Parenting is tough. Younger children often sap our strength and sleep. School-aged kids come with their own schedules to keep. And teenagers? Well, they can bring unique headaches.

Scripture offers a lot of guidance for parents who want to raise godly kids. However, churches often avoid the tough conversation or difficult sermons on parenting. It can be difficult to find the right advice to give. We never want to over-promise to a crowd who looks to us for help.

Another reason we avoid preaching on parenting is that it usually applies only to a specific portion of the audience. Within any church, you’ll find singles or married couples without kids, or empty nesters who haven’t dealt with these issues in a long time. You’ve seen them check out for a month while you speak directly on raising children. And no one wants that.

But the topic of parenting is so important. Throughout the Bible, you see stories of fathers and mothers raising their children as part of God’s promise. It’s central to the faith story of Abraham. It’s directly tied to the birth narrative of Jesus. And it’s essential to the growth of the Church in Acts and the epistles. In short, it’s everywhere! So, we can’t ignore it.

That doesn’t mean it’s easy. There are just as many pitfalls to a parenting series as there are benefits. It’s not something we should take lightly. But if you’re aware of the challenges, you’ll be ready to meet them.

A New Normal?

By most measures, families today are not like the families of yesteryear. The number of nontraditional households is on the rise. This is partly due to Americans delaying marriage longer than in previous generations. But it also reflects the number of blended families across the country.

Some 1,300 new stepfamilies form every day, and more than 50 percent of homes include remarried or re-coupled parents, according to the Stepfamily Foundation.

Today, there are more single parents than ever before. In 2015, just over 1 in 4 U.S. births were to unmarried women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of those mothers were in their 20s and 30s, not teenagers dealing with unexpected pregnancies. Many were living with an unmarried partner, who may or may not be the child’s father.

It’s obvious that we face a new normal when it comes to families. The nuclear family model is no longer a given in society. In today’s culture, we must provide instruction in biblical principles of home and child-rearing.

Challenge the entire congregation to help prepare your church’s youth for tomorrow.

However we must also remain sensitive to the diverse demographic we are reaching. Instead of letting tough questions or difficult home situations scare us off, we should become a beacon of hope for families of all shapes and sizes.

We’re All in This Together

Preaching on parenting is not only essential to establishing godly homes, it’s vital to the growth of your church. Discipling children will ensure a healthy next generation. Reaching out to families who need help is a hallmark of healthy churches.

But a parenting series shouldn’t mean a break for non-parents. Each person in your congregation, from singles to empty nesters, has a role to play. Challenge the entire congregation to help prepare your church’s youth for tomorrow.

When it comes to raising healthy families, we’re all in this together. Grandparents can play vital roles alongside mothers and fathers. Young adults and singles can help mentor the next generation as well, providing lessons they’ve learned recently or praying and encouraging students.

Although not everyone may be a good fit to volunteer in the children’s area, there are plenty of ways to support the overall mission of your family ministry. How about organizing assistance to foster families in your neighborhood? Or being a part of the security detail in children’s ministry?

The opportunities are endless. You don’t need to be an expert to love kids.

When you preach on parenting, focus on the role everyone in the church plays in raising the next generation. Parents shouldn’t have to go it alone. Each message needs to have a takeaway for everyone.

A Different Approach

Because the application is so broad, think about how you market your parenting messages. Instead of focusing your sermon title, graphics or advertisements for parents only, structure them in a way that includes everyone in your congregation. Make it clear that everyone needs to hear the message and that there will be a chance for each person to respond.

Preaching on parenting to the whole church requires a holistic approach. Every sermon needs to be grounded in Scripture, of course, but don’t limit your takeaways to good advice for those with kids. Instead, find ways to unite parents and non-parents in your church.

Consider setting up a system of mentors connecting those who have gone before with those going through it now.

Find ways to include outreach in a parenting sermon. As a felt need, there’s plenty of incentive your members can give their unsaved friends for coming to church for a series on child rearing.

But think outside the ordinary. How can you partner with local homeless facilities, foster centers or women’s shelters to provide immediate care? What do your local schools need that you can provide as a way to minister directly to staff and students alike?

Finally, focus each sermon on the spiritual aspects of parenting. God is our Father. And He sets an example for us to be a part of a spiritual family as well. Older believers should take up the role of spiritual fathers or mothers, while younger believers can explore what it means to be spiritual siblings.

The family of God is our primary source of spiritual nurturing and growth. Making that the bottom line of any parenting sermon is incredibly powerful.