What are some things you want to make sure you teach your children?
The list changes along with the age of your children, but most of the things we want to teach fall into two categories:
Core Values: kindness, honesty, empathy, respect, gratitude, responsibility, etc…
Life Skills: hygiene, health, housekeeping, time and money management, communication, etc…
These are all great things for parents to teach and kids to learn and know for their future adult life!
But don’t forget the two most fundamental teachings of the Bible: sin and grace.
So what is sin? Sin is breaking God’s law in action, word, or thought. We all inherit sinfulness from our parents (called “original sin”) and actively sin each day. Sin separates us from God. Sin makes us spiritually dead and unable to help ourselves get back to God.
So what’s the solution to sin? Grace! God’s grace is his undeserved love for sinners like us. His grace prompted God to promise mankind a savior only moments after sin entered the world. His grace compelled God to keep that promise by sending Jesus to live perfectly in our place, die the death our sin deserved, and rise again to assure us that God counts his life and death as ours.
These are the two most important, fundamental teachings of the Bible: that sin destroys but grace saves. Our kids need to hear and learn these truths time and time again. Not just for their earthly future, but for their eternal future. And God will bless your family as you learn and study these truths together!
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24
Family Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Your Word teaches us the truth about our sin and the truth about your grace. We confess that we have sinned in our thoughts, words, and actions and cannot save ourselves. But we thank you for sending Jesus to live perfectly for us, to die for our sins, and to rise again so we are forgiven and made your own.
Strengthen our family through your Word. Help us remember our need for your mercy and rejoice in the grace you freely give in Christ. Guide us by your Spirit as we teach and learn these truths together.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
