📖 CHRIST BEFORE CAREER: RAISING CHILDREN IN THE GRACE OF GOD
Key Texts: Ephesians 6:1–4; 2 Timothy 3:14–15; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
INTRODUCTION — DON'T JUST PREPARE YOUR CHILDREN TO MAKE A LIVING; PREPARE THEM TO KNOW THE GOSPEL
Parents naturally want their children to receive a good education, develop a career, become responsible adults, and enjoy a stable future. There is nothing wrong with education or achievement. But there is something tragically wrong when parents prepare a child for ever... more📖 CHRIST BEFORE CAREER: RAISING CHILDREN IN THE GRACE OF GOD
Key Texts: Ephesians 6:1–4; 2 Timothy 3:14–15; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
INTRODUCTION — DON'T JUST PREPARE YOUR CHILDREN TO MAKE A LIVING; PREPARE THEM TO KNOW THE GOSPEL
Parents naturally want their children to receive a good education, develop a career, become responsible adults, and enjoy a stable future. There is nothing wrong with education or achievement. But there is something tragically wrong when parents prepare a child for everything in this life while neglecting his eternal need for Christ.
A child may know mathematics but not the Mystery, science but not salvation, grammar but not grace, business but not the Bible, and a profession but not Paul's Gospel.
From a Dispensational perspective, we must also make an important distinction: merely taking children to a church building does not save them. Neither church attendance, baptism, religious upbringing, good behavior, nor having Christian parents can place anyone into Christ.
Every child eventually needs personally to understand and believe the Gospel of Grace:
“Christ died for our sins… he was buried… he rose again the third day…” — 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 KJV
Parents cannot believe for their children, but they can faithfully teach, model, explain, and proclaim God's Word to them.
Our responsibility is not merely:
“Bring your children to church.”
It is much deeper:
BRING THEM UP IN THE TRUTH.
📖 Ephesians 6:4
1️⃣ PRIORITIZE THEIR SALVATION
Don't raise successful children who never understand the Gospel.
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:8–9
A diploma can prepare your child for employment.
Money can prepare your child financially.
Education can prepare your child intellectually.
But only the Gospel tells your child how God saves a sinner by grace.
A. PRESENT THEIR CONDITION
📖 Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Children should not merely be taught, “Be good so God will love you.”
They need to understand why mankind needs salvation.
The biblical issue is sin, not merely bad manners.
Good behavior cannot justify the sinner.
📖 Romans 3:20
B. PROCLAIM CHRIST'S CROSSWORK
📖 1 Corinthians 15:3–4
Teach them clearly:
Christ DIED for our sins.
Christ was BURIED.
Christ ROSE AGAIN.
Do not replace the Gospel with:
“Join our church.”
“Get baptized.”
“Keep the commandments.”
“Say this religious prayer.”
“Try to become a better person.”
The saving message centers upon what Christ accomplished, not what the sinner performs.
C. POINT THEM TO FAITH
📖 Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8–9
“But to him that worketh not, but believeth…”
Salvation today is not earned through religious performance.
It is received by grace through faith.
🔥 YOUR CHILD'S GREATEST NEED IS NOT SUCCESS—IT IS SALVATION.
2️⃣ PROVIDE SOUND DOCTRINE
Don't merely bring children to church—teach them why they believe what they believe.
📖 2 Timothy 3:14–17; 2 Timothy 2:15
Many children grow up knowing church routines without understanding Bible doctrine.
They know when to sit.
They know when to stand.
They know religious vocabulary.
But ask them:
What is the Gospel?
What is grace?
Who is the Body of Christ?
Why did Christ die?
What is the Mystery?
What does rightly dividing mean?
And sometimes there is no answer.
A. SCHOOL THEM IN SCRIPTURE
📖 2 Timothy 3:15
Timothy had known the Holy Scriptures from childhood.
Parents should not outsource all spiritual instruction to the pastor.
The local church should reinforce truth, but biblical instruction should also live in the home.
B. SHOW THEM RIGHT DIVISION
📖 2 Timothy 2:15
Teach children that:
All Scripture is inspired — 2 Timothy 3:16.
