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TITLE: Teach It So They Catch It
By Bryan Ayers
04/06/09
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Teaching children about faith in Christ challenges even the best of parents. A discomfort lurks deep inside of us about God things, and at the thought of trying to speak truths to our children we look for excuses to wait for another moment. The hope rests more on the idea that our children will catch faith from our example without having to have things explained to them. Parents who teach with words and examples achieve the best results.

A father, engaged in his son’s soccer playing, observes how his son interacts with his team, the opposing team and the ball as it is played. After the game, does this involved father wait for his son to analyze how the game went and hope that he’ll learn from it? With great enthusiasm, the father more likely praises his son’s improvements and skills, and then gives pointers to help him progress toward greater skill.

Is there any matter greater than faith in Christ? Many parents have expressed, "We don't want to force our faith on our children. We just want them to catch it from our everyday lives." It is true that if it is not lived in everyday life it's not worth much, but without instruction can they really interpret every reason behind our actions?

Oh, I remember why this is different; it's because faith is a personal matter. Lots of things are personal matters. Without training in all things our children are left to the influence of the world. Look around, do we want our children "catching" things that the world is teaching?

Many kinds of “wisdom” can be found out there. I'm not sure that a couple hours at church each week is enough to be a disciple. Lots of places in the Bible speak of parents’ and even grandparents’ godly influence on children. Deuteronomy chapter 6 even says that we are to be talking of God's commands with our children as we sit, walk, and lie down. Teaching and experiencing the wonderful things of God together in all areas of life is what God has designed.

The intentional family observes God's work and interacts to help each other understand as much of God as we can. In doing this our children will be taught and they will catch it. Just try it. Spend some time this week talking to your children and/or spouse about what you are doing and why you are doing it, or summarize an experience with how the principles of the Bible apply to your activities.
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