Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older,
they will not leave it. Proverbs 22: 6, NLT
Are you raising a next generation Christian?
Do you have dreams and hopes for your pint-sized charges?
If you’re reading this, then I would guess it’s a “yes” and a “yes!” But how do I raise a next-generation Christian?
Meet Sarah – A Second Generation Christian
I met Sarah while hiking. Beyond mere politeness, Sarah radiated a unique joy about her that glistened as she spoke. I was drawn to her story—and the tattoo on the inside of her forearm.
Sarah spoke about her parents growing up without Jesus – and their commitment to change things for their own children.
Of her tattoo, Sarah beamed: “I’m a second-generation Christian. This is an olive branch—a symbol of hope and new life. My parents served as missionaries and they raised me to know Jesus. This is my tribute to them. And see these three little dots? These represent the children I hope to have one day—and my promise to teach them about Jesus – like my parents taught me.”
I’ve never met Sarah’s parents. I know nothing of them except for this: they were intentional parents. Standing before me was the radiant joy of their commitment.
Meet Solomon’s Writings for Next Generation Christians
Solomon penned Proverbs—not as a book of mathematical equations where one action plus another results in some certain product: A+B=C. Rather, Solomon wrote Proverbs as the world’s most refined book of sage advice, designed to draw its hearers closer in relationship to God.
Though not a guarantee of some desired outcome, these words of wisdom are more likely to result in the hopes contained in the Proverb than if you don’t heed them.
Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older,
they will not leave it. Proverbs 22: 6, NLT
We all know parents and grandparents who worked tirelessly directing their kids onto a godly path— only to experience the painful reality of their child-turned-adult’s independent right to walk away from God.
Even still, we persevere in laying a foundation in hopes that one day they will choose to follow Jesus on their own. And claim their identity as next-generation Christians.
But how do we do it?
5 Intentional Practices for Raising Next Generation Christians:
1. Read Bible stories.
Talk about them. Make reference to them in everyday conversation. “See that rainbow up there? Remember how God made a safe place for Noah and His family when they trusted God? If Noah can trust God, we can too.”
An excellent option for Bible stories and how they all lead to Jesus is The Jesus Story Book Bible.
2. Worship together regularly.
Whether in town or out, set aside a day to remember who God is, who you are, and who God is forming your children to be. Ask them what they heard or remembered from the sermon or their worship experience.
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What did you learn about God today?
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What did you learn about someone else this morning?
3. Choose a grace-based model of parenting.
It’s true: more is caught than taught.
Kids don’t often remember all our words or instructional insights. They do however remember how they felt in our mini-schools of relating to God and to one another.
Connected Families provides a biblically grounded model of grace intended to grow kids and their parents in the riches of God’s grace.
4. Pray together.
Confession: we don’t pray together regularly. There, I said it!
Like many of you, I know we should and I believe it’s the primary way we hear and respond to God—but often we just don’t make the time to pray.
At the writing of this post, that is going to change. Will you join me in praying regularly for and with your kids and grandkids?
5. Give God credit.
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Look at that beautiful sunset God painted for us tonight!
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Thank you God for money to buy all these groceries and drive this car.
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That was a really tough choice to make but the Holy Spirit gave you the power to choose best.
Next generation Christians don’t ‘just happen.’ They grow in fertile soil tilled, turned over, planted, and watered with parents committed to following Jesus in front of and with their next-generation Christians.
Grace for your space,
Jennifer