CREATION: God made the world good (Gen 1:1).
God is the sole source of all things (Col 1:16). God
created everything for His glory and our enjoyment.
Where did the world come from? What is my purpose
in life? What does it mean to be human? What is
God’s design for manhood and womanhood?
What is marriage?
worth living for? How should I use my time,
talents, and treasures?
The secular world aggressively opposes
these foundational truths and is actively
trying to convince young people to
embrace a different belief system, which
will ultimately destroy their faith in
REBELLION: Sin made the world
Christ. Children are confronted with
groan (Rom 3:23). There was a great
a secular worldview on a daily basis
“Unless
rebellion against the Creator result-
through media, from peers, and in
ing in sin, which distorts our ability
education, which can be summa-
children are
to understand the world apart from
rized as secular humanism (man is
well-grounded
God’s restoring grace (Gen 2; Rom
god) with a growing appreciation
in Scripture, they will look
3:23). Sin makes us blind and deaf.
for socialism (government is god).
Sin separates us from God, brought the more like culture than Christ.” Humanism replaces God’s big story
entire world under a curse, and results in
with these four words: evolution, relativism,
eternal punishment for those who reject Christ.
atheism, and materialism. If the world’s big lies
What is true? What is sin? What is wrong with the world?
are internalized, they become faith-busting beliefs, and
Why do I suffer?
young people walk away from Jesus.
Worldview is concerned with truth. If we want children
SALVATION: Jesus paid the penalty for sin (Jn 3:16). Jesus
to know the truth, live according to the way, and have eter-
died on the cross to pay the penalty of sin. Jesus is the way,
nal life, then worldview should matter to us. Worldview is
the truth, and the life. He reversed the effects of the fall. We
discipleship that shapes what a young person believes, how
are called to walk in obedience and not to be conformed to
he or she lives, and where each child will spend eternity.
the world but be transformed by the renewing of the mind
Worldview’s main focus is the evangelism and discipleship
(Rom 12:1-2). Our goal is Christ-like maturity (Col 1:28-29)
of young people. The question is who is evangelizing and
and training for godliness (1 Tim 4:7). What is the gospel?
discipling your child and what beliefs are shaping them?
Who is Jesus? What must a person do to be saved? What is
discipleship? How do I make wise choices? How should I live?
To understand the worldview of your child, consider
RE-CREATION: God will make the world new (2 Cor
5:17). Jesus conquered sin and death. We have hope in
the living God who will restore all things and create a new
heaven and earth where He reigns forever with no more
pain or sadness (Rev 21:1-5). God didn’t just save us from
something; He also saved us for something—to resume the
task for which we were originally created. We serve God by
using the gifts He gave us. We bring Him glory when we
reflect His character to others. Running a business, teaching
students, and managing a home are not secondary activi-
ties but doing God’s work in the world. Our vocation is not
something we do for God; it is a way to participate in God’s
work. Living in light of eternity reminds us that life has a
greater purpose than our own happiness. Joy is found when
we love and obey Jesus. How can I be happy? Where do I find
hope and joy? What happens after death? Is there anything
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three questions:
• What does your child believe to be true? Do you know
what your child believes about the Bible, Jesus, marriage,
gender, hell, and salvation? It should be the goal of every
parent, grandparent, pastor, and teacher to shape the
beliefs of children from the Bible.
• What authority shapes those beliefs? Every child will
look to an authority to determine truth. The authority
the child chooses will determine what the child believes
and how the child lives. While there are many sources
of authority that individuals look to, some of the most
common include science, experience, psychology,
government, cultural norms, or the Bible.
• How does your child live? Just because a child knows
the right answer doesn’t mean the child has embraced
Christ or believes the Bible. A child’s behavior reveals