Teaching a Child the Commands of God

“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.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7

            This command is given twice in the book of Deuteronomy. The men were to teach their children the ways of God. The men were to instruct their children on God’s commands. So, I started thinking about ways that we can teach our children according to this command. Obviously, times have changed since Moses delivered these words. And, these were instructions to the Hebrew people, but I still think they are applicable to Christians today. So, here are some ways that you can teach the commands of God diligently when 1) you sit in your house; 2) when you walk by the way; 3) when you lie down; and 4) when you rise.

            When you sit in your house

-          Tell what God has been doing in your life.

-          Let your children see you reading the Bible.

-          Discuss challenges in your daily routine and how you have responded to them in God-honoring ways.

-          Play a board game with your family. Consider ways the game can be used to teach some of the commands of God. For example, if your child moves her game piece further on the board than she should, use this as an opportunity to speak about cheating.

-          Discuss what is on the television screen. Do we see reflected on the screen values that are respectful of God’s commands?

-          Memorize scripture together.

When you walk by the way

-          Consider the wonder of the world God made as you drive your children to school.

-          Talk about the different types of people you see. Let your children know that all of these people are created in the image of God.

-          Talk about ways that God wants us to be stewards of the earth and how we are to care for the things of the earth.

-          Discuss ways that you have sinned against God and against His commands. Talk about some of the consequences of that sin in your life.

-          Consider the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. Relate this to God’s transforming power in the life of a person.

-          Speak about the community found in a colony of ants, bees, etc. Discuss how we are to live in a community in a way that brings glory to God.

When you lie down

-          Pray with your children and for your children as you put them to bed.

-          Talk about the good things God has blessed you with that day, or in your life.

-          Tell them they are safe with you and that you will always protect them and that they find ultimate safety with the Lord.

-          Let them know that you love your spouse.

-          Tell them how God made them special.

-          Tell them you love them. You cannot say it enough.

When you rise

-          Start the day with prayer.

-          Let your children know that you are living this day to bring glory to God. Ask them to try to do the same.

-          Thank God for the start of a new day, for life, and for a new set of opportunities.

-          Quote simple scripture that you have memorized.

-          Offer a blessing to your child as he leaves for school.

These suggestions are most appropriate for a younger child (I'll discuss teaching a teenager when I cross that bridge). As your children grow older, you can do other things to teach them the commands of God. For example, my children are too young to memorize the Ten Commandments, but we have talked about some of the basic concepts behind those commands. As your children get older, you can be more proactive in directing conversations, and also encouraging them to act on behalf of others (for example, ask how an older child can befriend an outsider, or stand up for a child who is oppressed by peers).

We don’t have to do big things all the time. Teaching diligently does not have to involve a systematized family devotional night. But, we should seize every opportunity we are given to draw a child’s attention toward God. This can be done through scheduled events, but some of the most effective times I have found are unscheduled times when my children ask me questions about things they have heard during their school day. What a privilege God has given us to help form and direct a child’s heart to meet with and to know personally his or her Creator. 


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