There’s a question that has a way of humbling even the most seasoned moms and dads: Am I focusing my time on who matters most—and what matters most?
It’s easy to feel incompetent and constantly unprepared as parents. Life moves fast. We do what we can to keep up with all the things—but somewhere in there, we simply hope we’re doing “enough.” We can easily drift away from our heartfelt priorities: Who matters most and what matters most.
Most of you are already investing deeply in who matters most: your family. This comes naturally to parents. You feed them real food and try to get them real sleep. You coordinate the family schedule and transportation, you monitor screen time, you help with homework and friend drama. That kind of love is real, sacrificial, and worthy of celebration.
But what matters most—your child’s spiritual growth—can easily get buried under all the other urgent stuff. According to a 2023 Lifeway Research study, while 99% of Christian parents said it’s important for their child to have a relationship with Jesus, only 29% said they read the Bible with their child at least once a week.
Yikes, ya’ll.
That gap is worth noticing.
The road trips to the zoo will very quickly become road trips to a college visit. The season you’re in now won’t last forever. Those trophies, test scores, and even friendships will fade quickly too. But your investment in your child’s walk with Jesus lasts forever.
This doesn’t mean you need to run a seminary out of your living room. It can happen simply and organically. Read a Bible story. Talk about what they learned in children’s church or youth group. Take family prayer requests and pray for each other. Ask how they’re really doing—and listen with gospel grace.
You can do this at home. You must do this at home.
But you’re not doing it alone. At New Cov, our family ministries are designed to make spiritual truth accessible, engaging, and connected to what kids and students are already experiencing in life.
We would love for you to extend your investment in the next generation here too. Volunteer in family ministry. Our staff works hard to equip and train every volunteer so that you are prepared to make a lasting difference in the life of your kid–and other people’s kids too.
And when you serve you gain stories, insights, and spiritual touchpoints that naturally flow into your car ride home, the dinner table, and bedtime routines.
Author Craig Groeschel once said, “When it comes to your family, you can’t delegate spiritual leadership. The church can help, but it starts with you.” That might sound intimidating—but it’s also empowering. God chose you to shepherd the hearts in your home.
“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way…”
— Deuteronomy 6:7 (ESV)
Let’s be faithful with who matters most–and what matters most.