God's Word Teaches Child Evangelism

The Old Testament Teachings Command Adults To Teach God's Word

A. God instructed the Israelites to teach their children and their grandchildren, so that they in turn might teach their children. (Read Deuteronomy 4:9, 10; see also Deuteronomy 11:18-21; 32:46, 47)

B. Parents were commanded to teach God's Word diligently to their children throughout the day, in every place and in every circumstance. The Word of God was to be constantly before them and their children (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; 11:18-21)

C. God's Word warns us that if children are not taught, future generations will cease to follow His Word. (Read Psalm 78:1-8.) The Israelite leaders who outlived Joshua served the Lord. However, the generation that arose after those leaders did not know the Lord. We read about this tragic time in Judges 2:7-12.

D. Parents were to make careful preparations to encourage questions from their children concerning the things of God - including their redemption - and answer them. (See Exodus 12:24-28; Deuteronomy 6:20-25; Joshua 4:6, 7)

E. Children were to be included in public meetings, especiall
y when the Word of God was read. ( See Deuteronomy 31:12, 13; Joshua 8 :35; 2 Chronicles 20:13; Ezra 10:1.)

Teaching In The Early Church Supports Child Evangelism
A. The letter to the Ephesians is addressed to the "saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus." Later in the book (Ephesians 6:1), Paul speaks to the children directly, showing that he regarded them as "saints" - those who are born again.

B. The letter to the Colossians also shows that child evangelism was the common practice. Having addressed the letter to "the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse," Paul says, " Children, obey your parents" ( Colossians 3:20)

C. Christian fathers were exhorted to bring up their children "in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). To bring up a child in the Lord would certainly require that he be evangelized, since one can have a spiritual understanding of the Scriptures only after he has been born again. First Corinthians 2:14 says, "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Article taken from
"Children's Ministry Resource Bible,"
Copyright 1993 by Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc.