Plan a weekly family gathering with a spiritual purpose. Help your kids encounter and experience the excitement of learning more about God and His plan for their lives. Your time can include games, memory work, songs, a biblical principle, and more! It should be fun for everyone.
A few tips:
- Establish a consistent time each week, and make it a priority…not a burden.
- Plan a “mystery” component game or skit that provides excitement.
- Include an activity or project that everyone can participate in (avoid a “sit still while I instill” model).
- Focus on a Scripture verse and discuss applications for every family member.
- Include a time of singing worship songs together.
- Pray as a family; mix up the pattern or focus.
- Recruit your children to help with the planning or leading.
- Take advantage of resources already available with planned ideas and activities; you don’t have to be original to be effective!
Capture God Moments
Spontaneously take advantage of opportunities throughout the day to talk about God. Impromptu conversations help keep God as the primary focus for your children…and you! Capturing these moments teaches your children that God is not limited to Bible stories but that He is REAL and involved in our everyday lives
. A few ideas:
- Set an example of gratefulness. Look for things to be thankful for. Stop and thank God for this gift together, with your children.
- When you hear of a prayer need or see a car wreck, pause and pray for that person with your children.
- When you think about God or a Bible verse, share it with your children.
- When your children need to make decisions, look up Scriptures together for direction and pray together about the need for wisdom.
- Play Christian music to sing together and discuss.
- Evaluate entertainment options or political statements using Scripture as your guide.
- When you see your children make wise choices, recognize it and praise them. Tell them how their choices honor you and the Lord.
Guide Toward Milestones
Bellevue offers a path for parents to follow in guiding the spiritual maturity progress of their children. The pathway helps both parents and children guide and track the progress of their spiritual journey. In addition, it points to the next milestone and provides tools to successfully take the next step. This collection of “next steps” provides opportunities for guidance and celebration.
Seven milestones:
- Birth of a baby/baby dedication
- Faith commitment
- Preparing for adolescence
- Commitment to purity
- Passage to adulthood
- High school graduation
- Life in Christ