What Role Does the Gospel Have in Raising a Family?

With all that has been happening worldwide and in our country, I’ve had to look myself in the mirror and take an honest look.

What really matters in life?

What do people’s souls truly need?

What do I stand for?

Am I being bold enough to share it?

In our culture, boldness is a kingdom virtue we must cultivate. While it’s true the church is meant to be the hands and feet of God, the highest calling He has placed on our lives is to bravely share the gospel story – to share the good news when all other reports seem bad. This message should be our heartbeat and passion. It’s the reason God moved heaven and earth to bring us His Son. God didn’t need to use us or have us by His side, but He wanted to make us His vessels, who were also His gospel-sharing bride.

Why the Gospel Needs to be Told and Seen

Since the beginning, we were made to love God and be transformed by His kindness. No one can care for our souls the way our Father can. No one can give us what the Father alone can give. But the world and the enemy of our souls will try to hide this eternal reality in any way they can. Through politics, religion, events, agendas, and more, people are persuaded to chase after the wrong issues and place their hope in temporary things. The enemy is good at his job, even to the point where believers and unbelievers alike are tempted into division and discord over almost every single topic. Satan has shifted our attention away from the gospel and instead makes many believe secondary issues outweigh the primary focus – Jesus’ death and resurrection.

This is why Paul says, “For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2 NLT) Nothing else mattered to Paul because he knew if people truly understood the gospel, their lives would be conformed to the image of their maker. No matter what they would face or how many struggles they would come against, the cross would be the only source of real-life change.

This same truth resonates all the more in our culture today. People long for the truth. They want to be seen and heard and know there is hope in our hurting world. And we, as believers, have the answer. We have the ability (with the Spirit’s help) to point people toward life instead of death. It is the greatest blessing and responsibility given to us as the church. We get to show the world the real Jesus.

The Gospel Changes Our Hearts First

I think it was so good of Jesus not to send out His disciples without letting the message affect their hearts first. God doesn’t want us to preach a message we are not living. There were already people behaving like that in Jesus’ time, the religious Pharisees. They were called out for their hypocrisy, judgment, and inability to rely on the Messiah instead of their own works. God wanted then what He still wants now – children who are renewed daily by the grace of the gospel.

As we receive God’s love completely, we need to let it saturate us to the core. We need to let it convince us of our worth. We need to let it wash away shame and cast out all fear. Understanding what has been done for us motivates us to do everything for our King. Accepting who we are as God’s children empowers us to walk confidently in our identities and share the good news with others. And it begins in our very homes.

The Ripple Effect of the Gospel

What I find to be amazing is that when one person accepted Christ in the Bible, the whole family often followed after. Our homes are the breeding ground for the gospel, creating our most meaningful disciples. It’s where we share and demonstrate our full testimonies to our most precious people. We have been given the privilege of telling our children about the power of the resurrection and how the sacrifice Christ made on the cross leads to risen life with Him. It’s the most incredible story ever told, and it’s the most significant one our kids need to hear.

The gospel saves families, transforms neighborhoods, changes nations, and sets communities free. Relationships are restored, and the curse of sin is redeemed. From our hearts to our homes to humanity, the gospel is the ripple effect that will awaken the entire world.

Sharing the Gospel Is Usually Awkward

An honest confession for you - I used to be scared out of my mind to share my faith with others. I thought they would say I was weird (some did), or maybe they would write me off (some did). People not liking me has always been a hard pill to swallow. But God opened my eyes to the sad reality of this fallen world. Heartache happens, injustice occurs, sin abounds, and Satan destroys. There is a battle for people’s souls, and without the hope offered to them through the gospel, they will fight that battle on their own and lose.

If I know the only One who will rescue them, am I willing to risk putting my relationship on the line for the sake of love? Or am I loving myself and my comfort more? It’s not an easy question to answer, but it’s a necessary one.

Many try to work their way back to their Creator, but they never know if it’s enough. Others try to fill the hole in their hearts with anything that can numb the pain, but our infinite God can only fill that emptiness. When we do the brave thing and share the gospel with others, we give them the opportunity to put striving down and receive eternal assurance found only in the cross. It may be awkward. It probably will be hard. But bearing the uncomfortable will be more than worth it if others can know the love we have.

Imitation Is the Goal

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT) Jesus sacrificed everything for us. He lived a life filled with love, one that was not bound by the standards of the world or religion. Christ is our example, and as we follow Him, our little ones will imitate us and look like their Savior as well. When we put the gospel at the center of our hearts, the gospel will become the center of our homes. No matter what happens on this planet, nothing will be able to shake us because we know we are dear to God. And nothing will be able to keep Christ’s gospel contained.

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/nicolesy

Becky Beresford lives in Huntley, IL and is happily outnumbered by her husband and three wild boys. She is a writer and speaker with a Master’s Certificate in Discipleship from Moody Theological Seminary. Becky loves encouraging God’s Daughters to embrace their truest selves in Christ and walk out the gospel truths empowered by God. She would love to connect with you online at BeckyBeresford.com, where you can grab a FREE copy of the Brave Woman Manifesto: Five Things to Tell Yourself When Life Gets Hard. Feel free to follow her and the weekly Brave Women Series on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter.