10 Ways To Have An Unshakable Faith With My Kids | Unshakable | Pastor Adam Bishop

May 10, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Deep Waters and Drawing Out

The disciples once brought children to Jesus, but adults tried to block them. Jesus rebuked the crowd, saying, “Let the little children come to me.” He laid hands on them, blessing their futures. Parents today still bring children to Jesus through prayer and dedication, trusting His plans over their own. [30:17]

Children carry purposes deeper than we see. Like Jesus seeing Nathanael under the fig tree before calling him, God knows your child’s unformed days. Your role isn’t to mold them into your image, but to draw out the person God designed.

When your child resists your expectations, do you push harder or seek their God-given bent? This week, pause before correcting. Ask: “What unique purpose might God be growing here?” What if their stubbornness is courage, or their distraction curiosity? How will you partner with God’s work instead of your agenda?

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
(Proverbs 22:6, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to show you one way your child’s personality reflects His design.
Challenge: Write “Psalm 139:16” on a sticky note. Place it where you’ll see it during parenting frustrations today.

Day 2: Fire Pits and Open Hearts

Peter stood by a charcoal fire when Jesus restored him. The crackling flames became holy ground for raw confession. Your child’s heart opens in unexpected places—during bedtime stories, car rides, or LEGO builds. Like Jesus with Peter, meet them where they’re ready to talk. [56:35]

God designed your child to crave connection. The Prodigal Son’s father didn’t chase his rebel son—but waited watchfully. Your attentive presence builds trust for future hard conversations. Missed moments accumulate; seized moments compound.

Where does your child chatter freely? Is it while baking cookies, walking the dog, or shooting hoops? Block 15 minutes this week to enter their space without agenda. What question could you ask that starts with, “I noticed…” instead of “How was…?”

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.”
(Proverbs 20:5, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for three specific traits you love about your child’s personality.
Challenge: Invite your child to a “fire pit moment” (literal or metaphorical) this week. Listen more than speak.

Day 3: Jerseys Wet with Effort

A boy offered five loaves—small, imperfect, yet multiplied by Jesus. Your child’s “C+” effort or messy art project is their loaves and fish. Celebrate the sweat, not the score. Like Jesus praising the widow’s mites, He values their wholehearted trying. [51:07]

God cares more about stewardship than success. David’s five stones mattered less than his trust in God’s strength. When you affirm effort over outcomes, you teach dependence on Christ, not self-sufficiency.

Next time your child shows you a drawing, loses a game, or struggles with math, name one specific effort: “You kept trying even when it got hard.” What muscle of perseverance can you strengthen today?

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
(Colossians 3:23, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one time you prioritized results over character. Ask for eyes to see effort.
Challenge: Text your child (or write a note) praising one effort you saw this week—no grades or wins mentioned.

Day 4: Phones Down, Palms Up

Martha fretted over meals while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. Your child needs your undivided eyes more than your Instagram feed. Like Jesus setting aside heaven’s glory to be fully present on earth, your embodied attention mirrors His love. [59:11]

Every glance at your phone during their story whispers, “You’re less interesting than strangers.” But locked eyes during their Lego tower tale shout, “You’re my miracle.” Your presence preaches the Father’s delight.

What mundane moment today—dinner cleanup, shoe-tying, driveway basketball—could become holy ground if you fully engaged? What distraction habit needs boundaries (like charging phones in another room at 6 PM)?

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
(1 Peter 5:7, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one distraction that robs your presence. Ask for strength to set it aside.
Challenge: Designate one 30-minute block today as “device-free zone” with your child. Initiate a game or conversation.

Day 5: Forgiveness on the Carpet

Peter denied Jesus three times. After rising, Jesus didn’t lecture—He asked, “Do you love Me?” Restoration began with a question, not a sermon. When you sin against your child, kneel to their eye level. Say, “I was wrong. Will you forgive me?” [46:04]

Apologizing models the gospel: we’re sinners saved by grace. Your humility teaches more than any correction. The Prodigal’s father ran, embracing before hearing apologies. Repair ruptures quickly—shame grows in silence.

What recent conflict with your child remains unresolved? How can you initiate repair today—maybe with ice cream or a walk? What if your admission of failure becomes their safest memory?

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
(Ephesians 4:32, NIV)

Prayer: Name one way you’ve hurt your child recently. Ask Jesus for courage to seek forgiveness.
Challenge: Before bed tonight, apologize for one specific action. Offer a hug without excuses.

Sermon Summary

We gather as a church family to dedicate children and to build homes where faith stays steady. We commit to pray for children, to give them the Bible, and to celebrate the day when each child chooses Jesus. We base parenting on the Bible and on God’s sovereignty. We see children first as image bearers whose primary identity becomes rooted in Christ. That shapes everything we do. Faith calls us to raise children toward mature spiritual identity rather than merely toward independence.

