Being Born
Show your child baby pictures and talk about the day they were born into your family. Show pictures and talk about how happy you were. If they were adopted, talk about the happy day they became part of your family.
Ask:
How do you become part of God’s family? How are you born again?
Read John 3:1-16 to review Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus.
Just as Nicodemus didn’t understand how he could be “born again,” your children may need some explanation. Their answer should give you some insight into their understanding and their readiness.
Simple truths about being “born” into God’s family:
God loves you and wants you to be in His family (John 3:16).
We have all sinned and gone our own way (Romans 3:23).
Jesus came to earth and died on the cross for our sins (John 3:16).
We have to believe He died for our sins and came alive again (Romans 10:9).
Tell God we want to receive Him into our lives—we need to receive His forgiveness for our sins.
Say thank you to Him. Celebrate!
If they understand the basic truths about salvation, individually ask:
Would you like to receive Jesus into your life? (Doing this on a one-to-one basis is best, not in a group.)
Write down the date they received Jesus. CELEBRATE it every year!!!!! Make it a fun day! Two birthdays every year! (They will be the envy of all their friends and it will be a great chance to share the gospel with them.)
What I Really Need
While you are riding in the car, review the simple truth that we need Jesus to get to Heaven by filling in the blank: What I really need is __.
The first person will think of a situation where someone needs help and the other will guess what is needed. For example, “When my house is on fire, what I really need is __” (a fireman; a fire extinguisher). (Other possible situations: I am sick, I am blind, I am hungry, I am lost and don’t know which way to go, I am drowning, I am cold, etc.)
For the last one, add the situation: When I need to have my sins forgiven or go to Heaven, I really need __. (Jesus)
Jesus is the only way to Heaven!
How Good Can You Be?
Announce at breakfast that the family is going to have a contest to see who can be completely good. (You may want to review the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20.) At dinner, talk about it.
Did you put God first in everything today? Did you tell the truth? Did you want what someone else had? Did you love something else more than God? Did you honor/obey your parents?
Read Galatians 3:11-12.
Can anyone be good enough to keep all of God’s rules every single day? No! Some people may keep more of God’s rules than others, but NO ONE can keep all of God’s rules. Nicodemus and the other Pharisees were very good at keeping all the rules, but having a relationship with God is more important.
If we can’t keep all of God’s rules, how can we be right with God?
Our sins are taken away only by believing in Jesus and what He did for us. He died on the cross and then came alive three days later. When we have faith (believe) in Jesus, He takes away our sin and makes us right before God. We are born again!