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Parent's Page

Helping Your Children G.R.O.W. Spiritually

Many parents are asking the questions:
Can I draw on the strength of God and find peace? Can I really know God? Talk to God? Hear God? Lay my burdens on God? Have a personal loving relationship with God? Can my children?

As we look through the lenses of Scripture and our current culture, we believe there are three shifts that need to be made in order to be more effective in providing environments in which the Spirit can be at work to transform lives. These shifts are:

1. From primary focus on program to personal transformation
Our focus should always be to help our children connect with and grow closer to God.

2. From head emphasis to heart, head and hands
Growing closer to God involves more than just head knowledge. We also grow closer by what we do. But knowing and doing mean little if our hearts are not open to change.

3. From primarily segmented to integrated and holistic
Spiritual growth can and should happen in all settings, not just at church. The church and home are called to partner together to help children and youth grow spiritually.

Fostering a Relationship with God
- Acknowledge God's Presence
- Put God first
- GROW:
      God’s Word…shaping our actions and our lives
      Relationships...nurturing our growth
      Obedient Living...using our gifts in witness and service
      Worship…interacting with and experiencing God

Sharing God's Word with Our Children

Jesus still speaks to us today through the Bible. Here are some suggestions on how to make reading God's word a special and engaging time for children:

- Find a Bible that is age-appropriate
- Pray before you begin
- Read together with your child or have your child read to you.
- Tell the story to younger children
- Keep it short

When you and your children are also involved in a discipline ministry of the church, it equips and reinforces what you are doing in your homes. Read God's Word with the expectation that you will meet God through it.

- Have children retell the story to you
- Ask wondering questions about the story ("I wonder how Jesus felt when...")
- Have children imagine being in the story ("What would you smell, feel, taste?)
- Act out the story
- Draw a picture about the story
- Pray about the story

Relating to our Children

One of the best ways to get started as a spiritual mentor is to spend time with your children at bedtime. Talk with them, read to them, ask them what the happy and sad moments of their day were. Lift these things up to God in prayer, then pray for your children.

- Exercise love I John 4-12
- Be gracious and forgiving Luke 11:4
- Model fruits of the spirit Gal 5:22ff
- Pray for and with children I Thes.5:17
- Positive communication Eph 6:4
- Constructive discipline Prov.19:18
- Read & discuss God's Word Josh 1:8
- Play with children Prov 22:6

Obedient Living: Some ideas for serving with your children

-Contribute to food pantries
- Pray daily for your neighbors and others
- Initiate communication with your neighbors
- Bring a treat to your neighbors
- Offer to assist with a household task
- Invite a neighbor for a meal
- Invite a neighbor to your church
- Visit a nursing home
- Study other cultures. Become familiar with the whole of God's Kingdom.

Worship

Model faith day by day through acts of kindness
- Pray together
- Have regular conversation with your child about faith/life issues.
- Read the Bible together.
- Walk through your day attentive to the continual presence of God
- Serve others together
- Worship with others in the church and at home
-Be enthusiastic and excited about worshiping God, the one who gave you and your children life

You are called...called to be disciples...called to be spiritual nurturers. God knows your name and the names of your children. Don't be afraid. Jesus says, "I love you! I am with you and from now on you will be catching people."

How do you begin?
- Today
- With one thing
- We can't change everything at once
- Prayer
- Trust God
- Listen to God
- GROW as parents

If you have questions about the appropriate ways to implement the GROW framework in a developmentally appropriate way, you can download "Developmental Considerations and Christian Formation." This resource outlines the cognitive, social/emotional, physical, and spiritual development and their implications for spiritual nurturing; tips for home are also included for each age category.

DEVELOPMENTAL-CONSIDERATIONS-AND-CHRISTIAN-FORMATION.doc