Critical Conversations: Topics for Chat

Critical Conversations – Chat with your children on topics that matter

When I was a young mother, I had a deep longing to share my faith with my children. My husband and I made a deliberate choice to spend time with our children and talk about things, all kinds of topics. That’s why we homeschooled. In fact, my husband even taught my kids to argue. He didn’t want that ‘yes it is’ and ‘no it’s not’ nonsense. Instead, he wanted them to engage in sharing facts. The Bible says to give reasons for the hope that is within you and that sort of conversation is what he wanted.

Today as a person with grown kids, my convictions are even stronger. I’ve seen God change people and impossible situations. I’ve seen him at work, and I know people need the Lord. I love that verse in the Psalms where David said, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.”

The world is broken and we see evidence of that every day. Proverbs 4:19 says “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.” In contrast, see what God says about knowing him: Psalm 119:165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.

As parents, it’s so important to chat with your children. The kitchen table is a wonderful place to do that. Share what God says and interact with them. If they absorb the world’s ideas, they will suffer the consequences. “Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

Today Tom Gilson tells us how to tackle a ticklish topic. He’s just written a book called Critical Conversations.

00: 34 My thoughts on this topic

3:29 Talking about uncomfortable topic

4:34 Does Christianity hate individuals?

6:08 Ultimate bondage

6:45 We just want to love

8:13 Huge culture shift

9:05 Why broach the uncomfortable topic?

10:07 It is rude to judge someone else’s choices?

11:29 Teach a teen to be confident

12:40 Avoid the Bible brush off?

15:40 Compare the sin