Prepare to lead your child to christ

As a multi-generational church here in Parker County, we recognize that North Side is made up of all kinds of families – old and young, big and small – experiencing life and issues in so many different seasons. Our desire is to lead, care, and support you and your family no matter the makeup. One of the ways we are seeking to best accomplish this challenge is through our Faith@Home strategy which is based on a biblical belief that God designed the family as the primary place for discipleship.

To support this belief and your family, we have a great tool in this enclosed Faith Path initiative. It is based on age-appropriate kits that have been created to help you leverage the best faith formation strategy for your child’s stage of development. In this enclosed kit, THE GOSPEL, you will find practical ideas and suggested resources to help you open God’s Word to your child and family. We encourage you to start today by taking the simple steps below and look forward to watching your child and family grow in biblical understanding, relationships, spiritual discussions, and life application.

WHAT DO I DO?
We have provided a short video that explains this particular Faith Path step. This video comes directly from the original launch of Faith Path and is used in a partnership with LakePointe Church.  You will hear from both experts and ordinary families as they describe their experiences and tips in leading a child to Christ. In addition, there are valuable suggestions in practical articles discussing things you can do as a parent to lay a foundation, discern readiness, and being prepared to explain backed up with Scripture and creative guides to discuss with your child.

WHEN IS THE TIME RIGHT?
Even though we make this kit available to parents of children ages five and above, few children are ready to fully understand the gospel or make a faith decision at such a young age. The goal is for you to use this material to prepare yourself to be ready when your child expresses interest. We’ve included a guide below that offers practical tips and what we consider the best resources on the topic. The colorful booklet, ‘God Loves  You and Wants You in His Family’ will make that conversation easier when the time comes. You can also download My Faith Decision, a card you can complete as a keepsake.

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” – Deuteronomy 6:6-7, NIV

One of the greatest privileges you have as a parent is to help your child come to faith in Christ.  Like many parents, you may not quite know how or when to approach one of the most exciting yet intimidating moments of parenthood.  Some worry that they won’t explain salvation properly.  They might be tempted to just “leave it to the professionals” by relying on people at church or ministry events.  That’s understandable, but God has given you the most important and influential role when it comes to leading your child to Christ.  This guide is designed to help you feel more comfortable about the process when that time comes.

STEP ONE: LAY A FOUNDATION
Your son or daughter grows in his or her understanding of God by developing a foundation; hearing stories from the Bible, learning scriptures, singing about Jesus and so forth. Your child also learns by experiencing life in your home; watching your example, feeling your love and learning right from wrong. We see this in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 that says, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”  

STEP TWO: DISCERN READINESS
Do your best to discern when your child is mature enough to put the pieces together. Avoid the temptation to push for a decision before he or she is ready to truly grasp the gospel.  Your child may intellectually understand before being socially or spiritually ready.  Young children are usually bonded to their parents in such a way that they want to please and do not have a full sense of a separate self.  A child needs to understand that this is a personal decision and not just an opportunity to repeat rote answers.

STEP THREE: ASK QUESTIONS
If you feel your child might be ready, ask a few questions to help gauge his or her level of understanding. For example, read Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Then ask questions like, “What is sin?” “How does your sin affect your relationship to God?”  How they respond can help you sense when your child is ready to understand two important concepts:

• JESUS AS SAVIOR:  The need for forgiveness and cleansing from sin which was made possible through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross
• JESUS AS LORD:  The need to submit to God as “the boss” by making Jesus Christ the Lord of one’s life

STEP FOUR: GUIDE YOUR CHILD IN PRAYER FOR SALVATION
Romans 10 says, “…if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”   If you sense your child has a basic understanding of what sin is as well as what it means to accept God’s gift of salvation and His Lordship, then you can guide him or her to pray along those lines. Instead of quoting specific words for your child to repeat, it’s best to prompt using his or her own words.  

If after reading through this guide and viewing the Prepare to Lead Your Child to Christ video you would like additional assistance, feel free to request an appointment for you and your child to meet with a pastor in your child’s age group or any pastor on the North Side staff. In addition, after your child has become a believer, please contact your child’s age group pastor or the church office, and they can assist you with further information on baptism and church membership.  Please complete the linked My Faith Decision card and it can be used as a keepsake of this special day.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

The Faith of a Child by Art Murray
Leading Your Kids to Christ: 30 Days to Prepare Your Heart by Criswell Freeman
God’s Great News for Children by Rick Osborne and Marnie Wooding

© 2012 Inkling Innovations & Lydia Randall

Brian McKay, Children's Pastor
brian@nsbcweatherford.com
Jim Garner, Family & Missions Pastor
jim@nsbcweatherford.com