Raising teens in today’s world is a high calling and a daunting challenge. As Christian parents, our goal isn’t merely to keep our kids alive or raise them to be respectable adults. Our heart’s desire is to train up young people who love the Lord with all their hearts and live for Him.
Raising teens is a high calling. Our goal isn’t just to raise respectable adults but young people who love the Lord and live for Him. Share on XProverbs 22:6 instructs us as parents: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Satan relentlessly targets the family, seeking to derail the next generation. Yet, God’s Word provides timeless wisdom to guide us.
Below are ten biblical principles to help parents—and anyone investing in young people—raise godly teens. Although I am focusing these instructions for parents of teens, they are certainly applicable for raising younger children as well.
Whether you’re a parent, Sunday school teacher, or mentor, these truths will equip you to point the next generation to Christ.
1. Model Authentic Christianity
No parent is perfect, but consistency is key. Teens are quick to spot hypocrisy, and they’ll react to it. But they’re also forgiving of imperfection when they see authenticity.
Teens are quick to spot hypocrisy, but they’re forgiving of imperfection when they see authenticity. Share on XThe apostle Paul was able to invite the Corinthian church, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Are you able to also invite your children to follow your example?
Live a replicable faith at home, at church, and in every sphere of life. Your authentic pursuit of Christ builds respect and trust in your children’s hearts.
2. Provide Clear, Loving Boundaries
Teens need boundaries—perhaps now more than ever. Proverbs 6:20 reminds us, “My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother.” Balance rules with relationship to avoid rebellion, but never shy away from your God-given authority as your child’s parent.
One of the essential areas parents must set these boundaries today is in the area of technology: monitor screen time, share passwords, use location devices, and seek help from trusted church leaders to safeguard your teens. These boundaries aren’t about control; they’re about safety and spiritual health.
3. Cultivate Open Communication
Be an approachable parent. James 1:19 instructs us to be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” Your children need to know they can talk to you, even when you disagree.
They need you to do more than “lay down the law” but to also communicate the biblical principles and reasons behind your guidelines for them. And they need you to listen as well. Open communication fosters strong relationships.
4. Emphasize a Personal Walk with God
There is more to the Christian life than “looking the part.” You want to encourage your young person to cultivate a personal walk with God.
Of course, this begins with salvation. Has your child been saved? Is he or she growing spiritually? Do you see the fruit of the Spirit in their lives?
Encourage your young person to seek the Lord through personal devotions and cultivating their relationship with Him. Ask them what the Lord is doing in their lives. Do everything you can to help them make personal decisions to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
5. Encourage Spiritually Healthy Friendships
Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Help your teens build friendships that encourage godliness.
Be intentional as a parent—get to know their friends, check their social media, and ask about their testimonies. While your teen can minister to struggling peers, ensure their closest companions sharpen their faith.
6. Be Faithful in Church
Hebrews 10:25 admonishes us not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together.” Make church a non-negotiable priority. Sit together as a family, discuss the sermons afterward, and ensure your teens are engaged.
The local church is a lifeline for spiritual growth, especially in a world pulling them toward trouble. Bring your teens to meet the pastor or youth leaders occasionally—they’ll need these godly influences throughout their lives.
The local church is a lifeline for spiritual growth, especially in a world pulling teens toward trouble. Share on X7. Involve Your Teens in Ministry
Encourage your teens to serve others—whether it’s sharing the gospel, visiting the elderly, or helping those in need. These experiences shape their hearts, teaching them to look beyond themselves and see God’s work in the world.
Every Christian—including teens—has received a spiritual gift. First Peter 4:10 teaches us to use it through ministering to others: “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
Hands-on ministry is a way you can guide your teens to discover their God-given gifts. Additionally, serving others helps teens overcome selfishness and see God’s work in the world.
8. Teach the Stewardship of Money
Train your children to budget, save, and give. Give them opportunities to earn money through chores or small entrepreneurial projects, then teach them that the first portion belongs to God. Luke 16:10 reminds us, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.”
Help teens open a checking account when they’re ready, and guide them to contribute financially so they have “skin in the game” for expenses like youth camp or their first car.
9. Teach the Stewardship of Time
Many teens spend hours on video games or social media, unaware of time’s value. Ephesians 5:16 urges us to redeem the time “because the days are evil.” Set limits on screen time, encourage reading (especially good biographies), and teach them to engage in meaningful conversations. A small incentive, like a reward for finishing a book, can go a long way.
10. Pray Consistently and Specifically
You can never pray too much for your children. First Samuel 12:23 declares, “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.”
Pray daily for their spiritual growth, protection, attitudes, and decisions. Pray for their future spouses, their purity, and their obedience. When God brings them to mind, lift them up in prayer. Your prayers are a powerful investment in their lives.
You can never pray too much for your children. #ChristianParenting Share on XRaising godly teens is a sacred stewardship, and these ten principles provide a biblical framework—not a formula—to guide you in pointing them to Christ. Amid the challenges of today’s world, diligently apply these truths in your home, trusting God to shape your teenagers into young men and women who love and serve Him. Your faithful investment in their spiritual growth will bear eternal fruit, glorifying God for generations to come.
