Discerning Your Child's Conversion - A Good Balance

Brian Croft gives us a good balance on how to discern God's work of salvation in our children.

Knowing we are not God and cannot see the heart, I believe there are still evidences we can see and know to help us discern a child or teenager’s conversion in a similar way we try to do the same with adults.   In the spirit of Jonathan Edward’s 5 signs of true conversion, here are 5 evidences that I try to use as a template as both a parent and pastor in wrestling with this issue.

1)  A growing affection and need for Jesus and the gospel.

2)  A heightened understanding of the truths of Scripture.

3)  An increased kindness and selflessness towards siblings.

4)  A greater awareness and distaste for sin.

5)  A noticeable desire to obey parents.

In my experience as both a parent and a pastor, I have found that age is not the most important gauge to determine true conversion, but to genuinely look for these evidences in an age appropriate manner.  For example, we need to know that a child has a clear understanding of the gospel.  However, that will be articulated by a 10 year old differently than it should a 16 year old.  A desire to obey parents and a selfless spirit towards siblings will also show up differently in a 10 year old than they will in a 16 year old.

Read on...

The Gospel: What Our Children Need to Hear

Your Father so loved you that he sent his Son to rescue you from the punishment that was due you for your sins. These are the sins you committed when you were a child, the sins you committed before you became a believer, and the ones you've committed today. He has seen all your sin: your selfishness, anger, laziness, and pride, and he has loved you. To rescue you, his Son was sent from heaven, his home, to be born as a human baby, live a perfect life, suffer in shame and humiliation on Calvary, rise again after three days, and then ascend to the right hand of his Father, where he watches over and redeems every facet of your life, including your parenting. He has promised to use everything in your life for your good and his glory. This is the kind of watchful, fatherly love he has for you. He is the parent, and this record of perfection has been transferred to you, if you have put your trust in him. Your children’s salvation doesn't depend on you any more than your own salvation did. He’s a wonderful Father. You can rest in his everlasting arms—now.  

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Parenting By The Book

Heritage Baptist Church in Owensboro, Kentucky has posted videos of their Parenting by the Book seminars.  This is a great resource for parents.  Tim Hoak says, "Parent is kingdom oriented, God-honoring, joy-saturated, heart-engaging, heart-changing, self-sacrificing, and blessedly fulfilling, calling from God."

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Great New Resource From Crossway

Published in partnership with Concordia Publishing House, this full-color children’s Bible combines the complete ESV Bible text with more than 120 new, vibrant illustrations of major Bible stories.  Accompanying each full-page illustration is the Bible story itself, clearly and accurately retold for young readers—and for the parents, grandparents, and teachers who read to them.  Each story includes a Key Bible Verse to memorize, Additional Readings for discovering more of the story throughout the Bible, and simple Reflection Questions to help children begin to understand and apply God’s Word.  Colorful icons make it easy for young readers to see where each story is found in the Bible text and to locate the illustration that goes with it.

In addition, dozens of Bible characters are profiled throughout the pages, and color call-out sections provide illustrated facts about important Bible objects, structures, and places. Each Bible book begins with a child-friendly introduction, highlighting the important characters and themes found in it.

The ESV Seek and Find Bible is the ideal first “real” Bible for pre-readers and young readers, ages 5 to 10, to grow up with. It is also a wonderful resource for parents to use in family Bible reading and for teachers who teach the Bible to young children.

• More than 120 full-page, full-color illustrations
• Simple Bible story retellings for each illustration
• Age-appropriate introductions to each Bible book
• Key Verses to memorize
• Illustrated profiles of more than 60 major Bible characters
• Illustrated facts about Bible objects, structures, and places.
• Reflections Questions for children, parents and teachers

Pre-Order it here