As parents we all want to raise our children in the ways of the Lord, to teach them His ways, to teach them His story. Oh, but there is so much to do, to read, to share. Where do we start? We start with the good news. We end with the good news. But what exactly is this good news? Have you succinctly shared the gospel with your children?

Why succinctly?

Maybe your children go to school which means you really have to maximise every hour spent with the children? Maybe you have teens – we all know how fast and hectic the lives of young people can be – you need to maximise every hour spent with them. There are many reasons why our time is limited but, it is also good for all believers to know the essential message of the gospel – it also helps them to share the message with others.

I am the best curriculum for teaching and showing the gospel to my family. And that is an awesome responsibility. There are many days when we don’t read from ABCXYZ Bible Curriculum [insert any Bible curriculum here], and that is okay.When I am baking, or driving, or gardening, or writing I make it a point to share all the time. Naturally in conversation, as real life affords these opportunities all the time.

What Is It Exactly That I Share?

1. God is holy. God is just. God is righteous and perfect.
2. I am not.
3. At the end of my life I am going to stand before the just and holy God. And I will be judged on either my own righteousness or that of another. I am not justified by my own works or efforts, nor any deeds I could manage but only by faith. By faith alone.
4. Jesus lived: perfect, righteous & obedient. He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice and the righteousness of the Holy God. He has done for me that which I could never ever do for myself.
5. This cost God. It isn’t cheap. The forgiveness we receive cost God His own Son, Jesus Christ. When I put my trust in Him alone, He declares me just. He adopts me into His family, forgives my sin and calls me His beloved.

And When They’re Older:

(a) Jesus is the Messiah predicted by the OT prophecies. His ministry of teaching, his actions, his death, resurrection and ascension all comport with the prophecies, and affirm him to be Messiah.
(b) His death was God’s act to deal with sin. His resurrection attested to the effective power of the Cross, and affirmed Jesus as Lord over life, death, creation.
(c) Men and women must, therefore, believe his Lordship, believe on him, repent of their sins, and receive forgiveness from their Saviour, Jesus.

For more detailed writings on this topic, I thoroughly recommend the excellent teaching at New Creation Teaching Ministries. Download and read True Preaching: The Agony and the Ecstasy by Rev. Geoffrey Bingham

Hmmm…

The modern-day gospel says, ‘God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Therefore, follow these steps, and you can be saved.’ Meanwhile, the biblical gospel says, ‘You are an enemy of God, dead in your sin, & in your present state of rebellion, you are not even able to see that you need life, much less to cause yourself to come to life. Therefore, you are radically dependent on God to do something in your life that you could never do.
~David Platt