1. Teaching our Children Conviction

2. Teaching Our Children Conviction Conviction is "a strong persuasion or belief" held with assurance or confidence (Hebrews 11:1). Conviction is sadly lacking in the world today, and all too often in the church. (Luke 18:8; Matthew 6:30; 2 Corinthians 4:13). Conviction can be handed down from generation to generation (2 Timothy 1:5; Proverbs 5:12-13; 15:5).

3. To teach children conviction… We must have conviction ourselves! Parents and grandparents should exemplify conviction! (Proverbs 20:7; Jeremiah 47:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:5) Trust God's word in everything! (Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 10:17) Don't compromise conviction for anything! (Romans 12:2; Daniel 1:1-11, 6:1-23)

4. Why young adults change their religious beliefs -- Tom Rees, Oct. 1, 2010. Epiphenom.com Your religious beliefs, like many aspects of personality, tend to crystallize in your late teens and early adulthood. It's a period of tremendous change but, once set, few people undergo and radical changes. Even so, some kids change, while others do not… What separates the changers from those who stay the same? Is it genetics, or is it environment? A recent study has looked at this… They measured religiosity at around 12-18 years old, and then again around 5 years later.

5. Why young adults change their religious beliefs -- Tom Rees, Oct. 1, 2010. Epiphenom.com For those kids who kept their religious beliefs as they moved into adulthood, the major influence was their family. Not too surprising- your family environment is a major, constant factor. Interestingly, however genes only play a minor role - especially when it comes to the importance of religion in their lives. Keeping the faith is largely a function of family pressure.

6. To teach children conviction… We must saturate our children with Christ! Convictions must be salient! (Ephesians 5:15 -16; Psalm 119:37; Rom. 13:1-7) God's word must be taught constantly! (2 Timothy 3:14-15; Psalm 78:4-7; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:18-21) Children must be immersed in the culture of Christianity! (Ephesians 6:4) Children must be challenged to develop personal conviction! (2 Timothy 3:14-15) Children must be corrected! (Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 29:15)

7. The Importance of Teaching Our Children Conviction The greatest gift you will ever pass on to your child is a faith that saves his soul. The most horrible experience one could ever imagine is to wake up in outer darkness and hear a little voice saying, “Daddy, daddy, is that you? Oh daddy, I always thought we’d go to heaven.”