Spiritual Parenting: A Family Network Program

Parents “Are the guarantors of faith. They give children their first pictures of God and help them develop a wonderful Christian virtue called trust, which as they grow older becomes the basis for faith.”

Research: Factors for Strong Families Mother comfortable with faith talk. Enforces drug standards. Family worship is interesting and meaningful. Parents strongly oppose adolescent alcohol use. Loving, caring family. Mother is highly religious. Parents punish wrong behavior. Frequent parent/child communication. Parents set limits. Father often talks to child about his faith. Frequent family helping projects.

Potential Dynamics in the Family Nurturing intentional family spirituality Strengthening family worship Mentoring personal faith Understanding our heritage Facilitating faithful families

Intentional Spirituality

What do you think about when you hear the word “religion?” Spirituality Spirituality focuses on a growing sense of a daily relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord. Spirituality is never done only in private, it involves community.

Spirituality The family is the place where God is first learned. (Eph. 4:11-16) The family is the place where God is first learned. Spiritual life naturally grows, as do the people in which it is experienced. Spiritual life is a part of every stage of life

Key Dimensions to Intentional Spiritual Parenting #1 Make the choice to do something Make spirituality to be a focus and target for your family life

#2 Provide opportunities for spiritual growth Provide: the community; the opportunity, environment where God’s love can be felt

#3 Move your choices to action Develop action plans and make commitments to stick with those plans

#4 Spirituality is not just a private matter, it is a family matter Establish patterns for spiritual life: prayers before meals, at bedtime, and during times of trouble. church attendance & participation family worship

#5 Relationships with others central and crucial > Care for our spouses and parents. > Care for others around us: the sick, homeless, neighbors

Family Worship

The Valuegenesis Project on Family Worship VG 2 VG 1 How often does your family have worship? Never 23% 26% Less than once a month 13% 11% About once a month 7% 6% About 2-3 times a month 9% 8% About once a week 16% 15% Several times a week 11% 11% Once a day 15% 15% More than once a day 6% 8%

Key Factors in Creative #1 Make family worship short, sweet and simple 5-10 minutes – preschoolers 15-20 minutes -- primary age

#2 Make worship meaningful > Start where the children live. > Use significant events at school, and at play. > Use relevant life situations for spiritual lessons.

#3 Make worship frequent Habits are formed by repetition #4 Do "shared" worship Share leadership Switch methods Involve children

#5 Find a regular time > Study all your schedules to see what might work. > Build a schedule and begin to keep it. > Better to do something once a week with meaning than to try to fit worships into an overly crowded schedule.

#6 Set an important example > Parental attitudes, actions, habits, priorities, speech, gestures, excitement, etc. reflect and teach children just what kind of a God they serve.

#7 Use routine moments to see God > Prayer at mealtimes and bedtimes. > Reading the Bible with the children at breakfast, supper or before bedtime. > Develop your own personal devotional time.

Mentoring Personal Faith

Key Factors in Mentoring Faith #1 Don't forget congenial relationships #2 Use gentle reasoning

#3 Don't forget faith-talk #4 Study God's word #5 Communicate through a grace orientation #6 Keep everything positive

#7 Pray in your own words > Pray out loud with children > Teach children different types of prayers: * ACTS prayers A – adoration C – confession T – thanksgiving S – supplication/petition

#8 Pray at regular and natural times -- leaving for school -- before driving somewhere -- leave for overnight stay -- sickness -- birthdays

#9 Vary positions and locations of prayer for the family #10 Learn to care and share #11 Encourage love and compassion

Understanding Our Heritage

#1 Teach your "little story" of faith and your family history Keys To Nurturing A Sense of History #1 Teach your "little story" of faith and your family history #2 Share the "big story" of faith

#3 Share the heroes of faith with your kids #4 Clarify doctrinal questions

#5 Spend time together learning your family's values * Substance abuse standards * Way of life standards * Popular cultural standards

Developing Family Spirituality

#1 Build Strong Relationships

#2 Know what your children #3 Know your children's friends are doing #3 Know your children's friends #4 Help them make responsible choices

#5 Search for a spiritual community where your family can thrive #6 Start your family's journey now