Your kids are already being discipled by the world every single day. As their dad, you can’t simply tell them what to avoid. They need to see you live out 1 Peter 3:15 by knowing the truth, knowing why you believe it, and knowing how to talk about it.

#1 Know the truth. “…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy…” Peter’s point is pretty simple: when pressure comes, let Jesus set the direction, not fear. “[H]onor Christ the Lord as holy” means treating Him as the One in control.

This will show up in how you deal with stress, conflict, and a health scare. Your kids are watching what you trust when life gets crazy. If your heart’s bent toward God, it will shape the way you lead your home.

#2 Know why you believe. “…always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you…” Peter didn’t expect every believer to become a touring apologist. But you should know what you believe and why you believe it. Peter says we should be ready to explain the hope we have.

Your kids will be told things daily at school, online, and from friends, as if those things are gospel truth. You need to help test those “truths” against the real truth of God’s Word. Make sure home is a safe place for asking hard questions. Help them think through what Scripture teaches.

#3 Know how to talk about it. “…yet do it with gentleness and respect…” Peter doesn’t just tell us to be ready to explain our hope. He tells us to do it “with gentleness and respect…” He knew defending beliefs could turn into arguments. For you, this means your kids should ask you stuff without dreading your response.

You should stand on truth but also be approachable. If your kid’s afraid to ask you hard questions, they’ll ask someone else. You can’t be smug and gentle at the same time. You can’t be the guy who criticizes questions and be known for respecting others.

Helping Your Children Build Strong Faith: You do not need a theology degree to help your kids build a strong faith. You just need to show up in five specific ways. Here is what those look like.

“We Will Serve the Lord” – How to Lead Your Family to Serve God: Lawson and I talked about how a dad can lead his family toward God without making himself the center of it all. Give it a listen.

“Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy.” —Warren Wiersbe

This week, ask your kid, “What’s one question about [life/church/Bible/whatever] you have after hearing something at school, online, or from a friend?”

Then do three things: 1) listen without jumping in, 2) open Scripture together, and 3) follow up later if you need time to find the answer. Show that you’re a safe place to bring hard questions, and that God’s Word is where to go for truth.

Take some time to reflect and ask yourself: Does the way I live give my kids a reason to ask about the hope I have?

God calls you to know the truth, know why you believe it, and know how to talk about it.

Kent Evans
Executive Director at Manhood Journey

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

Forward this to a dad you know who needs some encouragement.