We acknowledge that children belong to God and that their days and purposes come from his hand. That truth frees parents to encourage obedience to God even when it pushes against parental comfort. We study each child like a careful student. We pay attention to differences of temperament and to the small cues that reveal gifts and hurts. We help children try many things, then steward emerging talents so those gifts glorify God and bless others. Skill development matters because God prepares good works for each life.

We exercise correction with love so behaviors change without undermining a child’s identity as a child of the king. Discipline must shape character and not shame identity. We practice quick forgiveness so grace replaces shame and fast reconciliation models the gospel. We practice humility by asking forgiveness when we blow it. Owning failure in front of our children trains them in repentance and keeps our authority from becoming exasperation.

We use words to build life. We praise character, effort, actions, and attitude because those are within a child’s control. We watch where our words either deposit life or drain it. We pay attention to moments when children open their hearts and we meet them there. We create rhythms and places where deep waters rise and we draw them out with patience.

We give our undivided attention because time deposits into relationship. Presence matters more than perfection. We cast our own anxieties on Christ so we can be fully present for those entrusted to our care. We leave with one commitment each to practice this week, relying on God’s power to shape both home and heart.

Key Takeaways

1. See children as future adults We must form our parenting around the conviction that children will one day stand alone before God. That means shaping identity in Christ, not merely teaching self-reliance. Raising adults requires faith to invest now in habits, disciplines, and gospel truths that will carry them into independence without driving them away from dependence on God. This posture aligns our daily choices with eternal ends. [29:29]
2. Children do not belong to us Ownership is the wrong grammar for parenting because God writes each child’s days. Viewing children as gifts from God frees parents to release them when God calls and to encourage obedience that may cost comfort. This perspective moves parents from fear and clinging toward trust in God’s purposes for each life. It cultivates courage to bless hard callings. [32:08]
3. Become a student of children Children differ deeply and resist being copies of their parents. Studying each child’s likes, limits, and wiring lets parents meet them where they are and join their story. That attention shapes memory, trust, and effective discipleship. Being a student of our children turns hobby into stewardship. [33:55]
4. Discipline in love and truth Correction must target behavior while affirming identity as beloved of God. Loving discipline trains conscience and prevents patterns that ruin future relationships and work. Calm, consistent boundaries shape freedom rather than create shame. When discipline joins mercy, it forms mature hearts. [38:59]
5. Be fully present when present Time invested now becomes relational capital for future withdrawals of counsel and correction. Presence undergirds trust, reveals deep longings, and opens doors for gospel conversation. Casting anxieties on Christ enables true presence so attention becomes the chief gift we give our children. [57:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:58] - Baby Dedication and Commitments
[27:56] - Series and Parenting Focus
[29:29] - See Children as Adults
[32:08] - Children Belong to God
[33:55] - Study Each Child
[37:24] - Steward Gifts for God
[38:59] - Discipline in Love
[43:12] - Forgiveness and Humility
[57:19] - Be Fully Present

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Psalm 139:16 (NIV)
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Observation Questions

What does Proverbs 22:6 identify as the parent’s role in a child’s spiritual journey?
According to Psalm 139:16, who ultimately holds authority over a child’s life and purpose?
In the sermon, what distinction was made between raising children for independence versus identity? [30:17]
How does Ephesians 2:10 connect a child’s gifts and talents to God’s greater plan?

Interpretation Questions

Why might focusing on a child’s identity in Christ (rather than mere independence) lead to healthier spiritual growth? [30:59]
How does acknowledging that children “do not belong to us” (Psalm 139:16) free parents to guide them toward obedience to God, even when it’s uncomfortable? [32:08]
The sermon emphasized discipline that “shapes character without shaming identity.” How can correction address behavior while still affirming a child’s worth as God’s image-bearer? [40:08]

Application Questions

What is one practical way to intentionally affirm your child’s identity in Christ this week (e.g., specific words, shared activities, or intentional conversations)? [30:17]
Identify a talent or gift you’ve noticed in your child. How can you help them steward it for God’s glory and others’ good, rather than just personal success? [37:24]
Reflect on a recent moment when you felt anxious or distracted while with your child. What step can you take to “cast that anxiety on Christ” to be more fully present next time? [59:55]
When have you struggled to release control of your child’s future? How can Psalm 139:16 reshape your prayers or decisions about their calling?
Think of a time you corrected your child. Did your approach focus on behavior or unintentionally attack their identity? What would “discipline in love” look like in a similar situation? [38:59]
What rhythms (e.g., meals, bedtime, car rides) could you leverage to create intentional space for your child to open up about their heart? [56:35]

Sermon Clips

44s

#DisciplineSavesLives

“The world says that if you discipline your kids, you'll ruin their lives. God's word says, no, it's the other way around. I see it all the time. Adults in their twenties, thirties, forties, and even their fifties who never had someone lovingly point out a behavior that needed to change and it's held them back. It's ended relationships. It's cost them in their career. And here's the challenge with an adult. As you move forward in life with each passing decade, you start to sync up those behaviors with your identity, and it becomes a little more difficult to separate the two. So stay engaged and listen, there's gonna be days that you're just done. You wanna throw in the towel, you wanna quit, you've had it. I've been there. Let me tell you what you need to do when you get to that point, take a nap.”

