Sowing the spiritual seeds

Can a child understand the reality of an invisible God?

Can a child understand salvation and the meaning of Christ’s death on the cross?

Some say you should wait until children are older to talk to them about faith, salvation, and other spiritual topics, when they reach the age where they can understand abstract things.

Later, during their teenage years, they will be better reasoned with…mind to mind and intellect to intellect.

However, parents who wait that long find that they waited too long, because their children have grown up without spiritual roots…because they didn’t plant the seeds of truth in their early years.

“Train up a child in his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

  • Myth: “Young children are intellectually incapable of responding to salvation.”

Truth: Little ones are more capable than adults of responding to the message of salvation.

  • Myth: “Adults should not impose their religious beliefs on children, because they are not yet ready to believe. When the children grow up and become adults, then they will be able to decide.”

Truth: Children give signs of when they are ready to change and receive Christ as their Savior.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And calling Jesus to a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said: Truly I say to you, unless you return and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. So whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:1,4)

Children have…

Curiosity

  • Children ask questions about everything quite enthusiastically.

Modesty

  • Children are used to living under authority, therefore, they learn more easily.

Imagination

  • Children can accept the invisible.

Confidence

  • It is very easy for children to believe in the supernatural.

Dependence

  • Children depend on adults for their protection and provision.

Retentive memory

  • Children can hold in their minds what they cannot understand more easily than adults.

Greed for gifts

  • It is very natural for children to receive a gift without feeling that they have to earn it.

A sensitive heart

  • Children do not have patterns of sin rooted in their hearts, addictions, or negative thoughts that make it difficult to leave their “old way of life”.

Children are ready to hear the gospel when…

They have to live with the consequences of their negative behavior

  • have feelings of guilt and shame

express concern about the future

  • fear the dark, separation, storms, death

they ask a lot of questions

  • “what happens to people when they die?”

Drastically change their behavior

  • are withdrawn or overly sensitive

Submit to positive authority

  • leave the spirit of rebellion

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be prepared to offer a defense with meekness and reverence before everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.” (1 Peter 3:15,16)

Key verse to memorize

“And [Jesus] said, Truly I say to you, unless you return and become like little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)

Key passage to read and meditate

Psalms 78:2,7

Practical Steps to Prepare a Child’s Heart

Reflect the character of Christ. (Titus 2:7,8)

Praise God in the presence of his child for specific blessings received. (Psalms 34:1)

Play or sing Christian songs with your child. (Psalm 66:1,2)

Place pictures and photos with spiritual content in your home. (Deuteronomy 6:5,9)

Provide a time to read and discuss the scriptures in the daily family devotional. (2 Timothy 3:14,15)

Prepare Bible verses on flashcards to memorize. (Psalms 119:11)

Pray out loud with and for his son. (Colossians 1:9,10)

Make regular spiritual services or programs a priority. (Proverbs 22:6)

Play creative games that put God at the center of your mind.

“But you persist in what you have learned and persuaded yourself, knowing from whom you have learned; and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:14,15)

How to present the good news regarding…

“And these words that I command you today, will be on your heart; and you shall repeat them to your children, and you shall speak of them when you are at home, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6,7)