be damaged . So , how can we as parents and grandparents consistently , effectively , and winsomely communicate gospel truths to our children and grandchildren ?
One approach is by reading aloud with them using books that promote understanding of gospel truths . Stories are powerful ; Jesus Himself taught using parables . In this visual age of video games and the internet , picture books are especially effective .
There are plenty of ways to find good books for ministering to children . WORLD magazine annually compiles a list of the outstanding children ’ s books of the year , and it recently published a list of outstanding children ’ s books of the twenty-first century . Many excellent recommendations are contained in The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie and Honey for a Child ’ s Heart by Gladys Hunt . Subscribing to the blogs of book reviewers like Sarah Mackenzie and Cathy Duffy also can be helpful .
After you ’ ve read a book or a chapter of a book , talk with your child or grandchild about the biblical truths it contains . Even books that are not overtly Christian can be useful tools for communicating Scriptural truths like perseverance , integrity , love , truth , and faith .
Use books as springboards for discussions about the reality of our sinful nature , our need for a Savior , and the lies of contemporary culture ( e . g ., truth is what one experiences , every type of behavior should be tolerated , and happiness is the goal of life ). Use age-appropriate language when examining these subjects .
Grandparents especially have a unique God-designed role to pass a heritage of faith on to future generations . All over the country , God is raising up movements to encourage and equip grandparents to be missionaries of the gospel to their grandchildren . For more on this subject , I recommend the book Grandparenting : Strengthening Your Family and Passing on Your Faith by Dr . Josh Mulvihill . Christiangrand parenting . com offers resources such as blogs , podcasts , and events to help you build healthy families equipped to swim strongly against the tide of our culture .
May we as parents and grandparents be diligent about living out the following words of Psalm 78:4 : “ We will not hide these truths from our children ; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD , about his power and his mighty wonders .” ■
Michael James Dowling is a Christian grandparent and the author of Frog ’ s Rainy-Day Story and Other Fables , which his wife , Sarah Buell Dowling , illustrated ( FrogsRainyDay Story . com ). Michael and Sarah live in Nashville , Tennessee .
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