Parents are often intimidated to teach their children theology and don’t know where to begin. They glance over at the thick study Bible on the shelf in their family room bewildered. The enemy is at the ready to discourage them with his lies – “Don’t even think about taking that Bible off the shelf. You don’t have a clue where to start, and you will end up failing.”

The Church is a Partner in Discipling Children

When it comes to passing on the faith, the church is not a substitute for parents—but a vital partner. Scripture clearly places the primary responsibility for discipling the next generation on parents. Yet the church plays a crucial supporting role. Every time we gather children—whether in Sunday morning programs or midweek childcare—we’re given a meaningful opportunity to reinforce what parents are teaching at home. Children must not be overlooked in our discipleship strategy. When they’re in our care, we have both a responsibility and a privilege: to point them to Christ and help nurture a faith that will grow for a lifetime.

Why Choice of Curriculum Matters

Selecting a curriculum for children’s ministry is a key pastoral responsibility. While you may delegate the task of researching options, it’s essential to review the final selection. That ensures the teaching is both theologically sound and centered on the gospel. Some children’s ministry leaders may prioritize creating a fun environment and unintentionally select curriculum with a ton of games and activities, but one that is theologically shallow. Others may lean toward moralism, favoring character development over solid gospel truth. By staying involved in the selection process, pastors can help ensure that children receive solid theological instruction — without sacrificing creativity and enjoyment in the learning experience.

Supporting Parents in Their Role

Still, our children are only in formal church classroom instruction for an hour or so per week. That doesn’t compare with the scores of weekly hours parents have at home with their children. But sadly, parents can assume the responsibility for teaching theology is the work of the church and wrongly believe we as pastors and the programs we lead are sufficiently accomplishing the task.

We as pastors, on the other hand, can wrongly assume parents are providing the bulk of the theological instruction at home. But are they? Do we even know what percentage of our families are engaging in family devotions? Or, do we know if our parents have a framework and plan for theological instruction at home? Do you provide resources for your parents to use in their homes?

I haven’t met a pastor that didn’t believe theological training of children is important. But far too many pastors assume the parents know what they are doing and are faithfully discipling their children.

Here are a few tips:

1.Take a survey of your parents

discover how many families are engaging in regular family devotions and theological instruction and are following the simple pattern of Abraham’s example to “keep the way of the Lord.”

“For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” (Genesis 18:19)

To be able to keep the way of the Lord your children will need to know what that is. Simply put – “Abraham believed God.” (Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6, James 2:23)

2.Set an example by faithfully discipling your own children

Pastors are just as prone to failure in this area as other parents in your church. Knowing the importance of training your children and actually doing it are two very different things. If you as a pastor are doing well in this area, encourage your parents to follow your example.

If you are not faithfully teaching your own children, don’t be afraid to share your struggles with other parents. The reality is that every family struggles to maintain family devotions from time to time. When parents hear us admit to our own weakness, they are less likely to feel condemned and more likely to press in with fresh vision.

3.Teach your parents the importance of teaching theology to children

We are not talking seminary here. Break it down – Theos (God) logos (word).

Read More