​Everyone knows the story of Cain and Abel. The second generation of humanity and their epic rivalry that ended in murder is known even among non-believers. However, I want to draw your attention in another direction.

“1 Adam was intimate with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the Lord’s help.” 2 Then she also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also presented an offering — some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.”
Genesis 4:1-5, HCSB

Now most of the time the conversation here turns to the fact that Cain’s offering was not accepted by God though Abel’s was and a discussion of heart condition. This is an important, but not our focus today. We see the births of Cain then Abel in the first two verses. But the very next verse is the story of the sons going to worship without mention of either parent. Yes, one got it right while the other didn’t, but they both knew that worship was important and how to do it.

But how do they know?? Somewhere between verses 2 and 3 Cain and Abel had to have been taught! Think about it. This was before Christian schools, Sunday school or children’s church. So how did they learn?

Here’s another example later in the same book:
“5Then Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.’ 6Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac. In his hand he took the fire and the sacrificial knife, and the two of them walked on together.
7Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.’
And he replied, ‘Here I am, my son.’
Isaac said, ‘The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? ‘”
Genesis 22:5-7, HCSB
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See it, in verse 7? How could Isaac ask this question if he had no clue what worship was? Though it is an ongoing lesson and there is unfortunately the potential for our children to get it way wrong (Cain), it is incredibly important that we consistently and diligently engage and teach. This includes the meaning behind and importance of our worship of our awesome Creator!!

HOWDY, HOWDY!!  Welcome to the Parenting from the Cross Blog!!  The purpose of this blog is to encourage and equip parents to become disciple makers in their own homes!  We believe that the Great Commission to “Go!” make disciples wasn’t just directed at preachers and missionaries to travel across the world to bring the Good News!  But rather it included regular, ordinary soccer moms like me!  I firmly believe that Jesus even meant our children needed to be made into a disciple… by us!
We can’t sit back for 18 years and expect that dropping our kids at Bible study and youth events is somehow going to truly disciple them.  I’m not by any means saying that these events are wrong.  Instead, I am saying that we as parents must be the primary Jesus education point for our children.  It is vital that we engage them with Jesus on a daily basis. 
Our goal with this blog is to encourage you to do this.  One of the ways I read about a year or so ago, was a mom putting laundry away in her son’s room.  She overheard him singing a song from church that week about redemption.  She took a moment to ask him what redemption was and ended up having an hour long conversation about Jesus with him!  This wasn’t some lesson she had to plan out, prepare and study for weeks. But rather she took a moment to engage with him on something vital to our faith! 

So in this, the Year of FAITH, we want to encourage you to engage your children with the wonder and beauty of Jesus!  Take a moment and ask them what they believe and why they believe it.  Take them into your prayer closet in the hard times and let them see you petitioning the Father on their behalf.  When you have a behavior issue, discuss how Jesus may have handled that situation differently.  As you in your daily study encounter scriptures that confound and confuse you, share it!  Let them see you struggle with God’s Word; both in the living it out and the understanding! 
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As you walk this journey of making disciples of your children, let us help!  If you’re struggling with how to respond or start, we want to help! Reach out to us!  The goal is to post a new message here each Thursday.  Join us!
Thank you for taking this step!  God’s Word tells us that this effort is not in vain. 
 
“…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11