Building Gospel Foundations Early
“We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done…so that they should set their hope in God.”— Psalm 78:4, 7 (ESV)
In the last post, we wrestled with the sobering truth that raising good kids isn’t the goal of parenting. Our children need more than moral behavior. They need Christ Himself. That realization pushes us to ask a practical next question: Where do we begin?
Because we are born in sin, our hearts are naturally turned away from God. We are spiritually blind to His beauty and truth until He opens our eyes by grace. For that reason, the first step toward faith is simply cultivating God awareness.
Before our children can understand sin, salvation, or discipleship, they need categories for who God is—His love, His power, His care, His goodness. These truths are like the ABCs of the gospel, simple beginnings that help our children recognize God’s voice and character as they grow. They don’t save by themselves, but without them, there’s no framework to understand why salvation matters.
So let’s explore how parents can begin—right from the early years—with instruction that introduces the reality of God. We’ll look at what Psalm 78 teaches us, and then talk about what this looks like in the ordinary rhythms of family life.
“Can My Baby Really Learn About God?”
You might be thinking, “Honestly, my toddler is just barely stringing words together. How could I possibly teach him about God at this stage? Isn’t it too early?”
If you’ve ever wondered this, you’re not alone. In fact, many of us assume discipleship begins later—when kids can sit still, read a Bible, or understand big theological words. But the Bible paints a different picture. God calls His people to tell the coming generation of His works—and that can start from their earliest years.
As babies and toddlers, children are soaking in rhythms, tone, and categories. The question isn’t if they are learning—it’s what they are learning. And parents get the privilege of planting seeds that, by God’s Spirit, can one day grow into faith.
Instruction that Points to God’s Character
As we think about what this looks like in daily parenting, Psalm 78 gives us three guiding principles for how and why we teach our children about God:
1. Instruction is God’s design for generational faithfulness
The psalmist declares, “We will not hide them from their children” (v. 4). Notice the active responsibility. Faith cannot be assumed. We must speak of God, even to our little ones. Parents are called to deliberately pass on knowledge of God’s works, not wait until their children ask.
2. The focus is God’s glorious deeds, not ours
The content of our instruction matters: “the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders he has done” (v. 4). Parents aren’t primarily passing on family traditions, success strategies, or moral rules, but the story of God’s mighty works. We don’t want our works to make our kids impressive, but focus on making God’s greatness visible.
3. The goal is that they set their hope in God
Verse 7 is the heartbeat: “so that they should set their hope in God.” Instruction is not about filling heads with information but nurturing trust. Children must see God as the One worthy of their confidence and love.
Again, this early instruction doesn’t “save” them, but it prepares the soil. When parents faithfully plant these truths, they are laying the framework for the gospel story that will make sense later.
How to Teach Little Ones About God
So what does this look like for busy families with little ones? Here are some practical ways to weave instruction into the everyday, both formally and informally:
Formal Moments of Instruction
Read simple Bible stories daily
Even five minutes before bed introduces rhythms of listening to God’s Word. Use age-appropriate Bible storybooks for younger children and gradually “grow” with them as their understanding expands. I particularly appreciate those that help them see the Bible as one story. My favorite sources for children’s books include WTS Books, New Growth Press, Crossway, 10 of Those, and P&R Publishing. They all have solid books for kids from birth to youth.
Memorize short verses together
Start with truths about God’s character: “God is love” (1 John 4:8), “The LORD is good to all” (Psalm 145:9). Repeat them at meals or bedtime. Seeds Kids Worship puts Scripture to song.
Sing songs that point to God
Young children remember through music. Hymns, Scripture songs, and simple choruses plant theology deeply in little hearts. If you use Spotify, check out The Getty Girls (daughters of Keith and Kristyn Getty), Brook Hills Kids, and Sovereign Grace Kids for some good options.
Informal Everyday Moments
Point out God’s creation and provision
On a walk, talk to your kids about how God made the sky. Before meals, tell them that God was the one that provided the food they eat. These repeated connections build categories of God as Creator and Provider.
Demonstrate dependence
Let your children see you pray aloud for help with a hard day or thank God for finding a lost toy. This helps your child hear dependence in real life.
Turn discipline into discipleship
When you need to correct your children, help them see that God placed you here to guide and protect them as they learn to trust and obey Him.
Modeling God’s Heart
Just as important as the words we speak is the manner in which we speak them. Instruction isn’t just biblical content. It also needs to model His heart for them. Our tone, patience, and joy color speak just as loudly as our teaching.
Words—even if they are straight from the Bible—that are spoken harshly can diminish their effectiveness. Let us aim to also embody Christ in both what we say and how we say it. These early lessons in instruction lay the groundwork for the next stage—helping your child see God’s fingerprints in everyday life.
