In a world that claims there is no truth and every individual can do as they please, how can Christian parents navigate raising their children to know and love God? Answers Bible Curriculum can help.
As Christian parents, we are very aware that “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10), but how do we combat this? How do we raise our kids to ensure they won’t be “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Ephesians 4:14)? How do we help our kids know what they believe and why they believe it? And how do we equip them to thrive in the world and live lives that honor God, rather than feebly hoping that they’re able to survive once they’re out on their own? As parents, how do we best fulfill the command from God to raise our children to know and love him?
In God’s grace and mercy, he gave us everything we need as parents to fulfill the calling he has placed on us. When we consider this command in light of the rest of Scripture, there are a few foundational places we can begin:
- Know and love God for yourself. The top priority for any Christian, parents included, needs to be loving God. Scripture is clear that we show God we love him by obeying his Word, and we can only do that if we know what it says. At a minimum, wrapped up in the command to love God is the requirement to know him and obey him—for how can we love a God we do not know or refuse to obey?
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. (2 John 1:6)
- Talk about God and his Word as you go about your day, every day. This requires thoughtfulness and effort. What does this look like, how do we do this in reality? The more you’re in the Word, the more it naturally flows out of you and the more clearly you are able to see and speak truth.
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. (Deuteronomy 6:6–7)
- Pray alone, pray with your kids, and pray as a family. We can sometimes lose sight of the power of prayer, but Scripture tells us that God knows what we need (peace, patience, etc.) and wants to give us those good things.
Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7–11)
When we grow closer to God, we naturally exhibit the fruits of the Spirit. And the fruits of the Spirit are a powerful testimony to others, our kids included, of the work God is doing in our lives. Throughout the Bible, God tells us in direct ways that he will work for our good, which is drawing us closer to him, and for his glory, and he shows us how much he cares for us. When our kids see us filled with a love for God and see us growing in him, that can have a life-changing impact on their faith as well.
Family discipleship must be intentional, and homeschooling families have such an incredible advantage in this area because they can teach their children diligently all day, every day. And with more freedom to select curricula that focus on God and teach a biblical worldview in all subjects, this advantage can be multiplied even further.
To this end, Answers in Genesis has developed a Bible curriculum designed specifically for homeschooling families. ABC for Homeschool seeks to equip and partner with parents to help their kids develop a robust understanding of God’s Word—helping them know who God is so they can love and obey him.
ABC Homeschool employs a chronological approach to help students understand that the whole Bible is connected and reveals to us the big picture of God’s redemptive plan. This also helps kids understand that the Bible is true and that it has ultimate authority over our lives as the Word of God.
This curriculum doesn’t shy away from the tough questions—we address them head-on, going to Scripture for the answers so that kids can understand why they believe what they believe and so they will be equipped to answer the questions that come from our culture or from within themselves. This comprehensive, well-rounded curriculum incorporates a biblical worldview and apologetics throughout the four-year program so that kids will know God’s Word and stand firm in their faith.
Answers Bible Curriculum for Homeschool is a powerful tool to help arm your kids with the truth of God’s Word. To learn more about this transformative Bible curriculum, visit AnswersBibleCurriculum.org.
