The Passionate Parent

Pursuing Jesus in Parenting

At Bunker Hill Church, we desire "to know Jesus personally and pursue Him passionately." Pursuing Jesus passionately extends to our parenting. It is our responsibility, as parents, to teach our children the Bible, to be sure they come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The church partners with us to enforce Bible teaching, Bible stories, and practicality at their level.

If you have known Jesus personally for a while and are a seasoned Christian, can I encourage you to encourage other parents in your sphere of influence or friend groups? Share resources that have worked for you. Share routines. Share ideas. Every generation comes up with new ways to teach children at home. It's been beautiful to witness.

If you are new to the faith and you feel overwhelmed. Let's discuss a few places to start.

1. Night-Time Bible Stories. For the little ones, choose a Bible story book like Veggie Tales or a Children's Bible to read one story each night. This is how my youngest child came to know the Lord as His Savior at six years old. We read a Veggie Tales Bible Story Book every night and it caused him to see his own need for God.

2. Dinner Time Discussion. If you are in a season when everyone still gathers around the dinner table, use this time for practical Bible discussion. Choose a family or children's devotional. The Parent Take-Home sheet from Kids' Church is another great tool. It will get the kids talking about the story they heard the previous Sunday.

3. Text Thread. If you have older children in the phone stage of life, use your family text thread to encourage your kids. Their lives are busier at this point, and your time together feels parched, but send Scripture or a prayer text to them throughout the week.

Make it enjoyable. Don't let it be a monologue but a dialogue. Let the kids ask questions and engage in discussion. Don't worry if you can't answer all their questions... that's Parenting 101! Tell them that together you will study Scripture to discover all the answers to their questions. To see your children grow in the Lord is the greatest reward as a parent!

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4

Recommendations for Biblically educating your children

1. Jesus Calling for Kids, by Sarah Young. She writes from Jesus' standpoint. Her writing helps us strengthen our identity in Christ. If your child is struggling to see their value, this would be great to read on repeat. (Amazon or thriftbooks.com)

2. Our Daily Bread for Kids: 365 Daily Devotions for Kids. This one is more about establishing kids in a routine of meeting with God...helping them cultivate a daily dependency on God. This allows your child to learn that meeting with God is as much a part of our day as having a meal. (Amazon)

3. Everyday Gospel, by Paul David Tripp. Anything from this author is excellent for parenting. This read goes deep and might be for older kids, but it would help them to understand why you make certain decisions regarding their lives. (See a sample on Amazon.)

4. Adventures in Odyssey is an audio favorite! They are animated, audible stories. They have a series they did through the Old and New Testament, which made the Bible stories come alive for my children. You can find this through adventuresinodyssey.com or search Focus on the Family. If your children are readers, they also have a book series called "The Imagination Station."

5. You Can Count on God, by Max Lucado. He writes beautifully on the kids' level. This particular book has 100 devotions for kids. This can be found on Amazon.

6. For Scripture memorization, there are several options for kids even before they begin reading. They can look at the picture on the back of the card, which describes the verse, and they learn the verse through picture association. They are called Bible Memory Picture Cards. You can find these at abeka.com or christianbook.com

Looking Ahead

This Month's Theme: What's Next?
A study in Acts where the Apostles were entrusted to spread the Gospel of Christ.
We're learning practical ways we can tell others about Jesus.

June's Theme: Fired Up!
A study on the life of the Prophet Elijah.