But Scripture contains different instructions given within God's different dealings.
Teach them to distinguish:
Israel and the Body of Christ.
Prophecy and Mystery.
Law and Grace.
Kingdom program and Grace program.
This protects them from doctrinal confusion.
C. SETTLE THEM IN PAULINE DOCTRINE
📖 Romans 11:13; Ephesians 3:1–9
Paul says:
“I am the apostle of the Gentiles…”
We do not follow Paul instead of Christ.
Rather, we recognize Christ's instructions for the Body of Christ revealed through Paul.
📖 1 Corinthians 11:1
🔥 DON'T RAISE CHILDREN WHO ONLY KNOW CHURCH CULTURE—RAISE CHILDREN WHO KNOW SOUND DOCTRINE.
3️⃣ PRACTICE THE TRUTH AT HOME
Children need more than sermons they hear; they need truth they can see.
📖 Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 1:27; 1 Timothy 4:12
Parents can teach correct doctrine on Sunday and destroy its influence through inconsistent living Monday through Saturday.
Children quickly recognize the difference between:
profession and practice,
preaching and performance,
doctrine and daily life.
Sound doctrine should produce sound living.
A. PRACTICE GRACE
📖 Ephesians 4:32
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another…”
Let your children see grace in the home.
Let them see Dad apologize.
Let them see Mom forgive.
Let them see disagreements handled without hatred.
Let them see biblical truth shaping relationships.
B. PRACTICE GODLINESS
📖 Titus 2:11–12
Grace does not teach careless living.
The same grace that saves us teaches us to deny ungodliness.
Your children should learn:
WE DON'T LIVE RIGHT TO GET SAVED; WE LIVE RIGHT BECAUSE GRACE HAS SAVED US.
C. PRACTICE GRATITUDE
📖 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“In every thing give thanks…”
A grace-centered home should not constantly revolve around complaining.
Teach children to appreciate God's provision and recognize that material abundance is not the measure of spiritual blessing.
📖 Ephesians 1:3
🔥 THE HOME SHOULD CONFIRM WHAT THE PULPIT PROCLAIMS.
4️⃣ PARTICIPATE IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
Church attendance doesn't save—but the local church matters.
📖 1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:11–16
We need careful wording here.
The Church, the Body of Christ is not a building.
📖 Ephesians 1:22–23
A believer is not placed into Christ because he walks into a church building.
📖 1 Corinthians 12:13
Yet Paul clearly teaches believers to function together, learn together, serve together, and edify one another.
The local assembly therefore has an important place in Christian family life.
A. PARTICIPATE FOR DOCTRINE
📖 1 Timothy 3:15
The local church should be:
“…the pillar and ground of the truth.”
Choose an assembly because it teaches truth—not merely because it has entertainment, activities, popularity, or impressive facilities.
B. PARTICIPATE FOR DEVELOPMENT
📖 Ephesians 4:12–14
The purpose of ministry includes:
perfecting the saints,
edifying the Body,
producing doctrinal stability.
Children need more than excitement.
They need spiritual maturity.
C. PARTICIPATE FOR FELLOWSHIP
📖 Philippians 1:5; 2:1–2
Children benefit from seeing believers serve, pray, study, give, encourage, and labor together in the Gospel.
Christianity should not appear to them as merely an isolated Sunday activity.
🔥 DON'T TEACH YOUR CHILD THAT EVERYTHING ELSE GETS FIRST PLACE AND CHURCH GETS WHATEVER TIME IS LEFT.
5️⃣ PREPARE THEM FOR ETERNITY
Education prepares them for decades; the Gospel concerns eternity.
📖 2 Corinthians 4:18; Philippians 3:20–21; Colossians 3:1–4
Parents spend enormous energy preparing children for adulthood:
Which school?
Which course?
Which profession?
Which job?
How much salary?
Those questions have value.
But there is a greater question:
DO THEY UNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST?
A. PREPARE THEM BEYOND POSSESSIONS
📖 1 Timothy 6:7
“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
Teach them to handle money responsibly—but never worship it.
