5 Must-Have Talks to Grow Your Child’s Faith

One of the best things you can do to help your child grow in faith is to help them take responsibility and ownership of their faith. You can begin this in the early years by being aware and intentional about the ways God created them uniquely to connect with Him. Then, as they grow and mature, have these five talks to grow your child’s faith.

If you want your child to take their faith with them when they leave home and to walk with Jesus for a lifetime, you need to set them up to own their faith. These conversations can help:

• What do they believe about God?
• How do they best connect with God?
• Pass the baton of responsibility for their faith
• How will they live out their faith?
• How will they share the Gospel with others?

Believe About God

“I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born.” (Psalm 22:10 NLT)

As kids grow, their beliefs about God will change and mature. It is important for you to revisit this conversation repeatedly.

Your child’s beliefs will change with experiences, challenges, and others’ influences. Sometimes, you can affirm their beliefs, but sometimes, you can help to unwind untrue or unhelpful beliefs.

You can’t guide your child to the truth of who God is if you don’t know what they are thinking about Him.

Some questions to guide your time:

• What do you know to be true about God?
• What do you know to be untrue about God?
• What do your friends think about God?
• What are you curious about God?

Connect With God

“I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.” (Psalm 139:14 CSB)

Often, parents will only model and teach their children spiritual disciplines that help their own faith. Yet, God created us all to connect in many ways. Some love to journal, while others connect in nature. There are so many possibilities for connecting to God.

As parents, you can teach and model your preferred ways but pay attention to showing them other spiritual disciplines as well. My faith grew exponentially after I found a Bible-reading style that worked for me. I had spent years failing to enjoy time in Scripture and carrying a secret shame for not enjoying journaling.

Some questions to guide your time:

• When do you feel most connected to God?
• When do you feel most peaceful?
• When do you feel most joyful?
• What are some faith activities that are hard for you?

Own Your Faith

“Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12 CSB)

A pivotal conversation to have with your children about faith is another ongoing one—the responsibility of their faith. As kids grow, it is important to not only talk about this but also to practically pass the baton of faith to them.

Here, it would help if you paired conversation with action. If you tell your kids that they must own their faith but then continue to make all their decisions, it will stifle their ability to truly own their faith.

When kids eventually leave home, they can only take their faith with them, not yours. Start by allowing them to ask questions, choose devotionals or Bible studies, pick their youth group or extracurriculars, and even lead some family worship or service projects.

Some questions to guide your conversations:

• How do you know God is real?
• How can you grow in your faith without me?
• Who is responsible for your relationship with Jesus?
• How can I support you in being in charge of your faith?

Live Your Faith

“God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT)

Learning to live your faith can come naturally to some kids, while others need more encouragement and hand-holding. Wherever your child falls on the spectrum, it is okay.

Have a conversation about what it means to live out your faith to find a challenge that is just right for your child.

Some questions to include might be:

• If someone didn’t know you believed in God, how could they tell?
• What are some ways that Christians live differently than others?
• What are some important parts of following Jesus?
• How can we follow Jesus with our thoughts, words, and actions?

Share Your Faith

“The Lord replied, ‘Don’t say, “I’m too young,” for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.'” (Jeremiah 1:7 NLT)

Some kids will naturally tell anyone and everyone about Jesus, while others may be more timid or may not even think about it without your help.

God created many eager evangelists, but that doesn’t mean they are the only ones who can share the Gospel well. Talk to your kids about what it means to share their faith.

Find out when or how they have already done this or even when they thought about it. Talking about evangelism and all the feelings that come with it can be enough to spark a light in your child that God uses in the world.

Some questions to guide your time:

• Have you ever told someone about God?
• If so, what did that feel like?
• What made you want to tell them?
• Have you ever felt like you were supposed to share your faith but got scared?

Sometimes, You Don’t Need to Talk

One of the best things you can do to help grow your child’s faith is just to listen. Be a safe place for them to bring their questions, curiosities, worries, doubts, and failures. Listen without judgment and carry the weight with them so they know they are not alone.

As you talk with your kids, remember to share with them the delight and privilege you have in being a part of their faith walk.