The most significant influences on a child’s spiritual development are the parents – whether they accept the responsibility or not.

**Why accept this responsibility?** First, because the Bible commands it. (Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4) Second, because you have an opportunity to stand in opposition to all the negative influences and voices in your child’s life. Third, because by not teaching our children we are teaching them something we don’t want them to learn.

Will your children identify you as the person that taught them God’s truth?

Many Christians do not take this responsibility seriously. Only 1/3 of churched parents read or discussed Scripture with their children at least once a week. [1] “Earlier generations of Christians understood what contemporary Christians seem to have missed: Families are the first and most effective small group of all, and every parent is a teacher.” [2]

**How to accept this responsibility?** One helpful way is through “Faith Talks”.

**What is it?** A faith talk is a time with the family devoted to the presentation and discussion of Scripture with the goal of learning and worship.

**When is it?** Weekly. “I also find once a week to be sufficiently frequent to make faith talks a habit but not so frequent that parents become burdened with unrealistic expectations if they have never engaged in faith talks before.” [3] Consistency can be helpful so try the same time every week. There really isn’t an age that’s too early. As soon as a child is able to stay awake you can begin to introduce them to the family faith talk. This will serve at least two purposes. First, it will help make family faith talks a habit for the parents even before the child can participate. Second, it will begin to shape a child’s worldview even before the child is able to take an active part in the faith talk. Imagine what can be communicated when a young child observes that the family regularly takes time to sit and read from a book, sings together, closes their eyes and talks, etc.

**What does this look like?** Remember the definition – A faith talk is a time with the family devoted to the presentation and discussion of Scripture with the goal of learning and worship. The definition is broad and basic for a reason. Parents should feel an enormous amount of freedom to develop and customize this time for their families. There are a few “Must Haves” – (1) sharing Scriptural truth, (2)prayer, (3)interaction.

The potential components (for each Must Have): (1) Bible Reading, Bible re-telling, Summarizing of sermon or Sunday School lesson, Scripture Memory, Catechizing. (2) Parental Prayer, corporate prayer, Liturgical prayer, Singing. (3) This can be dispersed naturally and meaningfully throughout. Ask questions and encourage children to do the same.

**Resources to use:**

a. Bible

b. Children’s Bibles

c. MHC’s Big Question Curriculum

d. Hymns and worship songs.

e. Desiring God’s Fighter Verse app.

f. MHC’s prayer directory.

g. Devotional books

h. Catechisms We recommend three:

1. The New City Catechism. You can purchase a physical copy or use their helpful app.

2. A Baptist Catechism – Adapted by John Piper [http://cdn.desiringgod.org/pdf/blog/A_Baptist_Catechism-new.pdf]

3. A Catechism for Girls and Boys – From the book “Teaching Truth, Training Hearts” by Dr. Tom J. Nettles [http://www.reformedreader.org/ccc/acbg.htm].

**Ideas to keep in mind.**
a. Have structure, but be flexible.

b. Be age conscious of all ages. This will mean that at times the older children will be bored and at other times the younger ones will be confused.

c. Be creative.

d. Don’t be afraid of periodically changing the structure or content.

e. Be genuine. Guard against the temptation to “act” our prayers.

These notes and outline for mhc faith talks are based on chapter 12, “Family-Equipping Transition 2a: Equip Families for Faith Talks” of Family Ministry Field Guide by Timothy Paul Jones (Indianapolis: Wesleyan Publishing House, 2011). All page citations are references to this book.

[1] 154.

[2] 154.

[3] 156.