BEREAN.AI ← Ask a Question

Pointing Children to the Gospel in Daily Life

Pointing children to the Gospel in daily life involves both instruction and example, rooted in the biblical understanding of children as a gift from God and capable of glorifying Him [1]. Parents are specifically tasked with bringing their children to Christ and training them in God's ways [4].

The Old Testament emphasizes the intergenerational transmission of faith and divine instruction. Joel 1:3 commands, "Tell it to your children; let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation" [2]. This passage highlights the continuous duty to recount God's judgments and works [4, 15]. Similarly, Deuteronomy 11:19 instructs parents to teach God's commands to their children "when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" [5]. This implies an ongoing, integrated approach to spiritual education within the fabric of daily life, rather than isolated lessons. Parents are to instruct their children in God's word and command them to obey God [4]. The Psalms also speak to this, with Psalm 78:4 stating, "We will not hide them from their children... showing to the generation to come, the praises of the Lord" [13].

The New Testament reinforces this emphasis on children. Jesus himself welcomed children, rebuking his disciples when they tried to prevent them from coming to him (Mark 10:13-16) [1, 10, 12]. He used the occasion to teach that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children [12]. The term "infants" in Luke 18:15 indicates that some of these children were literally babes, and Jesus blessed them by putting his hands on them and praying [14]. This demonstrates Christ's tender disposition towards children and encourages both young and old to approach him [10]. Children are also presented as examples of meekness, a characteristic Christ himself exemplified and taught [8].

Parents have a duty to love their children and provide for them, but also to instruct them in God's word and train them up for God [4]. This training includes teaching them to obey God, fear God, and remember God [1]. Good children are described as those who know the Scriptures, observe God's law, and whose obedience to parents is pleasing to God [3]. The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6:4, exhorts fathers not to provoke their children to anger, but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. This aligns with the Old Testament proverb, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).

The Gospel itself, defined as the "good message" about the person and mission of Christ [6], is the central truth to be conveyed. The Great Commission given by Christ includes "teaching them... to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20) [9]. This teaching is not merely intellectual but involves building up believers through Christian instruction [9]. The author of Hebrews urges believers to move beyond basic teachings to a deeper understanding of Christ, suggesting that spiritual growth is an ongoing process initiated by God [11]. This applies to children as well, as they are capable of glorifying God [1].

