14/09/2026
โช RAISING CHILDREN WHO KNOW CHRIST
โEDUCATION MAY PREPARE THEM FOR A CAREER; SOUND DOCTRINE PREPARES THEM TO LIVE FOR CHRIST.โ
Key Text: ๐ Ephesians 6:4 KJV
โAnd, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.โ
๐ฅ INTRODUCTION โ MORE THAN RAISING
SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN
Parents naturally want their children to succeed. We send them to school, teach them discipline, prepare them for employment, and hope they will someday have a stable future.
There is nothing wrong with education. But from a Dispensational perspective, academic success cannot substitute for spiritual truth.
A child may learn mathematics but never understand grace. He may study history but never understand God's Mystery program. He may graduate with honors but never clearly understand the Gospel of Christ. He may know how to earn a living but not know how a sinner receives eternal life.
At the same time, we should improve one statement in the image: church attendance itself does not save children. A child can sit inside a church building every Sunday and remain unsaved. Salvation comes through believing the Gospel, not through attendance, membership, baptism, or religious upbringing.
๐ 1 Corinthians 15:1โ4
๐ Ephesians 2:8โ9
Likewise, parents should not transfer their entire spiritual responsibility to a local church. Paul places significant responsibility upon the home.
๐ Ephesians 6:4
So our message is:
DON'T MERELY RAISE CHILDREN TO MAKE A LIVINGโRAISE THEM TO KNOW THE GOSPEL AND LIVE FOR CHRIST.
Our five points are:
1๏ธโฃ PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL
2๏ธโฃ PROVIDE SOUND DOCTRINE
3๏ธโฃ PRACTICE THE TRUTH
4๏ธโฃ PARTICIPATE IN THE CHURCH
5๏ธโฃ PREPARE THEM FOR PURPOSE
1๏ธโฃ PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL
๐ 1 Corinthians 15:1โ4; Romans 1:16
Before we worry about producing successful children, our greatest spiritual concern should be that they clearly understand the Gospel that saves today.
๐น A. PRESENT THEIR PROBLEM
๐ Romans 3:23
โFor all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.โ
Children need more than the message:
โBe a good boy.โ
โBe a good girl.โ
โObey your parents.โ
Those are important instructions, but morality is not the Gospel.
Our children must eventually understand that they, like every other person, are sinners who cannot earn justification before God.
๐ Romans 3:10
๐ Romans 6:23
๐น B. PROCLAIM CHRIST'S PAYMENT
๐ 1 Corinthians 15:3โ4
Paul summarizes the saving Gospel:
โChrist died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.โ
Teach children what Christ accomplished, not merely that they should โbelieve in God.โ
Christ:
โ๏ธ DIED for our sins.
โฐ๏ธ WAS BURIED.
๐
ROSE AGAIN.
The foundation is Christ's finished work, not our religious works.
๐น C. POINT THEM TO PERSONAL FAITH
๐ Ephesians 2:8โ9
โFor by grace are ye saved through faith... Not of works...โ
Our children cannot be saved because:
Dad is saved.
Mom is saved.
Grandpa was a preacher.
They attend church.
They were baptized.
God has no spiritual grandchildren.
Each person must personally believe the Gospel.
๐ Romans 4:5
๐ฅ DON'T MERELY BRING YOUR CHILDREN TO CHURCHโBRING THE GOSPEL TO YOUR
CHILDREN.
2๏ธโฃ PROVIDE SOUND DOCTRINE
๐ 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16โ17
After salvation comes spiritual growth.
Children need more than Bible stories. As they mature, they should learn how God's Word fits together.
๐น A. PROVIDE THE SCRIPTURES
๐ 2 Timothy 3:16
โAll scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable...โ
Teach them to respect the entire Bible as God's inspired Word.
Genesis matters.
Psalms matter.
Matthew matters.
Acts matters.
Romans matters.
Revelation matters.
All Scripture is FOR our learning.
๐ Romans 15:4
๐น B. PROPERLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES
๐ 2 Timothy 2:15
โrightly dividing the word of truth.โ
From a Dispensational perspective, children should eventually learn that although all Scripture is for us, not every command in Scripture is directly to us.
