We Are To Teach Our Children

For I have chosen him so that he will command his children and his house after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. This is how the Lord will fulfill to Abraham what he promised him. (Genesis 18:19 CSB)

I remember a group of guys from my church sitting around and talking about what they learned in Sunday School class. They asked me what I had learned in Sunday School that made an impact on me. I thought for a minute and then said, “Nothing.”

Why did I say that? Because everything I learned that made a spiritual impact on my life, I learned from my parents. Sunday School only reinforced what I had already learned at home.

It was common in our home to get out our bibles while discussing a sermon or when a spiritual topic came up in conversation. My parents would do their best to explain what the scriptures said about the subject we were discussing.

This is how God designed the family to work from the time he chose Abraham to be the father of many nations. The children are to be taught primarily at home. It is my belief, which means you don’t have to agree, that every parent will answer to God for whether you taught your children. I don’t think we will be judged on our teaching ability, just on if we taught our children.

Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you don’t forget the things your eyes have seen and so that they don’t slip from your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren. (Deuteronomy 4:9 CSB)

Not only should we teach our children the Word of God, but we should also teach them what God has done for us and our family in the past. In this way, their faith will grow, and they will expect God to do for them what He has done for others in the past.

Notice the last sentence in Genesis 18:19 “This is how the Lord will fulfill to Abraham what he promised him.” Abraham had to teach his children and grandchildren how to keep God’s Word for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham.

This hasn’t changed. For God’s grace and blessing to pass on to our descendants, we need to teach them how to keep God’s commandments. They need to learn how to walk upright before the Lord their God.

It is our job as parents to teach our children. Don’t use the excuse, “I don’t know how.” There is too much information available on the internet to help you.

Teaching our children is something every parent can do. God has anointed parents with this ability. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how and to lead you as you do it.

The more you do it, the easier it becomes and the better you are at it.

Prayer

Father, forgive me for not taking the responsibility of teaching my children. I repent of this sin. From this day forward, I will take the responsibility for my children learning of Your ways. Holy Spirit, strengthen my anointing to teach my children. Lead me and guide me as I teach them God’s way of doing and being right. I thank you for the anointing that is now empowering me to teach. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Additional Scriptures:

Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:5-9; Deuteronomy 4:9-10; Deuteronomy 11:19; 1 Timothy 4:10-11

“If we don’t teach our children to follow Christ, the world will teach them not to.”

Additional Resources:

Here is where we went for trustworthy resources to teach our children and the foster children we raised. This is not an affiliate link and I receive no compensation for this. I am recommending it because I believe it is still the best resource available to a parent today.

Home Bible Study Course