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This is the nineth post in a series of reflections on a Children’s Ministry White Paper written by Doug Paul from Eikon Community (you can view the original document here).

To me, this is my favorite post in the series. Why? Because it gives me a window into some practical, engaging practices that I can do with my family. It takes the abstract philosophy and brings it to my everyday life. That’s not to eschew the under-girding beliefs of a parents primary role, but the practical routines and rhythms help me to “live it out.”

Based on our research, we recommend the following family, spiritual rhythms for parents. Parents can certainly do more, but we believe this is a baseline to help actively shape their kids. It is an intentional process that will shape the lives of their kids. You will notice that most of these are not that time consuming and they don’t need to be. They just need to be consistent and real. As you read these, you will see how Classroom, Apprenticeship and Immersion are playing out.

I love that they’re establishing a “baseline.” One can certainly do more, but here are the beginning basics that we are advocating.

I also like that they are called “rhythms!” Meaning: these are things that aren’t checklists kinds of things, but intentional practices built into the fabric of your family routines.

Daily Practices: Two intentional spiritual touch points

1) Scripture reading and prayer together as a family at either breakfast or dinner (use an age appropriate Bible. We highly recommend The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones).

Shaping the family prayer time:

• Everyone shares something they are thankful to God for
• Is anyone sick/not feeling well? Pray for them.
• Is anyone worried or anxious? Pray for them.
• Pray for our families Persons of Peace. (People who are spiritually open)
• Pray for your Missional Community.

Read a Bible story together to learn about the character of God in His Word and participate in God’s world via the Scriptures. And then pray together.

2) Goodnight word and prayer.

• Tell your kids who they are each night so they go to sleep knowing this. An example: “Do you know who loves you? Mommy loves you. Daddy loves you and Jesus loves you most of all. Do know what you were created for? Love. Joy. Relationships and Adventure. We will always love you and always believe in you and nothing will ever change that.”
• Prayer: Pray over them each night while they are young out loud, and as they are able to, have them pray.

Our family has been practicing this for the last couple of months (ever since I first read this CM White Paper). Read more about that here. It’s amazing to repeat truth to your kids night after night!

Weekly Practices

1) Sabbath.

Have one day a week where everyone in the family is off work and the day is spent playing together. No yard work. No email. No chores. Maybe put their best toys aside and on that one day they play with their best toys. Make their favorite foods on that one day. Find out what they enjoy the most, what gives them the most joy and do those things on days of Sabbath. Sabbath is a day of re-creation, of having fun and enjoying the relationships that God has given us.

Whew! This is tough stuff!

2) Missional Community.

Be on mission together as a family, existing for a purpose outside of ourselves. This language might be helpful in explaining MCs to kids: “Why do we have a MC? It’s because we want to bring heaven to earth and want our friends to experience it too!”

We are part of a terrific small group full of young children. We have incredible babysitters for our children that do a great job of discipling and caring for them while the adults are talking. I know this is different than what this CM White Paper is referring to, but it works really for us right now. I wonder if, as our children get older, if we will transition to doing more and more things with our children more intentionally…

Bi-Weekly Practice

Once your kids are in 3rd grade, begin Huddling them every-other week so you are actively teaching them the basics of following Jesus and engaging with the two central questions of Christian spirituality:

1. What is God saying to me?
2. What am I going to do about it?

Answer those questions with them for yourself in your Huddle with them. These Huddles can be led by the parents of the kids or by another adult in the Missional Community (again, research showed a very high importance on adult relationships outside of just parents). Both are very effective in discipling kids. The crucial element is in it being a person they interact with outside of the context of just Huddle. They need to be able to observe their life outside of “God time.”

This seems to be more intentionally organized once every other week, which is good scheduled time. I like the idea of “huddling” as being when the teachable moments of life come about. When lies are uncovered. When contentment is challenged. When character needs to be refined and shaped. And don’t think that I am just talking about children here. As you disciple your children, I have found, at least in my experience, that my character is shaped and molded just as much as theirs is.

Organic Practice:

Regularly talk about what God is doing in your life with your spouse in front of your kids. Don’t do it so that you’re doing it “at them,” but so that they are overhearing a conversation and are almost getting to eavesdrop and listen in. This allows them to see that this is simply “normal” for their parents to talk like this (and hopefully it is normal).

More is caught, than taught. Amanda’s told me before (chided me at times) on the way I treat and talk with her, because our girls are watching, and how I treat Amanda is modeling to the girls what to expect from a man on how they are to be treated. Woah!

I know our children are watching us, but there are times when I don’t realize how much they are picking up on that I don’t realize.

Make this time count!

This is the sixth post in a series of reflections on a Children’s Ministry White Paper written by Doug Paul from Eikon Community (you can view the original document here).

As we think about our kids being disciples, when kids finish 5th grade, we would like them to know and be able to live into the following:

1) Know they are God’s kid and he loves them no matter what. (Covenant triangle and baptism)

It’s a comforting thing to know that your parents are your parents, and that they love you no matter what. Many children and teenagers don’t have this luxury, but even when humans fail, our Father God in heaven does not.

I remember a statement I heard from my youth pastor growing up: “I’ll always love you no matter what. There’s nothing you can do to make me stop loving you.” I like that… it reminds me a lot of what God REALLY does!

2) Know that they represent their dad and are part of his grand adventure to put the world back together. (Kingdom triangle)

Not only do we belong to God, but we are a part of the family business! Hopefully we (as parents and spiritual mentors) can model and help guide these young hearts toward participating in God’s work in this world and the “grand adventure to put the world back together!”

3) Be able to pray confidently and see things happen as a result.

Teaching your children to pray is vital. Showing your kids how to pray is even better. Having your children catch you praying early in the morning when no one is looking… now that is a parent who believes in the power of prayer!

Children, and arguably adults as well, need to see concrete, tangible results of prayer. We need to talk about the answers to prayer that happen and celebrate them. But we also need to persevere in prayer, even when we don’t see things happen as a result.

4) Have balance in their relationships (God, God’s family, those who don’t know him yet) (Triangle)

I think this is something we all struggle with doing well. But something our children need to learn from our example.

5) Natural rhythm of rest and work (Semi-Circle)

Repeat: I think this is something we all struggle with doing well as well. But something our children need to learn from our example.

6) Love of scripture and the story of Jesus

Read the Bible. You need to do this yourself. You need to do it with your kids. Enter into the world of Scripture and the stories of our redemptive and restoring God. Tackle the life, miracles, teachings, and events in the life of Jesus.

I’ve been around church and the stories of the Bible since I was little. That’s over 30 years! I teach the stories of the Bible every week in my job, and I don’t get tired of them in the least… and, honestly, I’m almost always convicted and challenged by the writings of Scripture as I teach them. It’s incredible how the Bible continues to teach no matter how many times you’ve read it or heard it.

7) Hearing God’s voice and seeing him at work in their lives (Circle)

Hmmm…

8) Feel comfortable and even encouraged to ask questions about their faith

I think dynamic faith is an examined faith; one that is tested and continually questioned and re-answered and studied and approved! I love asking God the tough questions! We need to allow our children to ask God the tough questions, too.

Parents of teenagers: Your high school students are going to frustrate you with their questions and challenging of the faith. Don’t be threatened or worried about their questioning. Engage them. Walk alongside of them and help them find answers, or at least try to continue to steer them toward God’s answers.

What else would you add to the list?

I know you’ve got some ideas…! Please add them to the comment stream below.