Teach them distinctions such as:
Israel and the Body of Christ
Prophecy and Mystery
Law and Grace
The Twelve and Paul
Earthly kingdom and heavenly calling
Without right division, Bible study can become confusion.
๐น C. PRIORITIZE PAULINE DOCTRINE
๐ Romans 11:13
Paul says:
โI am the apostle of the Gentiles...โ
For the Body of Christ, Romans through Philemon provide our direct doctrinal instruction concerning our identity, walk, ministry, church life, and heavenly hope.
๐ Ephesians 3:1โ9
๐ Colossians 1:25โ27
๐ฅ DON'T JUST TEACH CHILDREN TO READ THE BIBLEโTEACH THEM TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE BIBLE.
3๏ธโฃ PRACTICE THE TRUTH
๐ Philippians 4:9; Ephesians 4:1
Children hear what parents teach, but they also watch how parents live.
A Bible on the table cannot compensate for hypocrisy in the home.
๐น A. PRACTICE GRACE
๐ Ephesians 4:32
โAnd be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another...โ
If we preach grace at church but practice bitterness at home, our children will notice.
Let them see:
forgiveness, kindness, patience, humility, and reconciliation.
๐น B. PRACTICE GODLINESS
๐ Titus 2:11โ12
Grace teaches us that:
โdenying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly...โ
Grace is not permission to live carelessly.
Teach children that good works do not produce salvation, but salvation should produce a transformed walk.
๐ Ephesians 2:8โ10
๐น C. PRACTICE GOSPEL LIVING
๐ Philippians 1:27
โOnly let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ...โ
Children need to see that Christianity affects:
how Dad treats Mom,
how Mom treats Dad,
how parents handle money,
how we speak when angry,
how we forgive,
how we respond to difficulty.
๐ฅ YOUR CHILDREN NEED MORE THAN YOUR SERMONSโTHEY NEED TO SEE SOUND DOCTRINE LIVED AT HOME.
4๏ธโฃ PARTICIPATE IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
๐ 1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 4:11โ16
Here we need an important distinction.
Going to church does not save anyone.
Nevertheless, the local church has an important role in God's present program.
๐น A. PARTICIPATE FOR EDIFICATION
๐ Ephesians 4:12
Paul describes ministry as:
โFor the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.โ
Church should not merely entertain children.
The goal is edification.
They need doctrine.
๐น B. PARTICIPATE FOR FELLOWSHIP
๐ Philippians 1:5
โFor your fellowship in the gospel...โ
Children should learn that Christianity is not merely:
โMe and Jesus.โ
When saved, we belong to the one Body.
๐ 1 Corinthians 12:13
๐ Ephesians 4:4
The local assembly gives practical expression to fellowship, service, teaching, and mutual edification.
๐น C. PARTICIPATE FOR MINISTRY
๐ 1 Corinthians 15:58
โalways abounding in the work of the Lord...โ
Don't raise children to become permanent spectators.
As they mature spiritually, teach them:
to serve,
to give,
to encourage,
to help,
to share the Gospel,
to use their abilities for God's glory.
๐ฅ CHURCH IS NOT A WEEKLY PERFORMANCE TO WATCH; IT IS A LOCAL BODY IN WHICH BELIEVERS GROW AND SERVE TOGETHER.
5๏ธโฃ PREPARE THEM FOR PURPOSE
๐ Colossians 3:17, 23; Philippians 2:15โ16
Our goal is not to make children choose between education and Christ.
The goal is to teach them to use education, work, abilities, opportunities, and possessions under the authority of sound doctrine.
๐น A. PREPARE THEM FOR WORK
๐ Colossians 3:23
โAnd whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord...โ
Teach excellence.
Teach responsibility.
Teach diligence.
Teach them to work.
๐ 2 Thessalonians 3:10
Christianity should not produce laziness.
๐น B. PREPARE THEM FOR WITNESS
๐ 2 Corinthians 5:20
โNow then we are ambassadors for Christ...โ
Whether your child becomes a:
doctor, teacher, engineer, carpenter, business owner, farmer, mechanic, homemaker, or ministerโ
the believer remains an ambassador for Christ.
