What does it mean to pass on a legacy of faith to your children?
I was reflecting on this recently as I was praying for my adult children and my 2 soon-to-be-born grandchildren.
I want them to know Jesus and to love Him with all their hearts. I want them to know the joy of following and serving Him every day. I pray that God continues the work He’s started in all of them and that they are intentional in passing their faith along to their own children.
Discipleship, or leveraging what God has taught us for the sake of those He brings into our lives is a driving force for David and me. It was the reason we started Teach Them Diligently in the first place—to celebrate discipleship in home education. We wanted to point families to Jesus and to equip them to parent and disciple their children biblically even as they were giving them an excellent education.
That still drives everything we do here at TTD.
Although discipleship is incredibly natural and it happens within relationships, those who disciple must be intentional and strategic in their efforts. We must look for opportunities for conversations. We must be aware of teachable moments, and we must constantly be growing in our own walk with God if we’re going to be able to help our children grow in their faith.
I have often thought back to my own upbringing and what made the biggest impact in my own life as I was growing up. I was raised in Christian home, with church and my Christian school being where I spent most of my time. I was surrounded by scripture and others who seemed to believe the same way our family did, but being in a good church and attending a Christian school didn’t do much to strengthen my faith. Sure, God used men and women along the way to mentor and invest in me, and I’m very grateful for that. Yet, looking back, I can’t remember a single Sunday school lesson, Bible class, or sermon that strongly impacted my young heart.
What I do remember are conversations with my mom and dad. I understand now that my parents were growing in their faith. As they grew, they brought us along for the journey. So, it wasn’t the formal lessons but the heart focused talks with my parents that nurtured my faith.
These discussions were more than just educational. They were transformative, reflecting my parents’ spiritual growth and desire to embed that same growth in us. Unbeknownst to them, their legacy was the faith and love they exemplified.
I remember discussing the “whys” behind what we believed or did. I remember their investment of time in knowing us and ensuring they truly connected with our hearts. I remember their faithfulness and evident love of God and people.
My parents passed on a legacy, but I’m not sure they even recognized that as they went along. They were just following step-by-step in the ways God led them, and my sister Kristin and I were the beneficiaries of that.
After marrying David, the conviction that discipling our children was our highest calling led to the tradition of creating Legacy Bibles, which many of you have heard me talk about. Inspired by a godly lady who dedicated a year to praying and note-taking for an individual in her church, I adapted this concept to create an heirloom discipleship gift for each of my children’s sixteenth birthdays, dedicating at least a year and a half to each Bible.
Working on those Bibles, where I would journal thoughts and prayers specific to that individual in the margins of their Bible, became one of the most impactful things I ever did. God gave me great insight into each of my children as I worked on their Bibles, and each time I read through His Word on their behalf I saw something different. We serve such a personal God!
I was able to share stories of how God had led their dad and me. I was able to pass on lessons I learned the hard way in hopes that they wouldn’t have to “stub their toe” the same way I did. I was able to tell them how good God is and how completely He can be trusted, and I was able to spend dedicated time praying for each one of them individually as I worked on their Bible.
Working on Legacy Bibles for my children has been one of the greatest discipleship endeavors of my life.
Almost every time I speak, someone asks about the Legacy Bible idea, and I love to share how to do it with those who ask. Many have loved the idea, but they’ve been overwhelmed by the concept and were so unsure how to start that they never actually did. To help with that, I partnered with Tricia Goyer who has done her own version of Legacy Bibles for her children, to write a simple guide to help you start creating them for your own family.
I can’t overstate the impact that simple exercise will have on your own personal growth and on your relationship with the child you’re focusing on. I would love to help you get started, and then I’d love to hear your stories all along the way, so let’s chat at Teach Them Diligently this spring or summer! 😊 You can get a copy of How to Create a Legacy Bible by clicking here.
Whether you pick up the book or not, I encourage you to consider embarking on this tradition for your own children. The discipleship impact of it will be generational!
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU HOMESCHOOL MISSIONALLY
- Q and A for TTD365 members all about how I created Legacy Bibles. This was a Real Moms episode where I showed you the kids’ Bibles and talked through exactly how to do it, plus I answered quite a few questions from members. If you’re a TTD365 member, I encourage you to check that out.
- Pick up a copy of How to Create A Legacy Bible. This guide is invaluable for any Christian parent, whether new to the concept of a legacy Bible or looking to deepen their existing practice. It provides practical advice on selecting meaningful scriptures, sharing personal testimonies of God’s impact on your life, and creating a personalized handbook of faith that will guide your children and grandchildren for years. This book is a call to action for parents to become stewards of their family’s faith journey, ensuring that the light of Christ shines brightly through their lineage, all through the pages of their Legacy Bible.
- The discipleship gift of a journaling Bible. This episode of the Teach Them Diligently podcast was all about creating Legacy Bibles.
