When we consider ways to effectively share God’s Word with our families, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We know God’s Word is powerful, but where do we start? What book do we read? Which resource do we use? When will I fit this into my schedule? Thankfully, God has already given us the plan. We just need to follow it.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
In this passage, we are told to talk with our children about “these words” all day long. There should even be reminders all around us of “these words”. But what exactly are “these words” we are supposed to be teaching? Earlier in verses 1-2, we’re told to pass on to future generations the commandments, statutes, and rules the Lord has taught us. We aren’t supposed to just show our children our faith through our actions toward others and attendance at events. We’re told to share our faith with our children with words, all day long. We’re to teach our children who He is by having conversations, all the time and in all places. From the time we wake up in the morning until we go to bed at night.
If your house is anything like ours, there is a lot of talking! From the time my daughters wake up until they crawl into bed at night, someone has something to say!
“Watch this, Mom!”
“What’s for dinner?”
“Daddy, can you fix this?” or
“Who took the hairbrush?”
As my oldest enters her teenage years, her questions aren’t quite so easy to answer. But God’s Word doesn’t change. We’re still to talk about “these things” all day long.
Perhaps it would help to look forward to the end goal. When we’re in the midst of answering endless questions and discussing difficult topics, we need to be reminded of the truths found later in Deuteronomy 6.
And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as we are this day. And it will be righteousness for us if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us.
Deuteronomy 6:24-25
When we obey God’s command and talk with our children day and night, they will be immersed in His Word. They will learn to fear and respect our great God, and this will be for their good! In Psalm 78:5-7 we are again reminded of the power of God’s Word in families when the author reminds us to teach our children God’s Word so “that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God.” Teaching God’s Word to our families will help our children set their hope in God. Not in their school, future jobs, possessions, or future spouse — but In God.
In the book Handing Down the Faith, Smith, and Adamczyk discuss the biggest influences on the transfer of faith from parents to the child. It’s no surprise that one of the leading factors is conversations about religious matters all week long. Because God’s Word is getting poured into
children throughout their childhood, they are able to “sustain their religious and spiritual lives on their own” as adults.
I don’t know about you, but that’s exactly what I want for my daughters. I want them to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. When they leave my home as adults, I want them to have a vibrant faith and deep love of the Lord that leads them to know, love, and serve Him all the days of their lives. So while they’re still here, we’ll continue talking about “these things” one conversation at a time, every chance we get.
We know we are to talk about these things … but how? Awana has developed a brand new resource, just for families. Talk About™ delivers child discipleship through simple discussions and family fun. With guided conversations, hands-on activities, and helpful references and insights for parents, Talk About will help strengthen your family’s understanding of God’s Word each week. Subscribe now and receive your first month FREE with promo code D62022 at TalkAboutDiscipleship.com.
- The Power of God’s Word on Families - May 11, 2022