Their occupation can become a setting in which Christian character and Gospel witness are displayed.
๐น C. PREPARE THEM FOR WHAT LASTS
๐ Colossians 3:1โ2
โSet your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.โ
A degree is useful.
A career is useful.
Money is useful.
A house is useful.
But none of those should become the ultimate definition of success.
From the Dispensational perspective, the Body of Christ possesses a heavenly position and hope.
๐ Ephesians 2:6
๐ Philippians 3:20โ21
๐ฅ PREPARE THEM TO LIVE RESPONSIBLY ON EARTH WHILE THINKING ACCORDING TO THEIR HEAVENLY CALLING IN CHRIST.
๐ CONCLUSION โ DON'T OUTSOURCE YOUR CHILDREN'S SPIRITUAL TRAINING
Parents sometimes think:
โThe school will educate them.โ
Correctโbut parents still participate.
Then:
โThe church will teach them about God.โ
The local church certainly should teach sound doctrine, but Paul never intended parents to abandon their responsibility.
๐ Ephesians 6:4
The home and local church should complement one another.
The church teaches.
The home reinforces.
The church equips.
The home demonstrates.
The church preaches the Gospel.
The parents explain the Gospel.
DON'T AIM ONLY FOR SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN.
DESIRE SAVED CHILDREN WHO GROW INTO SOUND, STABLE, SERVING BELIEVERS.
And remember: parents can faithfully teach and model the truth, but they cannot believe for their children. Faith cannot be forced.
We faithfully give them the truth and point them to Christ.
๐ฃ CALL TO ACTION โ THREE โT'sโ
๐น TEACH THE GOSPEL
๐ 1 Corinthians 15:1โ4
Make sure your children can eventually answer:
What is the Gospel?
Not:
โGo to church.โ
Not:
โBe good.โ
But:
CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS, WAS BURIED, AND ROSE AGAIN.
๐น TRAIN IN TRUTH
๐ 2 Timothy 2:15
Don't give them religious tradition without biblical understanding.
Teach them:
๐ the Word,
โ๏ธ rightly divided,
โ๏ธ centered on Christ,
๐ understood according to God's dispensational distinctions.
๐น TESTIFY THROUGH YOUR WALK
๐ Philippians 4:9
Don't only tell your children what Christianity looks like.
SHOW THEM.
Let them see grace when somebody fails.
Let them see forgiveness after conflict.
Let them see prayer in difficulty.
Let them see generosity without compulsion.
Let them see faithfulness in the local church.
Let them see Christ honored in your home.
๐ญ FINAL THOUGHTS
1๏ธโฃ PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL
Don't merely raise moral childrenโmake the Gospel unmistakably clear.
๐ 1 Corinthians 15:1โ4
2๏ธโฃ PROVIDE SOUND DOCTRINE
Don't merely give them Bible storiesโteach them God's Word rightly divided.
๐ 2 Timothy 2:15
3๏ธโฃ PRACTICE THE TRUTH
Don't merely tell them how Christians should liveโmodel grace before them.
๐ Ephesians 4:32
4๏ธโฃ PARTICIPATE IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
Don't treat church as the means of salvation, but don't treat Christian fellowship and edification as unimportant either.
๐ Ephesians 4:12โ16
5๏ธโฃ PREPARE THEM FOR PURPOSE
Don't merely prepare them for an earthly careerโprepare them to serve Christ as members of His Body.
๐ 2 Corinthians 5:20
๐ EDUCATION CAN HELP THEM MAKE A LIVING.
โ๏ธ ONLY THE GOSPEL CAN GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE.
๐ SOUND DOCTRINE CAN TEACH THEM HOW TO LIVE AS BELIEVERS.
๐ THE HOME SHOULD MODEL IT.
โช THE LOCAL CHURCH SHOULD EDIFY THEM IN IT.
RAISE THEM TO LEARN.
RAISE THEM TO WORK.
RAISE THEM TO THINK.
BUT ABOVE ALLโFAITHFULLY POINT THEM TO CHRIST AND HIS FINISHED WORK.
๐ 1 Corinthians 15:3โ4 | Ephesians 2:8โ9 | Ephesians 6:4 | 2 Timothy 2:15