What steps can families take to prioritize spiritual education in their homes? Losing the Language of Faith Nehemiah 13:24 reports, “Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of the other peoples, and could not speak the language of Judah.” • The children of believing families had adopted the tongue—and therefore the values—of surrounding cultures. • When a household stops speaking the “language” of covenant truth, the next generation quickly drifts. Recognize the Warning for Today • Our culture offers many “languages” (media, ideologies, priorities) that can silence biblical truth at home. • If faith conversations are rare, children may become fluent in pop-culture but illiterate in Scripture. First Step: Make Scripture Your Household Language • Read aloud together daily—start with a Gospel or a psalm at breakfast or bedtime. • Memorize verses as a family: Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Proverbs 22:6; Psalm 119:11. • Use Scripture naturally in conversation—apply verses to real-life moments so children connect truth to experience. Create Rhythms of Worship in Ordinary Time • Family devotions: brief, consistent, age-appropriate. • Singing: learn a hymn or chorus each month; music embeds doctrine in memory (Colossians 3:16). • Scripture-centered celebrations: observe the Lord’s Table at church, but also mark Advent, Passover themes, Resurrection Sunday at home. Guard the Gates of Influence • Evaluate entertainment by Philippians 4:8. • Limit devices during meals and car rides; reclaim those times for discussion. • Choose friendships and mentors who reinforce biblical worldview (1 Corinthians 15:33). Model What You Teach • Children imitate more than they absorb lectures. Let them see: – Repentance and forgiveness in conflict (Ephesians 4:32). – Prayer that seeks God’s will in decisions (James 1:5). – Joyful obedience rather than reluctant duty (Psalm 100:2). Engage the Local Church as Partner, Not Substitute • Prioritize weekly worship; treat it as non-negotiable Hebrews 10:25). • Serve together—ushering, hospitality, outreach—so faith becomes active, not academic. • Invite pastors and mature believers into your home; let children witness inter-generational fellowship. Equip Children for Their Own Walk • Provide age-appropriate Bibles and study tools. • Teach them how to pray ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication). • Encourage personal devotions; celebrate their insights to show you value their spiritual growth. Stand Firm, Trusting God’s Promise • The task is weighty, yet God’s Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). • As parents plant and water, He gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). When families intentionally speak, live, and guard the “language of Judah,” children learn to love the Lord with heart, soul, and might—ensuring that faith is not lost in translation. |
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