A successful career cannot purchase eternal life.
B. PREPARE THEM FOR HEAVENLY PURPOSE
📖 Colossians 3:1–2
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
The Body of Christ has a heavenly hope.
Therefore, teach your children that life's highest purpose is not simply:
earn more, own more, achieve more.
Teach them to value things of eternal significance.
C. PREPARE THEM TO PASS THE MESSAGE
📖 2 Timothy 2:2
Paul tells Timothy to commit truth to faithful men who can teach others also.
Imagine the legacy:
Parents teach their children.
Children grow in sound doctrine.
They teach another generation.
The Gospel continues to be proclaimed.
🔥 DON'T ONLY LEAVE YOUR CHILDREN PROPERTY—LEAVE THEM A PATTERN OF SOUND DOCTRINE.
📣 CALL TO ACTION — THREE “T's”
1️⃣ TEACH THEM
📖 Ephesians 6:4
“…bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
Don't assume they understand the Gospel because they attend church.
Explain it repeatedly and clearly.
Teach the Gospel.
Teach grace.
Teach right division.
2️⃣ TRAIN THEM
📖 2 Timothy 3:14–15
Training involves consistency.
Teach them how to:
read Scripture,
study Scripture,
rightly divide Scripture.
Do not merely give them conclusions—show them how Scripture leads to those conclusions.
3️⃣ TESTIFY TO THEM
📖 2 Corinthians 5:20
Let your children hear from you why Christ matters.
Tell them plainly:
“CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS, WAS BURIED, AND ROSE AGAIN.”
Never assume another person will eventually tell them.
🏁 CONCLUSION — CHRIST BEFORE CAREER
Parents, educate your children.
Teach responsibility.
Encourage excellence.
Prepare them for adulthood.
But never reverse the priorities.
A child can graduate with honors and still be spiritually ignorant.
A child can become wealthy and still be eternally lost.
A child can become professionally successful and never understand grace.
And a child can attend church for years while never personally believing the Gospel.
Therefore, our goal is not merely:
“MY CHILD GOES TO CHURCH.”
Our deeper desire should be:
“MY CHILD KNOWS THE WORD, UNDERSTANDS THE GOSPEL, AND BELIEVES CHRIST'S FINISHED WORK.”
🔥 FINAL THOUGHTS
1️⃣ PRIORITIZE THEIR SALVATION
Don't merely prepare them to succeed—give them the Gospel.
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
2️⃣ PROVIDE SOUND DOCTRINE
Don't merely teach Bible stories—teach them to rightly divide the Word.
📖 2 Timothy 2:15
3️⃣ PRACTICE THE TRUTH
Don't merely tell them what Christianity looks like—let them see grace working at home.
📖 Ephesians 4:32
4️⃣ PARTICIPATE IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
Church attendance cannot save them, but a sound local assembly can teach, strengthen, and equip them.
📖 Ephesians 4:11–16
5️⃣ PREPARE THEM FOR ETERNITY
Don't prepare them only for an earthly career—teach them heavenly truth.
📖 Colossians 3:1–4
✝️ SEND THEM TO SCHOOL—BUT TEACH THEM SCRIPTURE.
PREPARE THEM FOR A CAREER—BUT PROCLAIM CHRIST.
TEACH THEM HOW TO LIVE—BUT FIRST TELL THEM HOW GOD SAVES.
A GOOD EDUCATION MAY HELP YOUR CHILD MAKE A LIVING.
BUT ONLY THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST TELLS THEM HOW A SINNER RECEIVES ETERNAL LIFE.
CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS.
HE WAS BURIED.
HE ROSE AGAIN THE THIRD DAY.
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 KJV
Believe the Gospel. Teach the Gospel. Live out the doctrine of grace before your children.
⚔️✝️✠ Lady Dinah Scivoletti ✠✝️📖⚔️
⚔️✝️✠ Turco, Joan of Arc Priory ✠✝️📖⚔️
⚔️✝️✠✠Act and God will Act (Actus et Deus Act)✠✠✝️📖⚔️
