This blog has been running for about six years now, and has been found helpful by thousands of readers. Thank you for taking an interest! For 2017, we'll try to inject a few innovations, while still keeping the weekly features which regular readers have found so useful.
For new readers, perhaps it would be useful to begin by explaining why this blog was created.
Many parents (and grandparents) wish that helping their children to find faith was as simple as flicking a switch. Unfortunately there are no simple solutions and no guarantees. Parents will not be judged on whether their children have faith but whether they have been faithful with them. But what might it mean for you to be faithful with your children?
For new readers, perhaps it would be useful to begin by explaining why this blog was created.
Many parents (and grandparents) wish that helping their children to find faith was as simple as flicking a switch. Unfortunately there are no simple solutions and no guarantees. Parents will not be judged on whether their children have faith but whether they have been faithful with them. But what might it mean for you to be faithful with your children?
Family faithfulness is measured more by what we do rather than by what we say. Worldwide research shows that children who experience the Christian faith lived out in the home are much more likely to grow into faith-filled adults.
So what things can you do to be faithful with your children and nurture their faith life at home?
There are four areas of importance:
1. Story
This includes reading and discussing scripture, sharing personal faith stories, and hearing about the faith lives of those who have gone before. Story is more than just hearing it: it is the reality of living it, sharing it and celebrating it.
2. Prayer and Celebration
Essentially this means living out the Christian life and story overtly in the home and includes learning about and experiencing prayer, celebrating the story of salvation throughout the year and integrating the disciplines of the Christian faith into your family life.
3. Service
Often the deepest learning comes about through practical, hands-on experience. A wonderful way for your family to grow and learn is through serving the church and community together.
4. Family Closeness
Close and caring families do not just happen; they are created intentionally. Building family closeness mean setting aside time and energy to work and play at being family together.
None of these things is hard to do, but they do need someone to make them happen. Maybe that person is you! But where to begin?
Right here!
Each week, this Faithful Families blog will provide resources to help you to do these four things in your home and to be more faithful with your family. There will also be other bits of helpful info along the way.
We hope these resources are a blessing to you and your family this year. Feel free to post feedback.
JK (This material is based on and draws from earlier Faithful Families emails by Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning: An Unless Ideas Production.) Unless otherwise noted all material on this blog is copyright Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning.
JK (This material is based on and draws from earlier Faithful Families emails by Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning: An Unless Ideas Production.) Unless otherwise noted all material on this blog is copyright Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning.
