Whatever Is Excellent with Leanne Tuggle
Encouragement and Inspiration for women choosing to rise above the “just survive” mentality and instead set their mind on thriving in all that they say and do. The ultimate goal is to equip you to pursue whatever is excellent in the midst of your ordinary life and in all that you say and do.
Whatever Is Excellent with Leanne Tuggle
53: Sharing the Gospel with Your Children
"Mama, how do I know if my name is written in the book of life?" When my young son asked me this question during our nightly Bible reading routine, I realized once again the profound responsibility we bear as Christian parents. Those innocent yet profound questions about salvation remind us that our children are spiritually curious and seeking answers about eternity.
The Great Commission wasn't just for missionaries traveling to distant lands—it starts within our own homes. As Deuteronomy 6 instructs, we're called to teach God's words diligently to our children, weaving biblical truth into everyday moments "when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise." While Sunday school and youth group are wonderful resources, we parents must be prepared to directly share the gospel when those inevitable questions surface.
The beauty of the gospel lies in its simplicity. We don't need elaborate theological explanations or perfect prayers to introduce our children to Jesus. Like Paul told the Philippian jailer, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." Children between ages 4-14 are typically most receptive to spiritual truths, making this an opportune window for sharing salvation's message. Whether using the bridge analogy or simply explaining sin, forgiveness, and Jesus' sacrifice in age-appropriate terms, our consistent gospel-sharing plants seeds that God faithfully nurtures. When my own child whispered, "I think Jesus touched my heart, mama," I was reminded that while we faithfully share the message, ultimately only God can save through His Spirit's work. What conversations about Jesus might your children be ready for today?
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Mama? How do I know if my name is written in the book of life? What do I say to Jesus? What are the words? I was reading a Bible storybook to my twin boys, just like I do every night. When one of my darlings asked me these questions, I was taken aback by his earnestness, and while he looked up at me with genuine concern, I tried to sort out in my brain when we had last discussed Revelation 20 and the book of life, recovering as quickly as I could. I answered well, you simply admit to Jesus that you are a sinner and in need of his forgiveness, and then you invite Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of your life.
Leanne:Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, he said these words, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, that are now referred to as the Great Commission. Matthew 28, 19-20 says Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you, always, to the end of the age. As Christian parents, I believe this commission to make disciples begins in our own homes, with the children that God has entrusted to us. Our greatest mission is to obey God's command in Deuteronomy 6, 5-7, which says you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might, and these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down down and when you rise. This includes presenting the gospel to our children. I think it is easy, as parents raising our children in a Christian home, to assume that our children will eventually hear the gospel. We read Bible stories to our kids, we take them to Sunday school, perhaps you even memorize Bible verses together, or you encourage your teens to attend youth group. And while all of these are good and excellent, you also need to be prepared to share the gospel with your children. As I have mentioned in past episodes, you are likely the first person your children will come to with their big and important questions, and this is a good thing. You want them to come to you, you want them to ask deep and meaningful questions, and you want to be ready when those questions inevitably surface. The best thing you can do to prepare for sharing the gospel with your children is to be familiar with the gospel message yourself, and, as always, it starts with you.
Leanne:The gospel of John is often recommended to new believers as a great place to begin with reading and studying the Bible. John's gospel is simple and straightforward, and he clearly presents Jesus' divinity and a foundational understanding of who he is and his relationship to God, the Father. In fact, the most memorized verse in the Bible is found in John 3, 16, which says For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. This verse is often cited as the gospel in a nutshell, as it explains God's love, jesus' perfect sacrifice and the promise of eternal life through faith. So, as a parent who longs to walk in obedience to God and be ready to share the gospel with your children, walk in obedience to God and be ready to share the gospel with your children. Studying the book of John is a great place to start. Then find a rhythm of regularly reading the Bible together that works for you and your children. The more your children hear about the good news of Jesus, the easier it will be for them to understand their need for a Savior. It might take some trial and error, but, as it says in Galatians 6, 9, and let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.
