RAISING WARRIORS - Part 1 - Church Starts at Home

Real talk: raising godly kids in today’s world is not for the faint of heart.

Our culture is full of influences that attempt to sway their minds and shape the people they’re becoming. As parents, we have to be intentional shepherds and safeguards of what we allow to have a voice in their lives.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or wondered how you can better point your kids to Jesus, we’re here to help! We’ve created a 3-part guide with fun, practical and insightful ways to lead your family and grow together spiritually.

These are just suggestions to get you started - be creative and do what works best for you. Make it a positive experience and encourage your kids to contribute their own ideas!

PART 1 - Church Starts at Home

Don’t get me wrong, Sunday school is great. But if Sunday is the only time your kids hear about Jesus, that equals six other days of missed opportunities.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says, “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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Start small. Find simple ways to incorporate spiritual truths into everyday life. You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to talk to your children about God, and you don’t have to have all the answers. What’s important is that you show by your actions that pursuing God is a priority.

Here are 10 creative ways to incorporate faith in your everyday life:

1. Pray together often - at meal times, bedtime, and before school are great opportunities. Create a safe space for your kids to practice praying out loud. Ask your kids what they’re worried about and pray over their specific situations.
2. Ask a discussion question at the dinner table that everyone can answer, such as, “What are you thankful for?”
3. Search online for printable Bible coloring pages or activity sheets to complete when you hear, “I’m bored!”
4. Read together from an age-appropriate story Bible and make connections with real life applications.
5. Listen to Christian music in the car and at home. Sing songs together at the top of your lungs!
6. Do a scripture memorization challenge - pick one verse a week and reward with a prize. Ask them to create artwork that represents the verse to display on the fridge.
7. Pick a weekly/monthly virtue (generosity, kindness, patience, etc.) to focus on as a family and demonstrate to one another. Praise kids when you catch them in the act!
8. Look for teachable moments where you can initiate conversations about God - for example, seeing a rainbow in the sky reminds me of Noah’s Ark. Do you know what the rainbow means?
9. For older kids, work through a devotional or Bible study book together. Make it a special time set aside to focus on them with no distractions.
10. Create a family mission statement that describes the values that represent you best.