartedly.
That understanding requires teaching children the whole counsel of Scripture. The Old Testament reveals God's dealings with humanity and prepares us for the promised Messiah. The New Testament records the fulfillment of those promises through Jesus Christ, His ministry, death, and resurrection. The apostles were entrusted with proclaiming what they had witnessed and teaching others to follow Christ. In John 17:20, Jesus prayed, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” His prayer extended beyond the disciples standing before Him to future generations who would believe through their testimony. We should help our children understand not only what Christians believe, but why the message of the Bible is trustworthy and how its central teachings fit together.
We see the lasting influence of family instruction in Timothy's life. Paul recognized the sincere faith that first lived in Timothy's grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). He also reminded Timothy that from childhood he had known the sacred writings, which were able to make him wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:14–15). His family could not make his decisions for him, but they gave him something valuable: familiarity with God's Word and an example of sincere faith. Psalm 78:4–6 likewise calls God's people to tell the next generation about His works so that those who come after them may know Him.
Of course, teaching our children does not mean turning every conversation into a sermon. Some of the most meaningful opportunities arise naturally: discussing a difficult situation, answering a question at the dinner table, praying through a disappointment, or talking about something they encountered during the day. When children see that Scripture has a place in ordinary decisions, they begin to understand that faith is not an isolated part of life. It shapes how we treat people, handle responsibility, respond to wrongdoing, and understand our place in God's creation.
Parents must also recognize that their example often speaks louder than their instructions. Children notice whether we practice the patience we demand from them, whether we apologize when we are wrong, and whether our trust in God remains when circumstances become difficult. We should not present ourselves as people who never struggle or make mistakes. Rather, we should demonstrate what repentance, forgiveness, humility, and perseverance look like. A child who sees a parent acknowledge wrongdoing and seek the Lord learns that Christian faith is not about pretending to be perfect; it is about submitting our lives to Christ.
As children mature, they will encounter ideas and beliefs that challenge what they have learned at home. We cannot prevent every opposing influence, and attempting to avoid difficult subjects altogether will not prepare them to face the world. Instead, we should teach them how to examine ideas through Scripture, understand biblical context, and recognize that something being popular does not make it true. First Corinthians 15:33 warns, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” This is one reason parents should take an interest in the friendships, entertainment, and influences shaping their children's understanding of life.
This does not mean raising children to be suspicious of everyone who thinks differently. It means teaching discernment without teaching hostility. We can hold firmly to biblical convictions while treating others with dignity and compassion. Our children should understand that loving someone does not require agreeing with everything they believe, and disagreeing does not give us permission to be cruel. The way we represent Christ matters just as much as the convictions we claim to defend.
What happens when our children begin to question what they have been taught? What if they reach a point where they are not entirely certain about their faith? Someone once brought this very concern to me. They shared that their child was uncertain, and they were worried about what that might mean. I encouraged them with Scripture, just as I want to encourage you now. Remember Thomas. He had followed Jesus and witnessed His ministry, yet when the disciples told him that Jesus had risen from the dead, his response was essentially, “No way! Unless I see the wounds for myself, I will not believe!” (John 20:24–25). We can almost imagine him trying to process what the others were telling him. When Jesus appeared and showed him His wounds, Thomas responded, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Thomas's moment of doubt was not the end of his story. His experience reminds us not to assume that every question signals a rejection of faith. Give your children room to ask sincere questions. Listen, examine Scripture together, and help them seek answers rather than making them afraid to speak honestly.
Our children also need to understand that following Christ does not mean life will always be easy. They will experience disappointment, grief, temptation, and moments when they do not understand what God is doing. We should not promise them a life without hardship. Instead, we can teach them to turn to the Lord in difficult seasons. When Peter faced the testing of his faith, Jesus told him, “but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32). Even Peter's failure was not the end of his story. Children need to know the seriousness of sin, but they also need to understand repentance and the mercy available through Christ.
This is also why our homes should be places where correction and grace can exist together. Ephesians 6:4 instructs fathers not to provoke their children to anger, but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Biblical discipline is not an excuse for harshness, humiliation, or uncontrolled anger. Children need boundaries and accountability, but they also need to know they are loved when they make mistakes. Our correction should help guide them toward wisdom, not make them afraid to approach us.
We should remember that children are individuals, not projects whose outcomes we can control. They will develop their own personalities, face their own struggles, and eventually make decisions for themselves. Some may embrace their faith early, while others may wrestle with difficult questions along the way. We should never confuse our responsibility to teach with the power to control another person's heart. First Corinthians 3:6–7 gives us an important perspective: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” We are responsible for faithfully planting and watering; the growth belongs to God.
After all the lessons, conversations, corrections, and years of parenting, what will remain is not simply what we told our children, but also what they witnessed in us. Did they see a faith that endured beyond comfortable circumstances? Did they see parents who sought God, admitted their mistakes, extended forgiveness, and remained committed to His Word? We will not do everything perfectly, but we can make sure our children see a genuine effort to follow Christ. The responsibility is significant, but so is the opportunity. We have been given these years to show our children who the Lord is, teach them His Word, and give them an example of what it means to walk faithfully with Him.
