Christian parents often assume that sending their kids to a Christian school will automatically produce on-fire disciples. I wish it worked that way.
I’ve preached in Christian school chapels for years, and unfortunately it sometimes feels harder than preaching in a spiritually hostile environment. Solid doctrine doesn’t guarantee surrendered hearts.
Both of our kids went to and graduated from a Christian school, and my wife and I are genuinely grateful for that. But many of the teenagers they graduated with ended up bagging out on their faith.
As solid as the Christian school was, it was no substitute for godly parents who take responsibility for the discipleship of their own kids.
That’s the secret:
Parents who lead the way can become the spark that ignites their kids.
So here’s a simple battle plan for parents who want to raise kids who don’t just survive Christian school but transform their world for Jesus.
1. Model the mission.
“Go and make disciples.”
Matthew 28:19
One of the most impactful things that shaped our kids didn’t happen inside their Christian school but outside of it.
I regularly took Jeremy and Kailey out to share the Gospel, and doing this both informed and formed their faith. But we wouldn’t just go out and witness—we would also witness as we went. Our kids regularly participated with us as we shared the Gospel with neighbors, servers, and strangers while out together as a family.
This taught them not just to take in Bible content but to put it into practice. It equipped them to not only learn about the Holy Spirit but also depend on Him.
Over the years we watched their confidence grow, their compassion deepen, and their faith go from being mere theory to becoming their life’s mission.
2. Talk about spiritual things daily.
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy 6:7
Deuteronomy 6 wasn’t written for pastors. It was written for parents.
Make Jesus the center of everyday conversation, not just church conversation. Faith that’s discussed only once a week rarely survives a lifetime.
3. Teach discernment, not isolation.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2
Christian school doesn’t eliminate worldly temptation. It just seeks to distance a child from it.
Ultimately, temptation will creep in through screens and reels right into your kids’ hearts—unless they learn discernment. Help them think through what they watch on Instagram and listen to on Spotify, even when you get rolling eyes and heavy sighs!
Isolation delays the problem. Discernment prepares them for it.
4. Choose relationship over rules.
Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Colossians 2:23
Rules inform.
Relationships transform.
Point them to Jesus, not simply a behavioral checklist.
Compliance can be forced. Transformation cannot.
5. Pray as if their souls depend on it.
Pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ephesians 6:18
Pray as if their souls depend on it, because they do.
No school, public or private, can ignite spiritual passion. Nor can a parent’s best biblical battle plan.
Only the Holy Spirit can.
So execute the plan, but depend on the Spirit to do what only He can do: transform your kids.
The bottom line: You are the primary disciple-maker.
The truth is this: You are your child’s primary youth pastor, evangelism coach, and disciple-maker.
Christian school can help. Public school can be a mission field. Homeschooling can build foundations. But none of it replaces the influence of a parent who loves Jesus deeply and leads boldly.
Take your kids with you into the battle. Show them what faith looks like in the wild.
And watch God turn them into world-changers.
