As we teach children Biblical foundations and doctrine, it’s important to remember our primary job in doing this is to have them apply that doctrine to their lives. A few posts ago, I said I was disheartened by the trend of life application emphasis. This sounds like I’m rethinking my position, but I’m not.
We need to teach children Biblical foundations and then teach them to apply those foundations to their lives. Without those foundations, we’re only teach children to be good. If their actions come from an understanding of God’s Word applied to their lives that will change their hearts, then we’re teaching them to be godly, to be holy and sanctified before God.
This is where discipleship of children is born. Children need to learn about salvation because when they are saved, God will change them on the inside. They need to know about the nature of God and that Jesus Christ is God who sacrificed His life for them so they can take up their cross and follow Him. They need to know God’s Word is true so they can allow it to be planted in their hearts and minds and use it as a basis for the way they believe and act. This is the power of sanctification.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NKJV) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sanctification is not a list of rules children should follow. Sanctification changes the heart and gives children a desire to follow God. Sanctification gives children the power to say yes to God and no to sin. It sets children apart for God’s holy use.
Here’s some Biblical foundations you can teach children about Sanctification:
God expects His children to live a holy lifestyle.
1 Peter 1:15-16 (NKJV) But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Our bodies are the temple of God.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
The members (parts) of our bodies should be used for righteousness.
Romans 6:12-13 (NKJV) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
When we are saved, we become dead to sin.
Romans 6:6 (NKJV) Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
We should live our lives as a sacrifice to God.
Romans 12:1 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
God wants us to renew (change) our minds.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Related Posts:
Living Sacrifice Children’s Sermon
A Lesson on Sanctification
Posts on Discipling Children:
Children’s Ministry: Entertaining or Discipling
Heart Knowledge
Signs of a Thriving Children’s Ministry – Discipling
Discipling children is a goal worth pursuing. Children need more than learning Bible stories, and they shouldn’t stop at salvation. We need to disciple children to be Christ followers and to be a vibrant part of the church as children.
Most churches now have children’s church during the Adult Worship Service on Sunday mornings. There are a lot of reasons churches do this. Some are good, but some are faulty. None of the reasons are totally wrong if you have the right reasons as your priorities. Here’s some wrong reasons and right reasons for having Children’s Church.
