Teaching Values Through WWJD: Raising Children with a Christ-Centered Perspective
Today, we’re talking about one of the most powerful tools for parents in raising their children: asking, What Would Jesus Do?"
In a world that often challenges Christian principles, this simple question provides a framework for teaching compassion, forgiveness, and service, just as Jesus modeled. By focusing on Christ’s example in daily life, moms can guide their children toward a strong, Christ-centered foundation that will help them navigate the challenges of today with grace and integrity.
Today, the cultural tides often run contrary to the principles of the Christian faith, making it even more crucial to root children deeply in a Christ-centered foundation. The question of “What Would Jesus Do?” (WWJD) provides a powerful framework for raising children with the values and character traits modeled by Jesus Himself. By focusing on Christ’s teachings and behavior, mothers can teach their children to love God, serve others, and make moral decisions that reflect the heart of the Gospel.
This article will explore several key strategies that moms can use to raise their children with a Christ-centered perspective. By modeling Jesus’ behavior, engaging with Scripture, fostering a prayerful life, and encouraging acts of service, mothers can guide their children toward a lifelong faith rooted in the values and morals of Christianity.
1. Modeling Christ-like Behavior
Children learn best through example. They observe and often imitate the actions, words, and attitudes of their parents. This means that one of the most effective ways a mother can teach her child about Christ-centered values is by modeling those values in her own life. Jesus' behavior provides a clear blueprint for living with love, compassion, humility, and righteousness.
a) Living a Life of Compassion
Jesus showed compassion to everyone He encountered, from the poor to the sick to the outcast. Teaching children to treat others with kindness and empathy begins with showing those virtues in everyday interactions. Mothers can model compassion by being patient with their children, showing kindness to neighbors, and offering a listening ear to those in need. When a mother responds with grace to difficult situations, her children learn to do the same. For example, if a child sees their mother helping a struggling friend or comforting a family member in need, they are more likely to mirror that compassionate behavior.
Moms can also take the opportunity to explain why compassion matters. Using Bible stories such as the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) helps children understand that Jesus values kindness toward others, even when it requires sacrifice.
b) Practicing Forgiveness
Forgiveness is at the heart of Jesus' teachings. Christ forgave even those who wronged Him on the cross, and His example shows us that forgiveness is essential to living in peace with one another. In the home, conflicts between siblings or friends provide opportunities to teach forgiveness. Moms can model forgiveness by letting go of anger, offering grace to others, and explaining to their children that forgiving others is what Jesus would do.
Mothers can also reinforce the idea of forgiveness by praying with their children about the situations where they feel hurt and showing them how to ask God for the strength to forgive. As children witness their parents practicing forgiveness, they are likely to follow that example, learning to resolve conflicts in a Christ-like manner.
2. Engaging Children with Scripture
The Bible is the ultimate source of moral guidance and wisdom. By reading and discussing Scripture with their children, mothers can give their kids a deep understanding of God’s values. Bible stories, verses, and lessons serve as the foundation for teaching children how to live a life centered on Christ.
a) Introducing Age-Appropriate Bible Stories
From a young age, children can be introduced to the stories of the Bible that demonstrate important values like courage, faith, and obedience. For young children, stories such as David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17), Daniel in the lion’s den (Daniel 6), and the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-14) show how God works in the lives of those who trust Him.
Mothers can encourage their children to reflect on these stories by asking questions like, “What do you think God was teaching David?” or “How can we show faith like Daniel did?” These questions help children internalize the lessons and apply them to their own lives.
b) Memory Verses for Daily Life
In addition to reading Bible stories, memorizing Scripture is a powerful tool for teaching children values. Short, simple verses can be woven into daily conversations and routines, reinforcing Christ’s teachings in a way that’s easy for children to remember. Verses like Colossians 3:12 (“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience”) or Matthew 22:39 (“Love your neighbor as yourself”) are valuable reminders of how God wants His people to live.
Mothers can encourage their children to recite these verses during moments of decision-making or conflict, teaching them to ask themselves, “What would Jesus do in this situation?”
3. Fostering a Prayerful Life
Prayer is an essential part of building a strong, Christ-centered family. It is through prayer that children learn to communicate with God, seek His guidance, and rely on Him for strength. Mothers can teach their children to cultivate a relationship with God through prayer in both structured and spontaneous moments.
a) Establishing a Routine of Prayer
Having a routine of daily prayer helps children develop the habit of turning to God in all circumstances. Whether it’s saying a simple prayer of gratitude before meals or praying together before bedtime, these moments help children recognize the importance of God’s presence in their lives.
Mothers can encourage their children to offer up their own prayers, thanking God for the day, asking for help with challenges, or praying for others. This gives children ownership over their prayer life, helping them understand that God is always listening and cares deeply about them.
b) Encouraging Spontaneous Prayers
Beyond formal prayer times, moms can also encourage their children to pray spontaneously throughout the day. If a child is feeling anxious about a school project or worried about a friend, a mother can suggest taking a moment to pray together. By doing so, mothers model the idea that prayer isn’t confined to church or before meals but is a constant line of communication with God.
Jesus often prayed during moments of challenge or decision, and by modeling this behavior, mothers teach their children that prayer is a natural response to life’s ups and downs.
4. Encouraging Acts of Service
Jesus’ life was defined by service to others. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and gave His time and love to those in need. Teaching children to serve others is a tangible way of teaching them the values of kindness, generosity, and humility.
a) Family Service Projects
One way to teach children about the importance of service is by organizing family service projects. This could be something as simple as volunteering at a local food bank, donating toys to a children’s hospital, or making cards for elderly members of the church. By involving the whole family, moms can show their children that serving others is not only a responsibility but also a joy.
After these service activities, it’s important to take time to reflect on the experience as a family. Discussing questions like, “How do you think Jesus would have responded to the people we helped today?” allows children to connect their acts of service to their faith.
b) Serving Within the Family
Service doesn’t always have to happen outside the home. Encouraging children to serve one another within the family is another way to reinforce Jesus’ teachings. Whether it’s helping a sibling with homework, cleaning up after dinner without being asked, or comforting a family member who’s had a tough day, these small acts of service reflect the love and humility of Christ.
Mothers can praise and encourage these behaviors by explaining that, in serving one another, they are imitating Jesus. As Philippians 2:3-4 reminds us, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
5. Creating a Christ-Centered Home Environment
Ultimately, teaching values to children through a Christ-centered perspective requires creating a home environment where faith is lived out daily. Moms can foster this environment by integrating Christian principles into the fabric of family life.
a) Prioritizing Family Worship
Set aside regular times for family worship and devotionals. These can be moments where the family reads Scripture together, sings worship songs, and discusses what God is teaching them. Family worship time helps create a sense of unity around faith and shows children that their relationship with God is the most important part of their lives.
b) Encouraging Open Discussions About Faith
Create an atmosphere where children feel comfortable asking questions about faith and discussing what they’re learning. Whether it’s a question about a Bible story or something they’re grappling with in school, moms can guide their children by pointing them back to Scripture and the example of Jesus.
Raising children with a Christ-centered perspective in a world that often pulls them in different directions is no small task, but it is a calling that mothers can embrace with confidence. By modeling Christ-like behavior, engaging with Scripture, fostering a prayerful life, encouraging acts of service, and creating a Christ-centered home, moms can instill values and morals that will guide their children for a lifetime. Through the lens of "What Would Jesus Do?" children learn to navigate life’s challenges with grace, integrity, and a heart that reflects the love of Jesus.