It looks or sounds like a great deal telling your child about Jesus. Many people have asked questions like; How do teens connect with God? Why do teens need God? How do I preach Jesus to my child? and so on. There's also the debate on what age should I tell my kids about Jesus?
Let's create a flow of thoughts using scriptures
In St. Matthew's gospel, it was recorded that the people brought little children to Jesus Christ for him to pray for them as He had done for the elders but it was shocking that Jesus' disciples rebuked those who brought them and sent the children away.
Matt.19.13 - Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
When our Master Jesus noticed this, He told them to allow the little children come to Him. This clearly shows that Jesus will not cast away little children from His sight, neither will He deny them of salvation or His Spirit He promised to pour open all flesh (Joel 2:28-29)
Matt.19.14 - Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Salvation is for all. Every man who comes to Christ Jesus He won't cast away and He welcomes them warmly into His flock.
John.6.37 - All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
At what age do children understand God?
There's no particular age to preach to your Children about Jesus Christ and salvation. However, I believe when your child begins to become more cognitive about his/her immediate environment, take note of differences between good and bad actions and exhibit palpable emotional behaviors you should tell introduce them formally to accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour.
It's important for you before this described stage to have also made attempts to introduce Jesus Christ to them through songs, participation in the family altar prayers, attending church services and so on. But all of these do not amount to a Personal experience with Jesus Christ.
When you have noticed your child can make informed decisions then you should minister the gospel to them. This stage at which they can make informed decision is best because the goalpost for Salvation according to scriptures is in Confessing Jesus Christ with ones mouth and Believing Jesus Christ in ones heart. Nothing more, nothing less!
Rom.10.9 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Rom.10.10 - For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
You can lead your Child to God through these steps:
- Make them see the importance of being a child of God.
- Tell them about God's love for them and that Jesus died for them.
- Tell them to Acknowledge all their sins.
- Lead them to Confess those sins.
- Teach them to Ask for forgiveness of sin
- Lead them to Repent of those sins
- Teach them to Forsake all their old way and sinful habit
- Lead by example. Model the Christ kind of living to them.
- Ensure they are planted in a Bible believing Church, your Church preferably.
God's love for Teens
John 3:16-17 —We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's judgment. For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God -- all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.
Tell them to Acknowledge all their sins.
Acts 2:36 - 38 —Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Lead them to Confess those sins.
Galatians 5:19 - 21 — Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Teach them to Ask for forgiveness of sin.
I John 1:9 —If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Repent of those sins.
Act 3:19 —Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Forsake all your old way and sinful habit.
Luke 14:33 —So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Lead by example. Model the Christ kind of living to them.
1Cor.11.1 —Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
All the believers in Christ are disciples of Christ who have been called by Him out of wherever they are and whatever they are doing to follow Him, learn from Him, be discipled by Him, and live like Him. Living for and like Christ is also part of our discipleship responsibilities. We model Christ with our lifestyles to people around us —family, children, co-workers, colleagues and friends. One of the important steps to leading your child to God is to model Christ through your lifestyle and leading by example. Teens tend to copy lifestyles from people who are around and close to them.
Join a Bible believing Church around.
Hebrew 10:25 —Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
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