Book: The Faith-Filled Home – Chapter 14: Kingdom-Minded Kids
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- Jun 9
- 9 min read
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." , Acts 1:8 (NIV)
The Home: Our First Mission Field
For years, we’ve been conditioned to think of "missions" as something that happens across an ocean. We think of dusty roads in sub-Saharan Africa, bustling markets in Southeast Asia, or remote villages in the Amazon. We think of specialized training, massive fundraising, and long-term commitments to foreign languages. While those things are vital and biblical, we often overlook the most strategic missions base on the planet: the three-bedroom ranch or the suburban townhouse where you currently live.
If we want to raise kids who love Jesus and change the world, we have to stop viewing missions as a "trip" we take and start viewing it as a "lens" through which we live. The Great Commission wasn't just given to apostles or professional clergy; it was given to the Church. And the most basic, fundamental expression of the Church is the family unit.
Raising kingdom-minded kids means shifting the goal of parenting. Our goal isn't just to raise "good kids" who stay out of trouble, get decent grades, and land a stable job. Our goal is to raise disciples, young men and women who understand that they are citizens of another kingdom, ambassadors of the King, and participants in the greatest rescue mission in human history.
This shift changes everything. It changes how we spend our Saturdays, how we talk about our neighbors, how we handle our money, and how we respond to the brokenness we see on the news. When your home becomes a missions base, your children start to see themselves not as consumers of the faith, but as contributors to the Kingdom.
The Dining Room Table Strategy
The most effective "short-term mission trip" your family will ever take is the walk from the living room to the dining room table. This is where the culture of the Kingdom is either built or neglected.
In Deuteronomy 6, God gives us the blueprint for spiritual formation: "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
Notice the settings: sitting, walking, lying down, getting up. These are the mundane, ordinary rhythms of life. To raise kingdom-minded kids, we must saturate these ordinary moments with an extraordinary purpose.
Start by asking different questions at dinner. Instead of just asking, "How was your day?" or "What did you learn in school?" try asking:
"Where did you see God working today?"
"Was there anyone at school today who looked like they needed a friend?"
"How can we pray for your teacher or your coach this week?"
By asking these questions, you are training your children’s "spiritual eyes." You are teaching them to look past the surface and see the spiritual reality of the world around them. You are teaching them that their school isn't just a place for education; it's a mission field where they are called to be salt and light.
Cultivating a Global Heart
One of the greatest enemies of a kingdom mindset is American individualism and materialism. Our culture is designed to make us look inward, to focus on our comfort, our platform, and our desires. But the Kingdom of God is inherently outward-facing.
To raise kingdom-minded kids, we must intentionally expand their world. They need to know that the God they worship is the God of the nations. He doesn't just care about their little league game; He cares about the orphan in Haiti, the underground church in China, and the refugee in the Middle East.
In the infographic above, we see the five pillars that support a missional household. If we neglect these, our children's faith will likely remain small, fragile, and self-centered.
Prayer for the Nations: Get a world map or a globe. Each week, pick a country and pray for it together. Use resources like Operation World or Joshua Project to find specific needs. When kids pray for someone they’ve never met in a place they’ve never been, it shatters the bubble of self-interest.
Radically Generous Living: Missions costs money, but more importantly, it requires a heart that isn't tethered to "stuff." Involve your kids in your giving. If you support a missionary, let the kids see the photos and read the updates. Let them contribute from their own allowance.
Compassionate Service: Don't just talk about loving people; go love people. Serve at a local food pantry, rake a neighbor's leaves, or pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Service moves the "Kingdom" from a concept in their heads to a reality in their hands.
Gospel Fluency: Kids need to know how to explain why they follow Jesus. We often assume they’ll just "catch it," but they need to be taught. Practice the gospel story at home. Can they explain the fall, the cross, and the resurrection in a way a friend would understand?
Cultural Discernment: We cannot hide our kids from the world, but we can equip them to navigate it. When a movie or a song presents a message contrary to the Kingdom, don't just ban it, discuss it. Ask, "What is the world saying is true here? What does Jesus say is true?"
Identifying the Spark: Spiritual Gifts in Children
In the Assemblies of God, we believe strongly in the "priesthood of all believers." This includes the small ones. Your child isn't "the church of tomorrow", they are the church of today. The Holy Spirit doesn't give a "junior version" of His power to children. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in the seven-year-old who has surrendered their life to Jesus.
As parents, part of our "missionary" work within the home is identifying the spiritual gifts God has placed within our children. We are talent scouts for the Kingdom.
Look at the diagram above. Notice the diversity of gifts. Some children have a natural gift for Mercy; they are the ones who cry when a friend gets hurt or want to help every stray dog they see. Others have the gift of Giving; they are the ones who would literally give away their favorite toy if they thought it would make someone happy. Some have the gift of Teaching or Exhortation, always ready to lead or encourage their peers.
When you see these "sparks," fanning them into flames is your priority. If your child has a gift of Mercy, take them with you to visit someone in the hospital. If they have a gift of Giving, help them set up a lemonade stand to raise money for a clean water well. When we connect their natural bents and spiritual gifts to Kingdom purposes, they experience the thrill of being used by God. There is no greater "high" for a child’s faith than the realization that the Creator of the universe just used them to bless someone else.
