There is nothing more important for believing parents than to win their children to Jesus Christ. Parents have a God-given duty to reveal Him to them.

 

Believing Families Carry on Their Faith
Notice how young Timothy was described in the Bible: "I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice" (II Tim. 1:5). Timothy had "unfeigned faith" that was "in" him. Where did this faith come from? It came from his mother and grandmother. Timothy's family had a heritage of faith. Families often carry on traditions from generation to generation, and the Christian family should carry on its faith.

Children Are Not Born Christian
No one is born a Christian. Being a Christian is not like being American, Jewish, Arabian or Italian. Your physical birth entitles you to your nationality, but only the spiritual birth will entitle you to Christianity. As D. L. Moody said, "You cannot be born Christian, you must be born again Christian." He was referring to Christ's teaching of the new birth. Christ taught that you can neither be saved the day your mother delivered you, nor can the new birth happen immediately afterward (John 3). A person must hear and understand the Gospel first. When he believes in the Gospel then he will be born again into the family of God. A child will not know the Gospel until someone gives it to him. Parent, you must speak the Gospel clearly, tenderly and repeatedly to your young child's ears that they might know it and understand it well.

I. Children Believe in What They Hear
A child must hear of the faith before he can put faith in it. The Bible says, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). What are your children "hearing" regularly? It is no surprise that parents who speak about the Lord Jesus have children who speak about Him. Children who hear about Jesus will think about Jesus, and children who think about Jesus will think to trust in Jesus.

II. Children Believe in What They See
Notice what was said of Timothy's mother and grandmother. They had "unfeigned faith." That is, their faith was real and not hypocritical. They not only had visible faith on Sunday but also on Monday. Children are good at detecting fake adults. They become even more able as teenagers. A parent may not be the best parent or even the best Christian, but if that parent truly believes in Christ and wants to live for Him, it will have a tremendous impact on his children.

I know my own life. I watched my parents. I remember a day when my Dad announced a decision that impacted the whole family. He said, "God told me this; so, this is what we are going to do." I thought it crazy that he could be so sure, but I never forget this expression of his faith. My Dad had a relationship with God and it was vibrant enough that he talked about it freely.

I recall times when both my Mother and Father said things which told me they had an authority higher than any man or woman in this world. They made decisions based on what God wanted. No one was telling them to do these things, and no one would have thought differently of them, if they had not made those decisions. These were decisions independent of earthly ties, but very dependent on God. I saw it; I believed in it. I did not ever question it. I accepted the fact of God in my life, because He was so much a part of their lives.

Summary
A child is best won to Christ when his parents have a genuine and active relationship with Him. Have you won your children to Christ? What steps have you taken to instill Christ in their lives?

Fifteen Things You Can Do to Win Your Children to Christ

1. Make sure that you are saved. Have you been won to Christ?
2. Think about your salvation, what it means to you and how it has changed your life.
3. Speak freely of the Lord Jesus Christ, expressing your gratitude for and dependence on His salvation.
4. Share with your children how Jesus Christ is presently leading you.
5. Regularly spend time in the Bible and in prayer with your children.
6. Allow your children to see you speak to others of your faith in Christ.
7. Openly confess your faults and praise the Lord for His cleansing blood.
8. Speak regularly to your children about their own sinfulness, what the Bible teaches about sin, Christ's righteousness and eternal judgment. Compliment this with praising God for his grace and mercy.
9. Discipline your children immediately upon disobedience, not harshly but firmly and tenderly.
10. Encourage them to make decisions that require their own faith in the Lord.
11. Ask them questions about Christ that require an answer of more than "yes" or "no".
12. Be honest with them and guard them from secret sins.
13. Watch for signs of a heightened interest in the salvation of their own souls.
14. Avoid pushing them to pray a prayer for salvation that lacks the definite conviction of the Holy Spirit.
15. Pray for them regularly both in their presence and in private.