Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (read below) represents one of the bedrock biblical passages underlying the theological foundations of next generation ministry:
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates (ESV).”
Recall that God had given the Israelites the Ten Commandments through his servant Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-20), yet now Moses is reminding Israel of these commandments (Deut 5). Deut 6:4 is known as the Shema. Traditional Jews often make these words the last words of their dying breath and have their children say the Shema as a prayer before turning in for the night. It is important that the next generation understand that God is not many, but One.
In cross-referencing with Matthew 22:37, Jesus echoes that one is to love the one true God with all their heart, soul, and strength as Deut 6:5 is often referred to as one of two commandments (the other being to love one’s neighbor as oneself) that Jesus gave. In other words, the commandments, albeit the Ten Commandments, or the Two commandments are of the upmost important and obedience to the commands is equated to love for God (John 14:15).
Thus it makes perfect sense that leaders are to abide by these commands and that parents are commanded to teach these commands to the next generation (Deut 6:6). Though one is not saved by obeying the commands (an impossible task), one’s love relationship with God is enhanced. Parents and leaders are to impress the commands upon the children entrusted into their care (Deut 6:7). Parents are to talk about the commands at home, on the road, when their children go to bed, and when their children wake up (Deut 6:8-9).
To simplify understanding the different times a parent can impress God’s Word upon their children through the course of a given day, I have identified four opportune times according to the passage at hand.
Meal Time: Research has proven time and time again the benefits of sitting around the table at home with families eating together. However, practically, meal time today has become an on-the-go event or a sit in front of a screen event. If you do sit around the table, have your child put up his or her phone and talk about the day’s events and activities. Bring God’s Word to the table (not literally, although you can) and talk about how God’s Word is relevant to the items being discussed. Mainly, just show love to your child by showing how much you care and that you are interested in their life.
Drive Time: After breakfast time at the table, or if you’re like most parents today, breakfast on the way to school, parents can use the transition time from home to school in the morning or from school to home in the afternoon to enforce biblical ideas and teachings. Parents could say, “Remember, son, you are a missionary on your campus today” as their child steps out of the car door. Perhaps instead of the traditional, “how was your day at school?”, parents opt for, “How did you see God move in and around your life at school today?” or “Did you have a chance to share Christ in word or in deed with anyone at school today?”
Morning Time: Parents can not only wake their child up in the morning, but start the day off with a blessing or a prayer. Have you ever woken up to your mom saying, “Rise and shine and Give God the glory?” I have. It’s a reminder that this is the day that the Lord has made and that we are to rejoice and be glad in it.
Bed Time: What better way to end a day than in prayer or Bible story time? The Story by Max Lucado is easy to read and comprehensible for children to understand, while Richard Ross and Gus Reyes has proven the effectiveness of strengthening the parent-teen relationship at night in their resource 3o Days, where parents and teens spend 10 minutes together for 30 nights in a row, using Scripture as their guide.
It’s always a good time to talk to your children about the Lord!