The Power of the Single Parent: Teaching Your Children the Word of God

As Christian single parents one very important thing to do while raising your children is to teach them about Christ. I know by experience that we can teach them many things. We teach our children to tie their shoes, write their alphabet, make friends and many other things. But we can not fail to teach them about Christ.

The very first thing you should teach your children is that they must be saved. You can teach them many biblical principles like sowing and reaping or blessings and curses. But if you do not teach your children that they need the Savior the other knowledge will not do them any good because that knowledge will not get them into heaven. The bible states “Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he can not enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:5. Your child must be born again. Salvation is an individual thing. They do not go to heaven because you are saved.

Secondly, you must teach your children the ways of Christ. Believe it or not Jesus taught on some very deep and interesting subjects: The Principle of Being Thankful (Luke 17:11-17), Submission to Authority (Luke 8:5-13), Giving (Matthew 10:8), Loving your Enemies (Matthew 5:44), Persistence (Luke 11:8) and much more. You can teach your children how to live like Christ through his teaching.

Giving your children scriptures to remember is an excellent idea. But the goal is not that they memorize scripture, the goal is that the Word sinks into their heart so they can LIVE the Word. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11.

There are various ways you can teach your children on the level in which they will understand.

1. Read the Word of God with them on a consistent basis. If we can watch television and go to the movies, we can read the Word of God with our children. Constantly let your children know that the bible is not a “book of stories”. It is real. The people and events were real. The upcoming prophesies are real. When you tell them that the Word of God is real and not a story you open their eyes to the kingdom of God. They will believe, trust and honor the word as truth.

2. Live the Word of God to your children daily. No one is perfect, but we all have the capacity to live like Christ on a daily basis. The more you live the Christian walk the more your children will see that He is real. If we live one way and say something totally different our actions can “water” down the effectiveness of the Word. This is one of the reasons why unbelievers call Christian hypocrites. Because we are sometime guilty of saying one thing and doing something else. If the world feels that way, your children will feel that way too.

3. When walking with your children show them things in the world that remind you of God’s attributes. For example, a rock may remind you of God’s strength. Pick up the rock and tell them to try to crush it. When they can’t do it let them know that the inability to crush the rock represents Satan’s inability to crush God and his plans. Or you can show them the stillness of a river or creek. This can remind you of God’s peace. These times can enlighten your child’s heart to God and His Word.

4. Teach them through your mistakes and achievements. Most times we don’t have any problems telling our children of all the good things we have done. This is when we tell our children how much God has blessed us because we were obedient. But what about when we were disobedient? Do not be afraid to tell your children when you messed up with God. This will teach your children about God’s mercy and his grace. It will also teach them that you are accountable to God in your life. This will put the fear of the Lord in your children (something that is GREATLY missing now-a-days!) as well as teaching them that they have to be accountable to God for their lives. When I talk to my children about the things that I did wrong I tell them the event, how God dealt with me and I tell them the consequences I suffered because of my disobedience. I also reinforce the truth that no one gets away with sin. NO ONE, NOT EVEN ME! God does not punish us for every sin, but he will spank us for continual sin.

Teaching your children the Word of God and his ways is not hard. If we really want our children to be young men and women of integrity we will do everything possible to show them God’s ways.