We have many hopes and dreams for our children and one is for them to have a strong faith in God. We know that won’t just happen. How do we help them develop their own faith?

Wth all the great church programs aimed at children, many parents allow churches to take the lead when it comes to their kids’ spiritual development while they take a more passive role. Take an active role and view your church as a partner. God places the responsibility for developing a child’s faith squarely on parents. In Deuteronomy 6:6, 7, Moses told parents,

God gives us the responsibility and the opportunity to pass on our faith to our kids. Many parents find it hard to talk to their kids about God and spiritual matters. So here are some practical suggestions from our parenting days and from parent expert Dr. Jim Burns.

We cannot pass on a faith we do not have to our kids. If you want your children to have vital spiritual lives, they need to see faith lived out in your life. We’re not talking about perfection here; however a “do as I say, not as I do” approach is not likely to produce a real faith in your child’s life either. Because most kids have a built-in “two-faced detector,” it is much better to live out an authentic faith in front of your kids—one that honestly shows how you follow Christ despite your struggles and failures. Be real, be yourself, and be sure your kids have plenty of opportunities to catch you in the act of doing something spiritual. For example, do you have a regular time where you invest in your relationship with God? How about letting your kids see you engaged in spiritual disciplines such as prayer, worship, and service? Remember, your actions—even more than your words—display your faith in God and teach your kids.

Unfortunately, too many kids are taught—through role modeling from their parents and other adults at church—that Christianity means being bored. Perhaps one of the most energizing things you can do for your kids’ spiritual growth is to model for them that the Christian life is filled with excitement. Have fun with your kids too!

Teach your kids about God and what the Christian life looks like. About now, most parents will wonder to themselves, Who, me? Can I teach my child about God? Take heart, you don’t need to be a seminary graduate to fulfill your God-given responsibility to pass on your faith to your children. Following are some practical ideas to help you take the lead in transmitting your faith to your children.

Pray regularly with your kids. Make prayer at meal times and at bedtime a given. Prayer is a way of acknowledging God’s presence in your family and in your life. By praying regularly with your kids, you teach them to rely upon God.

Worship together periodically. Many churches split up the family when it comes to worship time. You can take the initiative to make sure there are times when you worship with your kids. Don’t assume this means your kids go in with you to adult worship. Bev and I served in children’s church when our kids were young. We worshipped together regularly!

Read a book together on a spiritual topic and discuss what you’ve read. While much of today’s media is negative in its portrayal of values, it can provide a launching pad for talking about how Christian values compare to whatever is seen and heard.

Get involved serving together as a family. The most effective youth ministries are those that get kids involved in service. Ministry results in spiritual growth.

Don’t miss out on the natural opportunities to bring up spiritual matters. Along the road of daily life there are untold opportunities to talk about life in light of our Christian beliefs. It takes effort to look for those times and seize the moment to talk about what happened.

You have lots of priorities for your kids as they grow up. But of all the dreams you have for your children, none of them matters unless they’re built upon a foundation of faith. You’re wise to work on this foundation. |L

OTHER COLUMNS:
November 8, 2009 - Replacing anger with empathy
October 25, 2009 - Laying the right foundation
October 11, 2009 - Parenting without fear
September 27, 2009 - Mentoring the motherless
September 13, 2009 - Sharing family stories
August 30, 2009 - Parenting solo
August 16, 2009 - Surviving junior high
August 2, 2009 - Healthy boundaries at home
July 19, 2009 - Parenting curriculum
July 5, 2009 - Job loss and your family
June 21, 2009 - Winning dads
June 7, 2009 - Benefits of marriage
May 24, 2009 - Love at a distance
May 10, 2009 - Mother and daughter conflicts
April 26, 2009 - Caring at a distance
April 12, 2009 - Teaching children about God
March 29, 2009 - Family meal time
March 15, 2009 - Giving an allowance
March 1, 2009 - Growing children spiritually
February 15, 2009 - Reduce your stress level
February 1, 2009 - Pitfalls in parenting teens
January 18, 2009 - Vital signs of healthy families
January 4, 2009 - Life after divorce
December 21, 2008 - Santa and Christmas
December 7, 2008 - Raising spiritual champions
November 23, 2008 - Family traditions
November 9, 2008 - Parenting after divorce
October 26, 2008 - Feeling like a failure
October 12, 2008 - How to save your marriage
September 28, 2008 - Rolling with the changes
September 14, 2008 - Teens need boundaries
August 31, 2008 - To separate or not
August 17, 2008 - Teen drivers
August 3, 2008 - Adoption worked for our family
July 20, 2008 - Parenting curriculum
July 6, 2008 - Tips for new parents
June 22, 2008 - The swivel door
May 25, 2008 - Expectations in marriage
May 25, 2008 - Helping our children become decision makers
May 11, 2008 - God’s plan for sexual purity
April 27, 2008 - Families and forgiveness
April 13, 2008 - Expressing thanks
March 30, 2008 - Love languages
March 18, 2008 - Cultivate commitment
March 2, 2008 - Teaching children about money
February 17, 2008 - Reclaim your family time
February 3, 2008 - Keeping the peace
January 20, 2008 - A preacher’s wife
December 23, 2007 - Self-worth in children
December 9, 2007 - Forgiveness in the family
November 25, 2007 - Santa Claus is coming to town
November 11, 2007 - Parents under stress
October 28, 2007 - A more satisfying marriage
October 14, 2007 - Codependency
September 16, 2007 - Rewards and motivation
September 2, 2007 - Improving your child’s work ethic
August 19, 2007 - Teaming with teachers for success
August 5, 2007 - Communicating with your teen
July 22, 2007 - Childhood trauma
July 8, 2007 - Delegation and responsibility
June 24, 2007 - Learning to say no
June 10, 2007 - Teaching children about money
May 27, 2007 - When children rebel
May 13, 2007 - Mom’s wisdom
April 29, 2007 - 10 tips for parenting teenagers
April 15, 2007 - Making marital intimacy a priority
April 1, 2007 - Kids need time to play
March 18, 2007 - When you need counseling
March 4, 2007 - Bouncing back
February 18, 2007 - Narrowing your focus
February 4, 2007 - Choose your battles carefully
January 21, 2007 - New parents
January 7, 2007 - Parenting pointers
December 17, 2006 - The power of praise
December 3, 2006 - Knowing a woman’s heart
November 19, 2006 - On a more positive path
November 5, 2006 - Putting household chores in a positive light
October 22, 2006 - Finding significance
October 8, 2006 - Secrets of a healthy family
September 24, 2006 - Confronting elder abuse
September 10, 2006 - Parenting grandchildren
August 27, 2006 - Teaching our children right from wrong
August 13, 2006 - Letting go of adult children
July 30, 2006 - Solving your solvable problem