Daddy Does Bedtime

Every night, I embark on the epic quest of putting my kids to bed. It's a time I've come to treasure. 

This nightly adventure usually kicks off with storytime. I regale them with tales from my childhood (carefully edited to make me the hero), world events (simplified to the point of inaccuracy), or stories I conjure up on the spot (which often make less sense than my tax returns). Somehow, these narrative train wrecks have become crowd favorites, with encores demanded nightly.

Maybe having to produce a story per night is intimidating. Well, you can read can’t you? You’re reading this so… pick out a book and read to them. The story doesn’t matter as much as the demonstration of time invested. 

Then comes the real test of parental devotion: singing. Now, I have the vocal talent of a sea lion with laryngitis, but to my youngest thinks I could be a contestant on The Voice. He's developed a peculiar fondness for 90s praise and worship choruses, mainly because that's all my sleep-deprived brain can dredge up at 8 PM. My older two don't always request a song, but they'll join in if I start - probably out of pity or to drown me out.

After this musical adventure, we pray together. I pray with each of them individually. Then I have a quiet, whispered conversation with each of them for a minute or two. 

You see, even if I've had one of those days where I've lost my temper more times than I care to admit, this bedtime routine helps clear away the day's mishaps. It's like a reset button for our family, giving us a fresh start each night. It's in these quiet moments, when the day's activities have settled and their hearts are open, that they're most ready to hear about Jesus and His love for them.

Time For Evangelism

So, how do I go about sharing the gospel with my kids? Well, it's surprisingly simple, even for a thunderhead dad like me. Here's my approach:

First, they need to believe. But before they can believe, they need to understand some basic concepts. I want them to understand all the ideas in John 3:16.

I ask them questions about words like "eternal life" and "faith." These might seem like big words, but kids can grasp them amazingly well. Tell a kid that things will go on forever, and that seems about right to them. Tell them that there's a place we've never seen, where God lives—no problem. 

Don't assume that the hurdles present in the adult brain are going to block a kid from understanding. God made them to understand these ideas. It's years of sin in adults that have made it harder to believe. Beautifully, kids' senses are not yet blunted by the immoral drudge of life. So, game on. 

Evangelism Questions

I ask them a familiar question, let them answer, then give or reinforce the answer. Here are the questions I ask:

Q: What does eternal mean?

A: Something that lasts forever.

Q: What does believe mean?

A: To be convinced that something is true.

Q: Who is Jesus? 

A: God's Son who died on the cross and rose from the dead.

Q: What is eternal life?

A: Life that lasts forever with God, and other believers.

Q: What do you have to do to get eternal life?

A: Believe in Jesus.

Q: What does it mean to believe in Jesus?

A: To know that He gives me eternal life.

Q: Do you believe in Jesus?

These questions cover the basics of what a child needs for a simple, saving faith. These terms can be adjusted based on your particular way of sharing the gospel. If you like to focus on how Jesus saves us from the eternal consequences of sin, then go for it. The process of asking questions and reinforcing the answers is the same. 

How Many Times Is Enough?

Now, you might think once you've had this conversation, you're done. But here's where consistency comes in. With my oldest, I've had this same conversation about a hundred times. It's not because I question whether she knows the answers or whether she believes them or not.

I believe my kids probably believed in Jesus for their eternal salvation early on. But I keep reinforcing this understanding because it's the foundation of their entire faith. 

As soon as they became believers, it wasn’t evangelism anymore; it became gospel understanding reinforcement. 

The beauty of bedtime routines is that they're, well, routine. Repetition isn't just expected; it's welcomed. And this spiritual routine is no different. It's a simple task that any parent can do.

But the same kind of routine can be built into any repetitive task. The same conversation could happen around the dinner table. Or as part of the morning routine. Or as part of lots of other routine points of contact during the day. I prefer bedtime, but you may prefer a different time. Just make sure it’s routine. 

Should It Be The Dad?

A mother can and should do evangelism with her children, but it is most effective if both mother and father do it. A child's faith is based on their parents, and the most long-term effect is going to come from the father’s demonstrated faith. Despite what the new woke family structure agenda is trying to tell you, your kids are wired to align with the expectations of the highest authority in the household. Children aren’t fooled by the new militantly liberalizing worldview. It’s in their DNA to look to emulate their father’s view of the world, especially at a young age. So, Dads, it’s important that you step up and make this a priority. If a father evangelizes his children and then follows the evangelism with consistent discipleship, they are vastly more likely to remain in the faith than if a mother alone does it and the father shows no interest. Obviously, the best-case scenario is that the mother and the father both take part. 

So if you're a mom, evangelize your kids... but also ask your kid's dad (or the man in their life) to read this article and try it out. It's worth it.

What About Discipleship?

As for discipleship, many wonder how they should disciple their children. Some fret about the fact that discipleship comes after evangelism. I would say don't fret about this. Everything that you do as a parent is discipling your children. If you show love, they will be more loving. If you ignore them while you stare at your phone, then they will eagerly await the day they can ignore you behind a screen. It’s all discipleship, good and bad. So, make it count. 

If you are living out your faith, and you are around your kids and have expectations for them that are in line with what you expect for yourself, then you are already disciplining your children. Even if they haven't believed yet, you are discipling them in practical morality. If they are believers, then you are disciplining them in Christian living. Know that they have the Holy Spirit in them, who is the great helper.

What If I Suspect My Kid Didn’t Really Believe?

I've heard some parents feel concerned because their children said that they believed in Jesus, but they have doubts because nothing really changed in the life of the child. We’ve heard so many testimony stories where a person’s life completely changes after faith, and so we have come to think that is a test of so-called true faith.

However, I would like to remind you that for a child, their entire experience is very shaped by their parents' expectations and behaviors. It is not uncommon for a young child who already lives under the expectations of innocence to believe and have very little feeling about getting saved. They may have only very small or even no visible change after faith. If the change were automatic, then there would be no need for discipleship. Believers, even adult believers, still need to be discipled after they get saved. If a grown up can believe but be a baby Christian, how much more is that true of a child?

Imagine this. If someone’s friend saves them from tripping on a crack in the sidewalk, they might be mildly thankful but do little more than say thank you. 

However, if someone who has faced a terminal disease for their entire life meets a doctor who heals them, how thankful and different would their life be? Clearly, they are going to be endlessly grateful. They’ll probably even change their lifestyle. 

This illustrates the difference between a child being saved and a grown-up being saved. A child is unlikely to realize the crushing depths of depravity they have been saved from, while an adult who has lived a lot of life and had years of experience has a much clearer understanding of what they are being saved from. Thus, behavior and visible gratitude are likely to be much more obvious.

So don't fret if your children don't seem to immediately change, the most important thing is to ensure that they understand the terms of the gospel, and that they believe in Jesus for salvation. 

You Can Do It!

Imagine the impact you're having on your children's lives by introducing them to Jesus at a young age. It's a simple process that any parent can do, regardless of their theological expertise or perceived spiritual maturity. So, tonight, as you tuck your little ones in, take a moment to share these foundational truths. Start with one question, then build from there. Be consistent, be patient, and most importantly, be present. Your words, your actions, and your faith will shape their understanding of God's love more than you might realize. Don't wait for the "perfect" moment or until you feel "qualified" enough – the time to start is now. Your children's eternal future is at stake, and you have the incredible privilege of guiding them towards it. So, take that first step tonight, and watch as God works through your simple acts of faithfulness to nurture a lasting faith in your children.