Helping Parents Succeed

10Apr08

Before we get to some top tips in helping parents succeed, let me share with you our vision as to why we seek to help parents succeed…

We see the importance of partnering with parents- as mom and dad are the top two influencers of faith in a child’s life.

No matter what the church does, the parents example is what shines the brightest. I’ve seen this myself with childhood kids who have grown up going to church but fall away in later years because their parent’s example told another story. God wasn’t the most important thing in their home.

“How do we guard against this?”

Here’s what I’ve been reading in Deuteronomy…

“Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside you. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. Inscribe them on the doorposts and gates of your cities so that you’ll live a long time, and your children with you, on the soil that God promised to give your ancestors for as long as there is a sky over the Earth.”

- Deut 11:18-20 The Message

HELPING PARENTS SUCCEED

Here are some primary ways you can succeed in your role as your children’s faith developers.

1. Do these simple faith-building activities with your children.

• Pray daily with and for your children.
• Memorize one verse together as a family each week.
• Review Sunday school take-home papers. Do the activities together. Talk through the recommended discussion questions.
• Be with your children daily-talking, listening, and applying Bible truths to your lives and theirs.
• Read Scripture together. It doesn’t have to be much, but it has to be clear that God’s Word is an important resource and part of daily life.

2. Here are some fun resources for you in your faith building time with your kids!

• Family Night Tool Chest Series by Jim Weidmann and others brings families together for an evening of learning and fun.
• Not-So-Quiet Times: 240 Family Devotions by Tracy Harrast is a book of devotions based entirely on Jesus’ words and lessons.
• Praying the Bible With Your Family by David and Heather Kopp includes 100 kid-friendly prayers with Scripture and devotions.

Enjoy this valuable time with your kids! Some day you will reap the rewards of building faith into your kids! Not to mention the many others who will be impacted by your child!

Filed under: Parenting   |  1 Comment
Tags: christian parenting, faith at home, family devotions, Parenting