The text read, “Mom can you talk?”
When a message arrives from a college kid with a request to talk, a mama drops everything and texts back, “Yes!”
The phone rang a few minutes later. ”Mom, I’m really stressed out about finals.”
We talked for a few minutes about how he was studying for his exams, getting enough rest, and eating right. I asked him when was the last time he prayed. There was a long pause before he answered, “About 20 minutes ago.”
I had to smile and I think God smiled, too. My 19-year-old depended upon prayer when he needed help.
Many parents don’t feel well equipped to lead their families, much less their teenagers in faith matters. Honestly and seriously, you do not have to be a theologian. You do not have to be a Bible study teacher. You are not required to have all the answers. No one does.
Fitting in faith lessons and church can be difficult as kids mature. Life seems to accelerate. Every day is spent in the fast lane with homework, sports, and activities. Quiet evenings with preschoolers and elementary age children are in the past. As parents we pray we’ve guided our kids to develop faith habits that will last a lifetime.
Foundational faith practices like praying, reading the Word of God, taking part in a church community, and worshipping with others are habits kids can fall back on in times of need and celebration. The more kids know of God’s Word and the more faith-filled people they have to lean into with questions the better. BUT…if you haven’t studied the Bible or attended church regularly with your tweens and teens it’s NOT too late! Here are a few suggestions for weaving the Word of God and church into family life.
7 Tips to Getting Your Teen to Go to Church & Read the Bible
1. Choose a daily devotional that includes Bible verses. The real-life stories will capture interest. The scripture will encourage.
2. Use a concordance to find specific verses to meet the needs of your tween/teen. For example, anxiety is the focus in Philippians 4:6, Hebrews 13:5-6, and Luke 12:22-31.
3. Post verses on the bathroom mirror to equip and comfort your kids.
4. Attend church as a family. Make church a regular habit. Put it on the family calendar. Expect your teens to attend with you but don’t force them to go.
5. Sign up as a family to participate in a service activity through the church. Your children will meet and get to know others as they serve together.
6. After the weekly worship service, have a family meal. Discuss the sermon, music and scripture verses.
7. Be a good role model. Get involved with a local church. Volunteer, sign-up for a bible study, pray for the staff and the church community as a whole.
“Parents are number one in leading youth to Christ.”1 The Bible and the church are our parenting tools. Learn alongside your child. Pick up a copy of Raising Big Kids with Supernatural Love. Chapter 10 includes many tips and ideas for sharing biblical truth with tweens and teens.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11
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Becky Danielson, M.Ed., has two of the best job descriptions, wife and mom. She is also a licensed Parent & Family Educator, co-founder of 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting, and the co-author of Raising Little Kids with Big Love and Raising Big Kids with Supernatural Love along with Study Guides. The series is available on Amazon. Becky and her family live in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Subscribe to the parenting newsletter at FaithFirstParent.com and the quarterly newsletter at 1Corinthians13Parenting.com for parenting tips, strategies, and resources to equip and encourage you on your parenting journey.
