Keys to Raising Faithful Children

I don't know that there is one simple answer—or magic bullet—to achieving success as parents in raising faithful, spiritually minded children. But, instead, I believe there are several factors that may add up to create a greater positive impact in their spiritual lives.

What follows are eight practical ideas and suggestions:

First, demonstrate personal commitment to the Lord and His church that sets a strong example your children. In your own Bible study, prayer-life, evangelistic work, and kingdom service, let your kids observe faith-in-action, which will leave a lasting impression. Make sacrifices of time, energy, and resources for the cause of Christ. This way, your children will see the importance of denying self, taking up their own cross, and following Jesus.

Second, set clear family priorities regarding church attendance for all services throughout the week. There should never be a question of whether or not you as a family will be attending services. Many parents today send mixed-signals to their children regarding the importance of faithful church attendance by their own neglect to do so, and by putting other things ahead of it. It’s up to you to set the right precedent!

Third, provide your children with opportunities to get personally involved in serving within the life of the church, whether it be VBS, teaching, going on life-changing mission trips, leading in public worship assemblies, participating in church building cleanup days, or other such activities. In this way, church work is not just something they observe from the "sidelines." Instead, they will be able to experience the joy, satisfaction, and growth of personally participating in kingdom work.

Fourth, expose your children to spiritual fellowship with other Christians through your hospitality and continual efforts to invite members of the congregation, as well as ministers and missionaries, into your home. In this way, your kids will benefit from being around other faithful adult Christians and will be influenced by their example of love and dedication to the Lord.

Fifth, hold regular family devotionals and home Bible studies. This will leave a lasting impression, because your children will experience the blessing of intimate family worship and grow in their knowledge, faith, and love for God. Later in life, some of their fondest memories will very likely be of the times they spent singing, praying, and studying God's Word within your home.

Sixth, encourage your children on a daily basis to stand up for their Christian beliefs and values at school, with their friends, and elsewhere. Don’t inhibit them from being exposed to other religious groups as well, but always give them the opportunity to ask Biblical questions afterwards, so as to gain a deeper understanding of why your family believes and practices what you do. It’s important that you never leave them with the impression that you expect them to have a "blind faith," but rather one that is well informed.

Seventh, build positive memories connected to congregational life through family participation in church picnics, retreats, summer camps, Bible lectureships, mission workshops, youth rallies, and other activities that occur away from the more formal setting of the church building. These unique opportunities will allow them to experience a wide variety of religious-related experiences and catch a broader vision for the body of Christ. It will also provide them with valuable opportunities to meet other Christian families and young people.

Eighth, if at all possible, encourage your children to attend a Christian college where their faith, knowledge, and exposure to other Christians will be facilitated. Doing so will provide a safe and spiritually nurturing environment in which they can foster life-long friendships with other believers and sit at the feet of great teachers of the Bible, who challenge and inspire them to grow.

While there are no doubt many other helpful ideas to helping your children develop a strong and vibrant faith, I believe these strategies will positively impact your children’s faith in a powerful and lasting way.

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (ESV)