To Train Up a Child


Dear Phil,

I know Deuteronomy 6 tells me to teach my kids about God “when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Could you give me practical ideas for how to implement this?

A passionate parent
Dear Passionate Parent,

I’m delighted to share the ideas I’ve collected. First, a word about Deuteronomy 6:7. God’s plan expects grandparents to share the training load (Deut 6:2). God blesses grandparents and parents who train children to fear Him with family multiplication (Deut 6:3). God expects you to have His word in your heart (Deut 6:6). He expects child training to be a part of all of life (Deut 6:7). He directs us to create reminders, experiential and visual, to imprint His word on our children (Deut 6:8–9).

When you rise up…

  • Ask your children: What’s the most important thing in the whole world? The answer they should have memorized because of your constant repetition is “To love and serve Jesus.”
  • Catechize, then model: model verbal thankfulness to God for the blessings of sleep, of the new day’s opportunities.
  • At breakfast, read a short Scripture and discuss it.
  • Dads, pronounce the blessing of Numbers 6:24–26 then recite Psalms 67:1–2 with your children.
  • Apply Proverbs 16:3 by committing the day’s work to the Lord and asking for his direction.

When you lie down…

  • God never sleeps (Ps 121:4) so He can watch us and protect us.
  • His angels encamp around us (Ps 34:7), and especially around children (Matt 18:10).
  • Quote Scripture: Psalms 1, 23, 34, 100, 121.
  • Pray—not “kids prayers,” but in a way that models a conversational relationship with God.
  • Read age–appropriate bedtime stories. Include missionary biographies and other books that reinforce character traits.
  • Review the day: “Anything bothering you?” “Anything you’d like to talk to me about?”

When you walk by the way…

  • Be intentional about talking to children about: 1) Why we work; 2) Why we take money back that isn’t ours; 3) Why we keep the law (1 Peter 2:13–15) and how to view law enforcement (Rom 13:1–5).
  • Listen to music that reinforces good theology: 1) Patch the Pirate from Majesty Music; 2) Hymns from Sacred Music Services.
  • Read and listen to good stories: 1) Audio Drama: Lamplighter Theatre; Adventures in Odyssey; Jonathan Park Adventures; Focus on the Family Radio Theatre; 2) Christian children’s fiction: The Wingfeather Saga by Peterson; The Chronicles of Narnia by Lewis; The Hobbit by Tolkien; 3) Key Resource: Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt.

When you sit in your house…

  • Recount answers to prayer.
  • At family devotions: 1) Have children act out Bible stories; 2) Use a paraphrase version or children’s Bible; 3) Ask questions and reward attention to Scripture reading with prizes; 4) Use hymns, songs, choruses, and Scripture songs; 5) Teach catechism (e.g., early Methodist children’s catechism; BJU Press Catechism); 6) By the Book: A One Year Devotional Through the Bible by Dave Gordeuk.
  • Memorize Scripture as a family—focus on character development (e.g., Luke 6:27–28; Phil 2:3–4; 4:6–8; Eph 6:1–3; 4:32).
  • Utilize visual media that reinforces the values you’re teaching. However, be careful not to overdo this. Try AnwersInGenesis.org/kids/videos.

Blessings,
Phil