As a new school year gets underway, kids start filling their time with lessons on math, science, or English, and all those extracurriculars. Before schedules fill up, consider a few ways your family can prioritize God—and help your kids thrive spiritually at home and at school.
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
—1 Corinthians 3:10–11, ESV
The Bible tells us the first step to laying a strong foundation in our homes is faith in Jesus Christ. At the start of another busy school year, here are three key building blocks to help guide your family as you go about your day.
Sharing the Good News
The Gospel isn’t just for sharing with your neighbors or coworkers. The first place to discuss what Jesus has done for us is in the home.
“Whenever [Jesus] saved or healed someone, His first concern was that they go home and tell their family about it,” said Billy Graham in a 1985 message in Sheffield, England.
That can be your first step: sharing your personal testimony with your kids. No matter their age, walking your children through how you came to faith in Jesus Christ—along with some Scripture verses—is important to their spiritual education.
This free download helps your children memorize key Gospel verses in the Bible using the ABCs.
Studying Scripture
While your kids are learning geometry or spelling at school, they also need to learn Scriptural truths at home. No matter what you’re doing with your kids, a little creativity can help you incorporate God’s Word throughout the day. Where can you introduce a Bible story into a game or activity?
Maybe you have a short commute to soccer practice that you could fill with Scripturally rich worship music or an audio Bible. Share with your kids what you read in your personal devotions that morning, or create motions to Bible verses to make memorizing Scripture fun.
Whatever you choose to do, setting a good example is essential.
“Do you and your wife ever read the Bible and pray together?” Billy Graham asked. These are simple things, but they say a lot to young hearts.
Another idea is replacing entertainment with options that instill Scriptural truths. Enjoy a movie night together with a faith-based film, or listen to an interesting testimony on a podcast—like God. People. Stories.
A Posture of Prayer
As you lead your children in the home, it can be easy to feel inadequate or discouraged. Thankfully, God did not create us to live independent of His power and grace. He gives us all we need if we ask. Modeling dependent prayer will show your children what it means to have a personal relationship with God.
“You can’t be the right kind of husband and father or wife or child in the home without Christ,” Billy Graham said.
Just as Jesus taught His disciples to pray, teach your children to pray this school year. It can be as simple as asking each child to take turns praying before a meal, or asking for God’s strength for the day while driving to school. Take little moments to lift up even the smallest details to the Lord.
Read Billy Graham’s Answer: Tips for teaching your children to pray.
Read Billy Graham’s Answer: Praying for wayward children.
Read Billy Graham’s Answer: Pray for your college-aged children.