Roots Of Faith—At Home

By guest blogger: Tracy Holstein

The members of the Children’s Ministry Team, including myself, have been waiting for this sermon series for years. You see, we know that we can put the best K-Five Worship together, using the most current curriculum on the market; rehearse every week so we know all of our lines; incorporate funny props into the large group lesson to get the kids attention; and deliver a message that is age-appropriate, relevant and practical. But if faith development is not going on at home to reiterate what we teach here—or to put it differently—if what WE are doing here is not reiterating the faith development that should be going on at home—then many children are not benefiting from our efforts. Many children are being entertained for an hour and a half every week and the core values and character development for which we are striving is being lost on a generation because the people who have the most spiritual influence on them—parents and family—are not holding up their end of the deal.    MORE

I have been pushing this scriptural agenda, if you will, for years. Parents are to be the spiritual leaders of their households. And I’ve heard some parents say they are scared—they don’t know what to do. In a parent meeting when I discussed this topic, I had a parent look at me, cross her arms and whisper to the person next to her, “Isn’t this what we pay her to do?” (The person they whispered it to told me later what they said). Just a few weeks ago, one of my teammates told me that a parent said to her, “It is not necessary to have spiritual conversations every day with your child.” This one shocked both of us. I’ve thought about this comment every day for weeks, trying to get my head wrapped around what this person could have possibly meant. Of course, we have to have spiritual conversations every day with our children! Take advantage of every opportunity to talk about God: thank Him for our meals, for daily safe travel. Point Him out to our children by observing and discussing the beautiful sunrise or sunset, the green grass, our health. Use the Bible for guidance on a decision we have to make, or how we can make up with our friend on the playground tomorrow at school. “YES, WE HAVE TO HAVE SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR CHILDREN EVERY DAY!” Or so I thought.

Then I started reading different articles about leaving a spiritual legacy. And I realized a few things. My kids are probably not going to remember the long discussions I had with them when I was trying to embed spiritual truths and values into their hearts as much as they are going to remember singing at the top of our lungs to Christian music in the car—or hosting a small group of ten hilarious teen-age girls in our home—or watching their grandmother step out of her comfort zone at age 61 and go to New Orleans on a mission trip after Hurricane Katrina.

You see, I realized that what our children take from us is more about who we are and how we live on a day to day basis. It’s not that they won’t remember those talks and discussions. But the reality of God will probably become more personal to them as they see how personal He is to us.

I think I know what that parent meant by the comment that daily spiritual discussions with our children are not necessary. St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the gospel at all times; and when necessary, use words”. If we are successful in leaving a spiritual legacy, it will have been because we didn’t just talk the talk, but we walked the walk. I always want to give families practical ways to live out the sermon. This one is easy and I’ve said it before: follow the five habits of a fully-devoted follower of Jesus Christ: weekly worship, daily devotions, weekly service, involvement in a small group and growth toward tithing. And share all these experiences with your children and/or the children of the church.

Dear God, You’ve entrusted us with the gift of children—our own and the children of the church. Please help us daily to train them in the way they should go. Amen.