Many young parents have asked the question, “When is the best time to baptize my child?” It’s an important question, and it’s an important one for both parents and church leaders to be asking. If a child says they love and trust Jesus, we must take it at face value. We know that Jesus loves children and desires to save them (Matt. 19:14), so we should be eager to welcome kids to him and baptize them. At the same time, we don’t want kids to pursue baptism simply because their parents want them to be baptized. The church is responsible to baptize only believers, those whom God has saved and changed. So, as you, parents and church ministry leaders, consider whether or not the child in your care is ready, here are seven things to keep in mind:

We fight to believe the truth about God (faith) and desire God above all other things (worship). When we ask what truths we need to turn to, weʼre not talking about knowing the right mantra about God to chant when we are faced with temptation. Saying, “God is in control,” over and over and over again will usually not stop the tide of worry and anxiety in our hearts. We must exercise faith in the greatness of God, and we must worship him as the Great One in order to win the battle against sin.

A godly marriage is one in which both husband and wife love and celebrate Christ in their hearts and relationship. In addition, both husband and wife seek daily to die to self and live for Christ. Personal agendas are submitted to God’s agenda as both spouses seek to be controlled by the Spirit of God rather than by their flesh. Neither partner clings to their “rights;” rather, they both realize that they are under the authority of God. Their unity is not based on likes and dislikes or other “compatibility” issues, but on the fact that God has joined them together. They seek harmony through “putting on the mind of Christ.” 

A godly wife submits to the headship of her husband as ordained by God, knowing that even as she does so, she is really submitting to God. She recognizes that the freest place she can be is under the authority of her husband. She “brings her husband good and not evil all the days of his life.” When her husband is in error before the Lord, she seeks to win him over by her behavior and Christ–likeness, rather than by nagging, complaining, or other verbal means. She does not grudgingly minister to her husband but does so joyfully and heartily.

A godly husband is fully submitted to Christ. He loves his wife sacrificially. He seeks diligently to understand his wife. He lovingly teaches her the truth of God’s word both overtly and through his conduct. He is concerned about the spiritual well being of his wife, and prays for her and with her on a regular basis. He does not rule over his wife or family; instead, he is there to serve not be served. Even as he leads, he is the biggest servant in the family. He follows through on his commitments to his wife and children. He finds joy in serving his wife and family.

Some Christians are really good at compartmentalizing their faith. By that I mean they pick and choose when and where and in what ways their Christian values and beliefs are expressed. There are certain sacred arenas, so to speak, in which being a Christian is for them the thing to do. But there are also secular venues in which they check their Christianity at the door and live almost as if they know nothing of Jesus Christ. 

Paul won’t have it! As far as he’s concerned, there is no such thing as “secular space.” There is no event, activity, endeavor, or goal that is exempt from the lordship of Jesus. There is no idea, aspiration, dream, or belief that does not come under his sovereign sway. There is no achievement, accomplishment, work, or word that does not exist for the glory of the Son of God. 

As we’re approaching our last Sunday for a while at Grace, we’ve been reflecting on everything that the Lord has done since we’ve joined the church.

Grace Kids is a ministry to the family partnering with parents in the journey of our children’s discipleship. Our mission is to see children, also sinners and sufferers, transformed by the grace of God into disciples who treasure Jesus, have deep friendships, and boldly evangelize. One way we do that is by providing age-appropriate, Jesus-centered classrooms at our Sunday gatherings.

Between Genesis and Revelation is the story of God’s desire to have a people among whom he can dwell. So, that happened first in the tabernacle, then the temple, then in Jesus himself–God with us–and now in the church through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. You could say that God’s presence is both the means by which he works out his plans for his people, and also the goal of those plans. 

Jesus triumphed over Satan and all his demons through His work of redemption, particularly by canceling the authority of sin over us at the cross, and His exaltation to the right hand of the Father (Matt. 12:28-29; Eph. 1:19-23; Col. 2:13-15). Satan is already condemned and his final destruction is sure (John 12:31; 16:11; Rev. 20:7-10).