Missions is a Lifestyle, Not a Trip
If we want our kids to be kingdom-minded, they need to see that our faith isn't a Sunday-only event. It’s a 24/7 reality. One of the most powerful things you can do as a family is to adopt a "Missions Lifestyle." This means looking for the "Divine Appointments" in your everyday life.
Imagine your family at the grocery store. Instead of rushing through the aisles, you’re intentional. You see a cashier who looks overwhelmed. You stop, look them in the eye, and say, "You’re doing a great job today. Is there anything we can pray for you about?" Your kids are watching. They are learning that a "witness" isn't someone who stands on a street corner with a megaphone; a witness is someone who carries the presence of Jesus into a grocery store.
Prayer is the engine of the Kingdom. When your children see you praying for the world, they learn that we have a part to play in global events. They learn that their prayers actually move the hand of God.
I remember a family who started praying for a specific unreached people group in Northern Africa. For months, they sat around their globe and asked God to send workers into that harvest field. A year later, their church announced they were sending a team to that exact region. The children were ecstatic. They didn't just feel like observers; they felt like part of the "advance team." They understood that their prayers had cleared the way for the feet of those who bring good news.
The Spirit-Empowered Witness
In our tradition, we place a high value on the baptism in the Holy Spirit. We believe Acts 1:8 is a promise for every believer: "You will receive power... and you will be my witnesses."
This power isn't for our own entertainment or spiritual goosebumps. It is functional power. It is power for the mission. We must teach our children to ask for the Holy Spirit’s help every single day. Before they get out of the car for school, pray: "Holy Spirit, give [Child's Name] boldness today. Give them words to say. Give them Your heart for their classmates."
We are raising our kids in a culture that is increasingly hostile to biblical truth. If they rely on their own strength or their own intellect, they will eventually crumble under the pressure to conform. But if they are Spirit-empowered, they can stand like Daniel in Babylon or Esther in Susa.
As the chart above illustrates, there is a stark contrast between a "Culture-Minded" child and a "Kingdom-Minded" child.
Culture says: "Protect yourself." Kingdom says: "Sacrifice yourself."
Culture says: "Acquire more." Kingdom says: "Give more."
Culture says: "Fit in." Kingdom says: "Stand out."
If we don't intentionally disciple our children into a Kingdom mindset, the culture will "missionary" them into its own image. There is no neutral ground. Every advertisement, every social media post, and every classroom discussion is a form of discipleship. Our job as parents is to provide a more compelling narrative, the narrative of the King who gave everything to win back His people.
Practical Kingdom Homework for Your Family
If you want to move from "reading" to "doing," here are three practical steps your family can take this week:
The "Blessing Bag" Project: Keep a few bags in your car filled with water, socks, snacks, and a card that says "Jesus Loves You." When you see someone in need on a street corner, have your kids hand out the bag. Talk about it afterward: "Why did we do that? Because Jesus sees them, and we want them to know they aren't forgotten."
Missionary Adoption: Go to your church’s mission wall or website. Pick one missionary family. Write them an actual letter or send them an email. Ask your kids to draw pictures to include. This makes "missions" personal. It’s not just a category; it’s people with names.
The Sabbath Mission: Once a month, dedicate your Sunday afternoon to a family mission. Maybe it’s visiting a nursing home, cleaning up a local park, or hosting a neighborhood BBQ specifically to build relationships with the "unchurched" families on your block.
The Legacy of the Kingdom
When we raise kingdom-minded kids, we are planting seeds for a harvest we may never see. We are raising the next generation of pastors, missionaries, godly business leaders, and stay-at-home parents who will carry the flame of the gospel into the next century.
But it starts with a choice today. It starts with a parent who says, "My home belongs to the Lord. My children belong to the Lord. And we will not live for ourselves; we will live for the King."
The world is waiting for a generation of young people who aren't afraid to be different. They are waiting for kids who lead with love, speak with truth, and live with power. That generation is sitting in your living room right now.
Don't just raise them to survive the world. Raise them to change it.
Reflection Questions:
Does our family schedule reflect a "Kingdom-first" priority, or are we squeezed into the mold of the culture's busyness?
What natural gifts have I seen in my child that could be used for the Great Commission?
When was the last time our family prayed together for someone who doesn't know Jesus?
How can we simplify our lifestyle to increase our capacity for generosity and missions?
A Prayer for Your Home: Lord Jesus, we invite Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done in our home as it is in heaven. Holy Spirit, empower our children to be witnesses. Give them a heart for the lost, a love for the Word, and a boldness that comes from You alone. Help us as parents to model a life of mission, showing our children that the greatest joy is found in serving You. May our family be a light in the darkness. Amen.
But here is the reality we often ignore: while we are busy trying to "mission" our kids into the world, the world is launching a counter-mission into our homes that is more sophisticated and subtle than anything we’ve seen before. And if we don't recognize the "Trojan Horse" already sitting in our children's bedrooms, we might lose the very territory we are trying to defend.
What happens when the "mission field" starts fighting back?
Layne McDonald, Ph.D., is a dedicated author, teacher, and Christian leader committed to helping individuals and families grow in their faith. With a deep foundation in biblical truth and a passion for spiritual formation, he creates resources that guide readers toward a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and a life lived with eternal purpose.
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