Welcome to this important step along your child's Faith Path!
Let's start by watching this video on teaching your child to make a difference. It features Steve Stroope, co-author of It Starts At Home.
Teaching Serving
Age 9 is a great time to help your child discover their unique gifts and then explore how they might use them for ministry or missions. As the primary faith trainer of your child, you can set a goal this year as a family to bless others together through the spiritual discipline of service.
Begin by explaining that God has blessed and entrusted each of us with resources, gifts, time, and talents. With these, we have the opportunity to worship and honor Him through the spiritual discipline of service. Having been first loved and served by Jesus (1 John 4:19; Mark 10:45), we can joyfully and generously steward these blessings to serve others and bring Him glory (Matthew 5:16).
Additionally, as parents, we have the privilege of helping our child discover their unique gifts, and then explore how they might use them for ministry or missions with the added blessing of finding ways to experience serving together. Your child will appreciate learning how God has wired them, and then seeing how they can bless others through serving.
Begin by explaining that God has blessed and entrusted each of us with resources, gifts, time, and talents. With these, we have the opportunity to worship and honor Him through the spiritual discipline of service. Having been first loved and served by Jesus (1 John 4:19; Mark 10:45), we can joyfully and generously steward these blessings to serve others and bring Him glory (Matthew 5:16).
Additionally, as parents, we have the privilege of helping our child discover their unique gifts, and then explore how they might use them for ministry or missions with the added blessing of finding ways to experience serving together. Your child will appreciate learning how God has wired them, and then seeing how they can bless others through serving.
CREATE MEANINGFUL FAMILY SERVING EXPERIENCES
One great way a family can grow closer to God and one another is by doing simple acts of service together.
Benefits include:
• The joy of making a difference together
• An opportunity to emphasize virtues like generosity and humility with our children
• Increasing a child’s sense of gratitude through exposure to those less fortunate
Benefits include:
• The joy of making a difference together
• An opportunity to emphasize virtues like generosity and humility with our children
• Increasing a child’s sense of gratitude through exposure to those less fortunate
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16
tips & Tools
Here are some simple suggestions for serving as a family:
• SHARED PASSION: Spend some time talking with your child about the things that interest and concern him or her. It will be more meaningful if you share a passion for the specific area of service.
• GOOD FIT: Help your child find good serving options. It can be as simple as baking cookies for a homebound neighbor or it can be an extended serving time such as a mission trip or meeting a particular need on a regular basis.
• SET EXPECTATIONS: Put your child more at ease by explaining what to expect. If visiting a nursing home, for example, explain he or she may encounter odd sights, sounds, and smells.
• BUILD YOUR RELATIONSHIPS: Take note of what your child does well while serving. Intentionally encourage him or her by saying you are proud of how they demonstrated a great attitude or area of strength.
• BE SAFE: Keep a close eye on one another, especially children/teens if serving in unfamiliar settings.
• TALK ABOUT IT: Ask questions when you finish serving together such as, "What kind of difference did you/we make?", "Why was it important to do this project?", "How did it impact those you served?", and "How did it impact you/your family?"
• PRAY: Take a few minutes to pray, asking God to bless those you served.
• RECORD IT: Encourage them to mark the dates and places they serve on their My Spiritual Development Tree. They can watch them add up over time and be motivated for the next opportunity. Can pick one up in the Faith@home Center at church.
• SHARED PASSION: Spend some time talking with your child about the things that interest and concern him or her. It will be more meaningful if you share a passion for the specific area of service.
• GOOD FIT: Help your child find good serving options. It can be as simple as baking cookies for a homebound neighbor or it can be an extended serving time such as a mission trip or meeting a particular need on a regular basis.
• SET EXPECTATIONS: Put your child more at ease by explaining what to expect. If visiting a nursing home, for example, explain he or she may encounter odd sights, sounds, and smells.
• BUILD YOUR RELATIONSHIPS: Take note of what your child does well while serving. Intentionally encourage him or her by saying you are proud of how they demonstrated a great attitude or area of strength.
• BE SAFE: Keep a close eye on one another, especially children/teens if serving in unfamiliar settings.
• TALK ABOUT IT: Ask questions when you finish serving together such as, "What kind of difference did you/we make?", "Why was it important to do this project?", "How did it impact those you served?", and "How did it impact you/your family?"
• PRAY: Take a few minutes to pray, asking God to bless those you served.
• RECORD IT: Encourage them to mark the dates and places they serve on their My Spiritual Development Tree. They can watch them add up over time and be motivated for the next opportunity. Can pick one up in the Faith@home Center at church.
parent intentional faith path plan
• Model Jesus’ example of an attitude of humility and availability to God.
• Be generous with your time and talents.
• Create some margin in your life so you can serve as opportunities come along.
• Be generous with your time and talents.
• Create some margin in your life so you can serve as opportunities come along.
going further resources
Take advantage of these resources as you teach your children about giving and serving.
Your Child's Next Step
As a commitment to our growing families at Faith Bible Church, when your child turns 10, we will offer you the resource for the next step on the Faith Path, Sharing Their Faith.
Thank you for becoming intentional about guiding your child's faith journey!
Thank you for becoming intentional about guiding your child's faith journey!
