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iQuestions Faculty, Dr. Tim Kimmel 
 
 
Question: 
 
How do I teach my kids the difference between following the rules of 
faith and having a passion for serving God? 
 
Answer: 
 
There’s a lot of tension in our lives as parents between having kids 
obey God, and then really doing it from deep down in their heart.  
 
I get this question a lot: “How do I get my kids to really have a 
passionate love for God and obey Him? Do I just teach them the 
rules?”  
 
It’s not something you teach, it’s something you demonstrate. They 
need to see in your life a passionate overflowing love of Jesus Christ 
that shows itself in very specific ways. 
 
One is you do obey God. Your heart breaks when you disobey Him. 
You repent quickly. And then you’re very others-oriented, you focus 
outwards. 
 
When kids are brought up in an environment that is authentic they 
actually see what grace looks like with sweat all over it. They actually 
see God’s love played out day to day. They see parents that operate 
with the fruit of the Spirit—the love, joy, peace, longsuffering, 
gentleness, meekness, self-control. Then they’ll know it’s true. 
 
As they live in that environment and let God work in their heart, He 
will grow them into that. Meanwhile, in the process they’ll learn the 
truth about God.  
 
 
 
But don’t assume that just because you’ve taught them the rules and 
the word, that now they’ve got it. Because you see, it’s here (pointing 
to his head). And until it’s down here (pointing to his heart), it’s not 
going to make a difference. 
 
So just show them what it looks like to be passionate about God and 
watch what happens. He’ll do an extraordinary thing through your 
example.  
Kimmel -2- 
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