“Daddy and Mommy, I want to be
baptized!” From the time even before they are born, these are the words that we
pray we will hear from our children. However, we also want to be sure that they
have a genuine faith and a clear understanding of the gospel before they take
this step, the most important of their lives. We may be concerned about their
age, their maturity, and their motivation.
Has your child asked you this question?
How can you be sure that your son or daughter is ready?
Listed below are some thoughts to
express and some questions to ask your child. Parents, you may use any of
these or all of these as you think best. These questions are intended only as
suggestions and guidelines that I have found to be helpful. They are not requirements.
If your son or daughter will write
down his or her answers to these questions, those written answers
will help prevent later doubts (both yours and theirs) about their purpose and
level of understanding at the time.
You might begin like this.
“I am so proud of you for wanting to be
saved and to follow Jesus! Before you are baptized, let’s spend some time
studying about what it means to be a Christian. We can talk about what we need
to know and believe. We can read important Scriptures together and discuss your
questions. Then, when we finish our study, you may be baptized into Christ.”
“What is baptism? Who should be
baptized and why?”
“Why do you want or need to be
baptized? How long have you been considering this, and what started you to
thinking about it?”
“Why now? Would you consider
waiting?” (If the child is not willing to wait because of conviction of sin,
that’s a good sign! If the child is willing to wait, perhaps he or she
is not ready and does not yet understand the urgency of the matter.) Read Acts
8:26-40.
Read Romans 1:29-31. “What is
sin? Are you aware of sin in your own life? Do you think you are lost? Are
you under conviction? Does your conscience bother you?”
“Do you have specific sins in your own
life that you want God to forgive?”
Read Romans 5:6-11. “What has Jesus Christ done to save us?” Emphasize the finished saving work of Jesus on the cross and the importance of faith in His grace. Some children (and adults!) think that they must achieve salvation rather than receive salvation. They think that, once they are baptized, they must be perfect in every way or else be lost again.)
“What do you think will happen to you
if you are not baptized? Why?”
“Do you understand that baptism is the beginning
of a lifelong walk with Christ?”
“Is it hard or easy to be a disciple of
Jesus Christ? Why?”
Read Luke 14:25-35. “What does it mean
that Jesus is Lord? Are you prepared to surrender your life and all your future
decisions to His will and His purpose for you? Can you say, ‘I have decided to
follow Jesus! No turning back, no turning back?”
What will you do if there is a conflict
between what Jesus says and what others say (or what your friends say or do)?”
“What will you do if there is a
conflict between church services and other activities?”
Read Acts 2:38 and Romans 6:1-11. “Are
you ready to repent, to die to sin, to change your life? Are there any sins
that you are not willing to give up?”
“What will you do after you are
baptized to show your gratitude and love for the Lord? How will you grow in
Bible study? In worship? In your church involvement? In telling others about
Christ?”
“Are you ready to sit and listen
attentively to sermons and Bible lessons, as adults do, without needing
something else to do during Bible class and worship?”
“Praise God!”
