12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child

Abraham Piper provides 12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child

From the Introduction:

Many parents are brokenhearted and completely baffled by their unbelieving son or daughter. They have no clue why the child they raised well is making such awful, destructive decisions. I've never been one of these parents, but I have been one of these sons. Reflecting back on that experience, I offer these suggestions to help you reach out to your wayward child.

Each point is followed up with an explanation:

1. Point them to Christ.

2. Pray.

3. Acknowledge that something is wrong.

4. Don't expect them to be Christ-like.

5. Welcome them home.

6. Plead with them more than you rebuke them.

7. Connect them to believers who have better access to them.

8. Respect their friends.

9. Email them.

10. Take them to lunch.

11. Take an interest in their pursuits.

12. Point them to Christ.

Evangelizing Your Children (Part 2)

www.sfpulpit.com continues their series on Evangelism and Children. They note:

Foundational Keys to Evangelizing Children

It is not enough for parents simply to avoid these common pitfalls (see yesterday’s post)—they must also seek to put into practice the following keys to child evangelism.

1. Setting a Consistent Example of Godliness

(Eph. 5:22–33)

2. Proclaiming the Complete Gospel of Christ

"The heart of evangelism is the gospel, “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16). If a child is to repent and believe in Christ, then, it will be through the proclamation of the message of the cross (1 Cor. 1:18–25; 2 Tim. 3:15; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23–25). Children will not be saved apart from the gospel".

(Deut. 6:6–7) (Eph. 6:4)

3. Understanding the Biblical Evidences of Salvation

"The evidence that someone has genuinely repented of his sin and believed in Christ is the same in a child as it is in an adult—spiritual transformation. According to Scripture, true believers follow Christ (John 10:27), confess their sins (1 John 1:9), love their brothers (1 John 3:14), obey God’s commandments (1 John 2:3; John 15:14), do the will of God (Matt. 12:50), abide in God’s Word (John 8:31), keep God’s Word (John 17:6), and do good works (Eph. 2:10)".

4. Encouraging Possible Signs of Conversion

5. Trusting the Absolute Sovereignty of God

(John 3:8).

Evangelizing Your Children (Part 1)

From a Grace Community Church Elders’ Distinctive @ www.sfpulpit.com

Common Pitfalls in Evangelizing Children

1. Oversimplifying the Gospel of Christ

(Deuteronomy 6:6–7).

2. Coercing a Profession of Faith

3. Assuming the Reality of Regeneration

(Matt. 7:21–23)

"Scripture indicates that children tend to be immature (1 Cor. 13:11; 14:20), naive (Prov. 1:4), foolish (Prov. 22:15), capricious (Isaiah 3:4), inconsistent and fickle (Matt. 11:16–17), and unstable and easily deceived (Eph. 4:14). Children often think they have understood the ramifications of a given commitment when they have not. Their judgment is shallow and their ability to see the implications of their decisions is very weak. Despite the best of intentions, they seldom have the ability to think far beyond today, nor do they perceive the extent to which their choices will affect tomorrow. This makes children more vulnerable to self-deception, and it makes it more difficult for a parent to discern God’s saving work in their hearts".

4. Assuring the Child of Salvation

"It is the role of the Holy Spirit—not the parent—to give assurance of salvation (Rom. 8:15–16). Too many people whose hearts are utterly cold to the things of the Lord believe they are going to heaven simply because they responded positively as children to an evangelistic invitation. Having “asked Jesus to come into their hearts,” they were then given a false assurance and taught never to examine themselves and never to entertain any doubt about their salvation. Parents should commend and rejoice in the evidence of real salvation in the lives of their children only when they know the child understands the gospel, believes it, and manifests the genuine evidence of true salvation—devotion to Christ, obedience to the Word, and love for others".

5. Rushing the Ordinance of Baptism

(Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38)