When we think of sharing the Good News with others, we often think of taking it to the ends of the earth but fail to realize that our ministry begins at home. As parents, we want the best for our children in all areas of life, but as Christian parents, we have the awesome privilege of being able to share the powerful, life-changing, message of the Gospel with them.

Children love stories of adventure, suspense, excitement, etc. and the Bible is full of these stories! My 7-year-old son loves learning about severe weather, however, when we actually have severe weather, he does get a little nervous. While we don’t experience various forms of severe weather in southern California, we do experience thunder and electric storms which are fun to watch. He created a safety plan in the case of such storms and is always monitoring the weather to see when it will rain again. Because of his fascination with the weather, one of my favorite stories of the Bible to share is when Jesus calmed the storm (Mark 4:35-41). The disciples were afraid of such a strong storm, but Jesus calmed their fears and the storm! In the same way, I can teach my son, in age-appropriate ways, how Jesus is always with him, will calm his fears, and overcome the “storms” that come into our life.

This is what sharing the Gospel with our children looks like. We don’t have to sit and drill them for an hour. It is presenting God’s story to them in meaningful ways that they will understand. It is taking every opportunity to sit and have big conversations based on their questions. It is showing them how personal God really is and how He is excited to be part of our lives. Our children should know that we are not ashamed of the Gospel, but rather that we are eager to share its life-changing message with as many people as possible!

Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for being so relatable. You have given us your Word, which literally gives us examples of every life situation we can think of. Help me faithfully share your story with my children, so that as they grow, their relationship with you would deepen. Help me use every opportunity you provide to share your message with others as well. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1.    Romans 1:16 (NLT).

Today’s Encounter was written by: Crystal B.