What the Bible says
God’s word to parents starts with the parent’s own heart: “thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart” and “these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart” (Deuteronomy 6:5–6). Then comes the charge: “thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way” (Deuteronomy 6:7). Faith is passed on in everyday life.
The aim is that children know the Lord and trust Him. Israel was to keep “shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD” so “That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God” (Psalm 78:4–7). Timothy had known the Scriptures “from a child”, Scriptures “able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).
Scripture calls fathers to firmness with tenderness: “provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4), and “provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged” (Colossians 3:21). Correction is part of love, for “whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth” (Proverbs 3:12). Parents learn to parent by seeing how the Father deals with them.
When parents fail, as all do, the Father does not. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him” (Psalm 103:13). Jesus welcomed children, saying, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not” (Mark 10:14). So bring your children to Him in prayer, and say with Joshua, “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).
14 verses, King James Version
Psalms 103:13
As a father pitieth his children, so the LORD
13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Proverbs 3:11–12
Whom the LORD loveth he correcteth
11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
2 Timothy 1:5
Unfeigned faith passed down in a family
5When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
3 John 1:4
No greater joy than children walking in truth
4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Deuteronomy 6:5–7
Teach God’s Word in daily life
5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Proverbs 22:6
Train them in the way
6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Ephesians 6:4
Bring them up in the Lord
4And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Psalms 127:3
Children are a gift
3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psalms 78:4–7
Tell the next generation
4We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. 5For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
2 Timothy 3:14–15
Scripture from childhood
14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Mark 10:13–16
Jesus welcomed the children
13And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Colossians 3:21
Do not discourage them
21Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Proverbs 29:17
Loving correction brings rest
17Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
Joshua 24:15
A family decision to serve the Lord
15And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain). Read aloud by Anthony.