Leanne:I recommend starting with Bible storybooks and reading these to your children daily. I have found it to be helpful to read at the same time every day and in conjunction with something that you're already doing. For example, I do a short Bible devotion with my kids every morning while they eat their breakfast. Eating breakfast is something we already do every morning, so why not add a devotion to it? Another time of day that works well is bedtime. My children love to read books before bed, and so we just make one of those books a Bible storybook. We read one chapter every night. I know of other families that read the Bible to their children after dinner. The main takeaway here is to find a time of day that allows you to be consistent. Once you finish a Bible storybook, you can simply start over from the beginning. I remember I started reading these Bible storybooks to my twin boys when they were about two years old, and half the time I didn't even think they were listening. There was a lot of wrestling and wiggling happening while I was trying to read, but I just kept reading one page at a time and, honestly, it was a bit surprising when, five years later, one of those boys is quoting a passage from Revelation and essentially asking the same question.
Leanne:The jailer in Philippi asked Paul in Acts 16, 30. What must I do to be saved? Clearly he was listening right Now. Here's where I want to encourage you. As women, we have a tendency to overcomplicate things, we say more than we need to, and the truth of the gospel is that salvation is a free gift that we don't deserve. And it is as simple as Paul's response to that jailer when he said Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. There is no magic formula or special prayer that saves. It is simply the work of the Holy Spirit, softening your child's heart and giving him or her the understanding that he or she needs a Savior, and only God can save your child.
Leanne:You can read the Bible to your children. You can present the gospel to your children. You can even pray for your children to have an open heart to hear and receive the message and then it is up to God to do the saving. I remember when my daughter asked me about making Jesus her Lord and Savior. She was about six, I believe, and one night, after we had read our Bible story and finished praying, she announced that she was ready to commit her life to Jesus. She asked me to leave the room so that she could talk to Jesus privately, and so I listened just outside of her door as she poured out her little heart to Jesus and I remember thinking wow, it really is that simple, just like it says in Ephesians 2, 8 and 9, for by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing. It is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. You plant the seeds as their parent, you water the seeds with consistent Bible reading and prayer and you surrender your children to the Lord. They already belong to Him anyway. Practically speaking, I think it is good and wise and right to present the gospel to your children when they get to an age of being able to understand more. Usually, between the ages of 4 and 14, children are the most receptive to hearing the gospel, and this is a wonderful time to share the truth of what Jesus did for them.
Leanne:I love the bridge analogy. I remember hearing this analogy when I was in middle school. I was taking a contagious Christian class as a part of the homeschool co-op that my mom ran at our church, and I loved the simplicity of the visual in the analogy. The bridge analogy explains that God is on one side of this giant chasm and people are on the other side. This chasm was created when sin entered the world and separated us from God. There is no way to cross the chasm on our own. It is only through Jesus Christ and His death on the cross to pay for the penalty of our sin that people are allowed to cross the chasm and have a relationship with God through faith. Jesus is the way and the truth and the life, according to John 14, 6. No one comes to the Father except through Him.
Leanne:I have used this bridge analogy with my children and even drawn a little picture to go with it, and I have also found that sharing the gospel in clear, simple words works just as well. So when my son asked what are the words that I say, I told him this First, god created you in His image, to know Him and love Him. Your sin separates you from God, like when you get angry and hit your brother or when you don't obey mommy and daddy, but the good news is that Jesus came to take your punishment by dying on the cross for your sins, and he rose again so that you can be forgiven. You can tell Jesus that you trust Him, that you know that you're a sinner and that you can be forgiven. You can tell Jesus that you trust him, that you know that you're a sinner and that you receive his forgiveness, and then you ask him to be the Lord of your life. Okay, mommy, I want to say that to Jesus right now. This sweet little boy refused to go to sleep until he had prayed to Jesus, blinking back tears. I leaned over to kiss him goodnight and he whispered in my ear. I think Jesus touched my heart, mama.
Leanne:So, as it says in Deuteronomy 6, you get to have these conversations with your children when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise. You get to model what it means to be a Christian and how you live out your faith. You model confession and prayer and worship as a part of your natural daily rhythms and you get to pray for your children. You cannot save your child. Only God can do that through the work of the Holy Spirit. Your job is to faithfully plant seeds and trust God with the harvest. Even if your children have not responded just yet, keep sharing and living out the gospel every day. To close this episode, I want to read a few different verses from Psalm 40. These verses are an encouragement to us parents to joyfully share the gospel with our children.
Leanne:Psalm 40. I wait patiently for the Lord. He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Verse 8. I delight to do your will, o my God. Your law is within my heart. I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation. Behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know. Verse 16.