46s

#BeFullyPresent

“Be fully present when you're present. Be fully present when you're present. This one's hard. It's hard to be fully present when you're present. Our phones rob us oftentimes with that opportunity. We also in our home have a mini Goldendoodle named Evergreen. She's six years old, we call her Evie for short, and she's the little girl in our family. And if Morgan or myself are sitting on the couch and she jumps up beside us, if we and we're looking at our phones, if we don't acknowledge her within ten seconds, she will knock our phone out of our hands with her paw. I'm like, what are you? You know? If my dog can recognize when I'm not present, I promise you my children can and yours can as well.”

33s

#GiveUndividedAttention

“You gotta be present when you are present. When they're little, be present. I tell new dads all the time, hold your little baby every single day and talk to your little baby. When they're little, get on the floor and play with them. As they get older, figure out ways to connect with them. How do they talk? If you've got daughters, they probably talk differently than boys talk. You gotta figure all that out. You gotta be fully present when you're with them. The greatest gift, listen to me church, the greatest gift you can give your children is your undivided attention. It's your undivided attention.”

39s

#CorrectWithLove

“We're not talking about their identity. We talked about that earlier. So we affirm their identity. Hey, you're a child of the king. You're a daughter of the king, but these behaviors are not very king like. Alright? You're not acting like it. We've got to address some things and you can do this in love. You can do this in a loving way. You can point out behaviors that actually need to change. And parents, you don't get to abdicate that role. And I know it's difficult, and I know it's hard, and I know it's not something we like to do, and I know it can be exhausting because it feels like sometimes you're addressing the same thing over and over and over without anything changing. If that's happening, here's my encouragement. Try a different method.”

44s

#CelebrateEffortNotResults

“If your kids play sports, you celebrate their effort, not the results. You celebrate the effort, not the results. I love Morgan, every time one of our boys finishes an athletic game, she always says the same thing to him, I loved watching you compete today. I loved watching you compete today. Like, we're not gonna, you know, get upset whether passes are caught or whether they're dropped or all that kind of stuff, but like what we watch for is how do you greet your teammates on the sideline? Like, do you encourage someone? How do you respond to the coach? How do you conduct yourself? Are you aware that your actions have consequences with how you lead and influence others? Are you giving maximum effort? When your kids are doing their best at school, if they're doing their best and they're getting a c, you need to celebrate the maximum effort.”

42s

#CreateConnectionMoments

“By the end of the day, they're just done. So we adjusted. We shifted. We'd have breakfast, we'd go to a park, we'd go for a walk, we'd go to a playground, it's great. Just paying attention. We're connecting with them in the season that they're at. When they were little, oftentimes at night when I put them to bed, I would point to my heart, I would get them to point to their heart and I would say, how's this doing? How are you feeling? What's going on in here? Most nights they'd say, I'm good. But every now and then they would tell me something and start talking. Little little guys start talking. Now I'm thinking you need to go to sleep, but but but I'm but I'm gonna hold up. No, they're connecting like this is good. As they get older, do they talk to you about their friends? When do they talk with you about their friends? One of the things that I recognized about our boys,”

57s

#InvestTimeNow

“Giving your children your undivided attention and giving your children your time, I want you to think about it this way. It's like making deposits in a retirement account or making deposits in a mutual fund. You make the deposits along the way and then hopefully one day you start making the withdrawals. Every time that you spend intentional time with your children, you're making a deposit. You're making a deposit. And here's why that matters so much, because one day you're gonna have to start making withdrawals. See, when you're disciplining your children, you're making a withdrawal. When you sit down with your son or daughter one day to have the conversation, how you see some things that concern you about the person they're dating that's making a withdrawal. And if you have not made the deposits along the way with your time, those conversations won't go well when it's time to make the withdrawal and you never get another shot at time. It passes and then you never get it back. I want you to be intentional with the time that you have. Now,”

29s

#IdentityInChrist

“for them. So children can give their lives to the Lord, and then we baptize them. We celebrate that. And once anyone has given their life to Jesus, his or her identity is primarily now in Christ. Your child becomes a son or a daughter of the king, and we wanna reinforce that identity in every season of their lives. But see, if we try to raise our kids to be independent, that's actually counter to what God's word says because I get up here most week and talk about how we should be dependent on God. Do you see it?”

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10 Ways To Have An Unshakable Faith With My Kids | Unshakable | Pastor Adam Bishop

Devotional

Day 1: Deep Waters and Drawing Out

Day 2: Fire Pits and Open Hearts

Day 3: Jerseys Wet with Effort

Day 4: Phones Down, Palms Up

Day 5: Forgiveness on the Carpet

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

10 Ways To Have An Unshakable Faith With My Kids | Unshakable | Pastor Adam Bishop

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