“Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. 7 “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills…” Deuteronomy 8:6-7
God’s words are striking and informative. The knowledge parents have of God needs to be taught to their children. But imparting that knowledge should be so natural, it’s a regular part of life. That is, they speak of him when they sit, walk, lie down, and rise up.
God wants children to come to Christ through the witness of their parents. Even though someone else may actually lead the child to a decision to trust Christ (as a result of vacation Bible school or an evangelistic outreach), a child should be able to look back and say, “It was a result of my parents that I came to Christ.”
Along with that, a child through his parents should develop a love for the lost people. Evangelism should also be spoken of so frequently that sharing the good news of Christ also becomes a natural activity. Parents speak of reaching the lost as they sit, walk, lie down, and rise up.
There are two things a child needs most as parents and ministry leaders encourage them in evangelism.
One is a clear understanding of the Gospel. Nothing is more important for a child to know in evangelism than the simplicity and clarity of the Gospel message. The child should know from their early years that the Gospel is contained in ten words—Christ died for our sins and rose again (see 1 Cor. 15:3-4). Because of its simplicity, it is a message a child can understand. Their love for that simple message should be seen in you and contagiously transferred to them.
Second, the child must then also know a simple method to share the Gospel. It’s a method you interact as a family about and practice with one another. That way, as the child meets classmates, develops friendships, and grows in his numerous contacts, he knows how to speak to anyone anywhere. Whatever method is taught, it is important it be easy to master, memorable, clear, and biblical. It needs to contain the three essential ingredients of 1.) sin (we are sinners), 2.) substitution—Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead, and 3.) faith (we need to trust in Christ alone to save us).
With a clear message and a simple method, the child is equipped to talk to anyone anywhere. Encourage parents to model both passing and opportunity by bringing non-Christians into their home. They may be ones they can present the Gospel to in front of their children. In so doing, they say to the child not, “Do as I say,” but “Do as I have done.”
