Is Jesus Only for Sundays?

As Lutheran Christians, we would answer, “Of course not!”

However, life gets busy with work, family, friends, school, activities, and sports.  Often, whether we intend it or not, Jesus gets pushed to Sundays only, except for before meal prayers maybe, and even that can be rushed these days.

When Jesus said, “Abide in me,” He didn’t just mean on Sundays.

What does this mean for our children?  The first place we should look for the answer is the Bible.  Where does God put the responsibility of teaching our children about Him, His love, all He has done for us, and how we should live as His children?  Deuteronomy 6:7 says, “Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”  The “them” in this passage is God’s law.  Who is God talking to here?  The parents.  A modern-day way of putting it might go something like this —talk about God, all He has done, and His commands when you are at home, as you drive in your car, before you go to bed, and when you wake up.

God gave parents the responsibility to teach their children about God.

How can we do this?  One way is by reading the Bible before our children go to bed and by helping them say their bedtime prayers.  For the very young child, a picture Bible is helpful.  By first or second grade, you can read straight from the Bible.  There are a lot of details in the Bible that make it so much more interesting than what is included in simple Bible picture books.  When the child can read, have them read to you from the Bible.  In the morning, while they are eating breakfast, you could read a short devotional which applies God’s truth to their lives, and then pray for the day.  A few good resources for this are Little Visits With Jesus, Little Visits with God, and More Little Visits with God.  These things can also be done together as a family at the evening meal.  

As our kids bring us problems and concerns they are facing, we can check Scripture together with them for God’s wisdom and then pray with them.  From early on, they will learn to bring their troubles and concerns to the throne of God.  

Where does Sunday School fit into all of this?

Sunday School helps reinforce what is hopefully being learned at home.  It gives a place for our children to fellowship and learn with other Christian children.  Our Sunday School classes work on memorizing Bible verses throughout the year.  Encourage your child and help them do this.  Children’s minds are like sponges; what they memorize as children will stick with them their entire lives!  Sometimes, the lesson covered that week and additional helps are sent home to help families during the week.

The Israelites in the Promised Land forgot God partly because they were not following Deut. 6:7.  They stopped passing on their faith to their children.  As the verse indicates, this is a daily thing, not a once-a-week thing.  Does it take time?  Yes, it does!  But it is worth it!  Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  (Matthew 19:14)  Praying God will help you find meaningful ways to abide in Jesus with your children all week long!

This message was provided by Trinity Children’s Ministry.