For my doctoral dissertation, I examined the influences on teenagers’ devotional habits, particularly what helps them develop strong faith. While my work wasn’t groundbreaking by any means, I did validate my main research assumption: Parents play the biggest role in encouraging kids’ faith growth.
Raising spiritually strong kids doesn’t require a magic formula or a complicated strategy for discipleship. Instead, it takes parents who are willing to leave their own comfort zones and invest in the spiritual lives of their children. In short, you are the best candidate for helping your children build strong faith.
You have influence
The fact that parents, including dads like you, have a powerful influence on the spiritual development of their children shouldn’t come as a shock. For one thing, research (including studies a lot more solid than my dissertation) consistently has identified the impact of parents on every area of a child’s life—including their spirituality.
Even more, Scripture validates the important role parents have in creating faith-building activities for their children. It’s always been that way. For example, have you ever wondered who taught Cain and Abel to offer sacrifices to God (Genesis 4:3-4)? It had to be Adam and Eve. No one else was around to tell them why that element of worship was so important. And even though Cain twisted it, he still knew it was the right thing to do.
Later, when the Israelites were getting ready to make a hasty exit from Egypt, God gave them the rules for Passover. Part of that observance—a part that Jewish families still honor today—was having children ask adults questions about God’s character and the reason behind the celebration (Exodus 12:24-28).
Parents are the primary spiritual mentors for their children. They set the tone for encouraging their kids’ faith growth. That’s always been God’s plan.
Tips for pouring into your kids’ spiritual lives
Understanding your biblical responsibility to raise spiritually strong kids, the question becomes one of how to get it done. While the Bible is filled with great ideas for Christian parents, you can start implementing some simple—and practical—steps today.
Below are five biblically-based faith-building tips for parents who want to encourage their kids’ faith growth. These aren’t complicated, but they are effective. They are proven actions that will give you the confidence you need to help your kids build a strong faith.
Tell them about faith
We talked about how kids played an essential role in the Passover observances leading up to the exodus from Egypt. But God also reinforced that principle at the other end of the Israelites’ travels. In Deuteronomy 6, as Israel stood ready to return to the promised land, God returned to the theme of parents and children and faith development.
When kids are young, they need to be told what to believe and why. You can do that through intentional spiritual conversations, including faith-building activities like family devotions. You can tell them what God has done in your life—and what you’re seeing Him do in their lives. Yes, they will need to take ownership of their faith at some point, but that doesn’t diminish the power of sharing your personal testimony with them.
Model faith for them
Of course, you can’t just talk about faith. You have to live it out. Kids have an incredibly sensitive “hypocrisy sensor,” and they know when your talk doesn’t match your walk. So don’t just tell them how to be a Christian. Show them what it means to be a Christian.
Two simple ways of doing that are worshiping together and serving together. This powerful combination engages both the heart and the hands. Even more, it encourages kids’ faith growth by teaching them that Christianity is practical. It’s not just Sundays and Wednesdays, but a daily experience with God that builds strong faith.
Let them wrestle with faith
In Genesis 32, Jacob was getting ready to meet his brother Esau—the same brother who had threatened to kill him a couple of decades earlier. As he prepared for that reunion, he literally wrestled with God all night long. The next day, Jacob walked away with a new name: Israel, which happens to mean “struggled with God.” That struggle taught him how to put God first and how to find true rest in Him alone.
What Jacob experienced physically is what our kids will have to experience spiritually if they are going to own their faith in a personal way. Raising spiritually strong kids means letting them struggle instead of running in with the answers every time things get hard. That doesn’t mean you can’t offer advice or wisdom when asked, but it does mean that you have to give them the freedom to fight—like a butterfly leaving a cocoon. It might be hard to watch, but the result can be beautiful beyond measure!
Tackle the hard questions
An old television show was aptly named “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” As a dad, you’ve already learned that to be true. And, as you go deeper in your commitment to helping your kids grow stronger in their faith, they’re going to ask you hard questions about God, the Bible, and life.
Some of those questions might knock you for a loop. They might tempt you to stay on the sidelines instead of getting into the game. If that happens, just remember this: “I don’t know” is a perfectly legitimate answer. For one thing, it’s honest—and kids love honesty from their parents. For another thing, it gives you a chance to become a fellow learner with your children as you search for answers together. That’s a great faith-building activity for kids, and it will benefit you as well.
Expose them to godly mentors
Hopefully, you’ve already learned the power of godly mentors. If not, you need to identify men of all ages who can speak truth into your life. And you absolutely need to embrace your role as the primary mentor in your kids’ lives.
But wise dads also find ways to surround their kids with healthy mentors. As much as I love my father, I also have grown to appreciate the influence of other significant adult men in my life as I was growing up. Sometimes, they were iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17). Other times, they were sandpaper smoothing down rough edges. All of the time, they had my back and loved me in spite of myself. You are vital to your kids’ spiritual growth—and so are mentors who can support you through their ministry to your son or daughter.
Handle with prayer
It is impossible to overstate the power and importance of a praying father. As you step into this role of encouraging your child’s spiritual growth, you need to cover the entire effort in prayer. Ultimately, discipleship—even family discipleship—is God’s work. Only He can transform your kids into men and women who love Him and serve Him well. Prayer invites Him to take the lead and blaze the path for you.
While you’re at it, spend time praying for yourself. Guiding your kids won’t always be easy. In fact, it will be hard work at times. You’ll need to lean into the power and comfort only your heavenly Father can provide.
And, honestly, complete dependence on God is possibly the greatest lesson you’ll ever teach your children as you strive to raise spiritually strong kids.
