Training — parents

God has given us His Word to help us remember who He is and what He has done. And within His Word, we find numerous examples of God providing all kinds of reminders for His people. When the flood waters receded, God gave Noah the rainbow as a reminder of His promise never to flood the whole world again. When God rescued the Israelites from the final plague in Egypt, He told them to remember the One who had saved them by eating the same meal on the same day every year. And when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River,...

It is never too early to help children learn how to pray and provide ways for them to make their prayer life strong and meaningful. Here are some ways to engage children in prayer. Prayer Models: When Jesus’s disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He gave them what we know today as “The Lord’s Prayer.” That prayer is a great model for teaching children how to pray. Don’t hesitate to change the wording to be more meaningful to children according to their age. Our Father who is in Heaven: God in heaven, You are the Creator of...

We all want life-long faith for children. But ministry is not one-size-fits-all. Each community, congregation, and family is unique. What’s more, every child is unique. That means each map that guides the spiritual formation of a child will also be perfectly unique, even within each family. As a children’s ministry leader, I appreciate organizations that have set specific age-based outcomes for the spiritual development of children. It helps me to set a median goal for a group of kids. As a parent, looking at each child in my home, these goals have been less helpful. My firstborn not only met...

Have you ever wondered why God has given us the Bible? The more I read the Scriptures, the more I am convinced that God has given us His Word to reveal His power and glory, to show us His goodness and mercy, and to help us see how much He loves us. He wants us to recognize our deep need for Him and marvel at all He has done to reunite us with Himself. The problem is that very few people marvel in response to reading the Bible. The reason, I think, is that when we break apart the Bible...

Today’s culture follows a specific recipe to give their children “the best future possible”. Outsourcing. Want your child to be great in baseball? Find the best coach. Want your child to be great in science? Find the best tutor. This recipe forces a question on parents when it comes to spiritual development. If I haven’t gone through any formal religious training (or patience training for that matter), how can I teach my children to have a strong faith that holds up to the world’s forces? If you want your child to be great in faith, find the best children’s ministry....