Want to See Kids Grow in Their Faith? This is a Crucial Part of It.

I believe we are not a Christian nation anymore. We are a nation that has a lot of Christians, but we are not a Christian nation.

A study from Family Research Council reveals that only 6% of America's adult population have a Biblical worldview.

As followers of Jesus, this should challenge us. How can we turn this around and see more people come to Christ and follow Him?

George Barna recently shared that it starts with the children. We must instill a Biblical worldview in children that will stay with them for the rest of their life.

How is this going to happen?

What should be our focus?

Who should be our focus?

I believe it starts with parents.

You want to see kids come to Christ and grow in their faith? Then you must focus on equipping and empowering parents to raise their children with a Biblical worldview.

I often say that children are like wet cement. They are not set in their ways or belief system. You can mold them, shape them and see them become lifelong followers of Jesus.

But we must remember that wet cement soon turns into concrete. Once it becomes concrete it is very hard to mold or shape it. You have to have hammers, chisels, jack hammers, etc. We only have a short window of time to reach the next generation. We must reach and disciple children while they are still wet cement.

Research shows that a child's worldview is pretty must set by the age of 13. Don't miss this! We only have to the age of 13 to effectively instill God's ways, Word and wisdom into the lives of children.

Parents are the number one key in this.

before the pastor...

before the children's ministry director...

before the Sunday school teacher...

before the midweek volunteers...

before the VBS volunteers...

before the camp directors...

Parents are first and foremost the biggest key to seeing kids grow in their faith.

Parents... this is not something you can outsource. This is not something you can delegate to someone at the church. It's on you.

Look what it says in Deuteronomy 4.

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children."

It's time we, as children's ministry leaders, focus on equipping parents to raise their children to follow Jesus.

Research shows that less than 10% of parents have any kind of spiritual growth plan for their children. Our role is to come alongside them and provide them with the resources and spiritual growth plans they need to disciple their children. I believe that the majority of parents will respond if we place the tools in their hands.

Barna says that parents must have everyday spiritual conversations with their children. Here's the strategy he encourages parents to follow.

"The conversations have to take place around real world events. Tell stories, get examples from your children of what they’re going through in life, and relate biblical principles to those stories, but do it not by beating them over the head with God’s Word, but by asking them questions about what they believe, why they believe it, what they did, why they did it, asking if they’re familiar with different biblical principles. Do they think that might have worked in the situation?”

I believe this and have seen that if we will follow this strategy, we will see our kids and grandkids grow up to follow Jesus for a lifetime. That's our end goal, right?

Do you have a copy of my book "Fertile Soil...see kids' faith grow and flourish for a lifetime?" In this book, I share the 3 biggest reasons why kids walk away from the faith. I show how we can counter this and see kids grow up to follow Jesus for a lifetime.

Get your copy today at this link.