Conversely, the Bible also describes "wicked children" as those who do not know God, are void of understanding, and despise or disobey their parents [7]. This underscores the importance of intentional spiritual formation in the home. The Lord is with "good children" [3], and their obedience to parents is well-pleasing to God [3]. The promise of God's blessing is extended to those who honor their parents and attend to parental teaching [3].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children — Christ was an example to -- Lu 2:51; Joh 19:26,27. Are a gift from God -- Ge 33:5; Ps 127:3. Are capable of glorifying God -- Ps 8:2; 148:12,13; Mt 21:15,16. Should be Brought to Christ. -- Mr 10:13-16. Brought early to the house of God. -- 1Sa 1:24. Instructed in the ways of God. -- De 31:12,13; Pr 22:6. Judiciously trained. -- Pr 22:15; 29:17; Eph 6:4. Should Obey God. -- De 30:2. Fear God. -- Pr 24:21. Remember God. -- Ec 12:1. Attend to parental teaching. -- Pr 1:8,9. Honour parents. -- Ex 20:12; Heb 12:9. Fear parents. -- Le 19:3. Obey parents. -- Pr ”
  2. Joel “Joel 1:3 (BSB) — Tell it to your children; let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children, Good — The Lord is with -- 1Sa 3:19. Know the Scriptures -- 2Ti 3:15. Observe the law of God -- Pr 28:7. Their obedience to parents is well pleasing to God -- Col 3:20. Partake of the promises of God -- Ac 2:39. Shall be blessed -- Pr 3:1-4; Eph 6:2,3. Show love to parents -- Ge 46:29. Obey parents -- Ge 28:7; 47:30. Attend to parental teaching -- Pr 13:1. Take care of parents -- Ge 45:9,11; 47:12. Make their parents' hearts glad -- Pr 10:1; 29:17. Honour the aged -- Job 32:6,7. Adduced as a motive for submission to God -- Heb 12:9. Spirit of, a requisite f”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Parents — Receive their children from God -- Ge 33:5; 1Sa 1:27; Ps 127:3. Their duty to their children is To love them. -- Tit 2:4. To bring them to Christ. -- Mt 19:13,14. To train them up for God. -- Pr 22:6; Eph 6:4. To instruct them in God's word. -- De 4:9; 11:19; Isa 38:19. To tell them of God's judgments. -- Joe 1:3. To tell them of the miraculous works of God. -- Ex 10:2; Ps 78:4. To command them to obey God. -- De 32:46; 1Ch 28:9. To bless them. -- Ge 48:15; Heb 11:20. To pity them. -- Ps 103:13. To provide for them. -- Job 42:15; 2Co 12:14; 1Ti 5:8. To rule”
  5. Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 11:19 (BSB) — Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The central fact of Christian preaching was the intelligence that the Saviour had come into the world (Matt. 4:23; Rom. 10:15); and the first Christian preachers who called their account of the person and mission of Christ by the term evangelion_ (= good message) were called _evangelistai (= evangelists) (Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8). There are four historical accounts of the person and work of Christ: "the first by Matthew, announcing the Redeemer as the promised King of the kingdom of God; the second by Mark, declaring him a prophet, mighty in deed and word'; th”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children, Wicked — Know not God -- 1Sa 2:12. Are void of understanding -- Pr 7:7. Are proud -- Isa 3:5. With regard to parents Hearken not to them. -- 1Sa 2:25. Despise them. -- Pr 15:5,20; Eze 22:7. Curse them. -- Pr 30:11. Bring reproach on them. -- Pr 19:26. Are a calamity to them. -- Pr 19:13. Are a grief to them. -- Pr 17:25. Despised their elders. -- Job 19:18. Punishment of, for Setting light by parents. -- De 27:16. Disobeying parents. -- De 21:21. Mocking parents. -- Pr 30:17. Cursing parents. -- Ex 21:15; Mr 7:10. Smiting parents. -- Ex 21:15. Mocking of a ”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Meekness — Christ set an example of -- Ps 45:4; Isa 53:7; Mt 11:29; 21:5; 2Co 10:1; 1Pe 2:21-23. His teaching -- Mt 5:38-45. A fruit of the Spirit -- Ga 5:22,23. Saints should Seek. -- Zep 2:3. Put on. -- Col 3:12-13. Receive the word of God with. -- Jas 1:21. Exhibit, in conduct, &c. -- Jas 3:13. Answer for their hope with. -- 1Pe 3:15. Show to all men. -- Tit 3:2. Restore the erring with. -- Ga 6:1. Precious in the sight of God -- 1Pe 3:4. Ministers should Follow after. -- 1Ti 6:11. Instruct opposers with. -- 2Ti 2:24,25. Urge, on their people. -- Tit 3:1,2. A char”
  9. Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 28:20: Teaching them--This is teaching in the more usual sense of the term; or instructing the converted and baptized disciples. to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I--The "I" here is emphatic. It is enough that I am with you alway--"all the days"; that is, till making converts, baptizing, and building them up by Christian instruction, shall be no more. even unto the end of the world. Amen--This glorious Commission embraces two primary departments, the Missionary and the Pastoral, with two sublime and comprehensive Encourag”
  10. Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 10:13: It is looked upon as the indication of a kind and tender disposition to take notice of little children, and this was remarkable in our Lord Jesus, which is an encouragement not only to little children to apply themselves to Christ when they are very young, but to grown people, who are conscious to themselves of weakness and childishness, and of being, through manifold infirmities, helpless and useless, like little children. Here we have, I. Little children brought to Christ, Mar 10:13. Their parents, or whoever they were that had the nursing of them, brought them t”
  11. Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 6:1: 6:1-3 In light of the hearers’ immaturity (5:11-14), the author urges them to move beyond basic teachings. The six basic teachings here were all foundational elements of Jewish instruction. The author might be challenging them to move beyond these basic teachings to further understanding about the person of Christ, which he elaborates in 7:1–10:25. 6:1 Let us go on: Or Let us be carried on, suggesting that God initiates growth to maturity (Phil 2:12-13) and that it is an ongoing process. • Repenting and faith are the basic commitments that initiate a person to the”
  12. Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 10:13: 10:13-16 Jesus’ love and concern for children has already been seen in 5:41-43; 9:36-37, 42. Jesus uses the incident to teach that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 10:13 The ages of the children cannot be determined from this passage. The Greek word paidia can refer to a broad spectrum of ages, from a twelve-year-old child (5:41-42) down to an eight-day-old infant (Gen 17:12, Greek version). • the disciples scolded the parents: See study note on Luke 18:15-17.”
  13. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 78:4: We will not hide them from their children,.... The children of the Jewish fathers, but faithfully publish and declare them, as Christ and his apostles did; or the children of God and Christ, their spiritual seed and offspring: showing to the generation to come; and so in all successive ages, by the ministration of the word, and the Spirit attending it; see Psa 22:30, the praises of the Lord; what he has done in predestination, redemption, and effectual calling, which is to the praise of the glory of his grace, Eph 1:6, and so all other truths of the Gospel, which ”
  14. Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 18:15: LITTLE CHILDREN BROUGHT TO CHRIST. (Luk 18:15-17) infants--showing that some, at least, of those called in Matthew (Mat 19:13) and Mark (Mar 10:13) simply "little" or "young children," were literally "babes." touch them--or, as more fully in Matthew (Mat 19:13), "put His hands on them and pray," or invoke a "blessing" on them (Mar 10:16), according to venerable custom (Gen 48:14-15). rebuked them--Repeatedly the disciples thus interposed to save annoyance and interruption to their Master; but, as the result showed, always against the mind of Christ”
  15. Joel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Joel 1:3: Tell ye your children--in order that they may be admonished by the severity of the punishment to fear God (Psa 78:6-8; compare Exo 13:8; Jos 4:7).”
Ask Your Own Question
About Terms Privacy Contact

© 2026 BEREAN.AI. All rights reserved.