We all love Sunday school—it allows Parents to worship without distractions while the kids enjoy fun activities like bubble machines and crafts and learn Bible stories in a safe space. But while Sunday school is great, it’s not enough on its own.
As Christian parents, we have the primary responsibility for our children’s spiritual development. Beyond Sunday mornings, we need to teach God’s Word and guide their personal relationship with Jesus Christ at home. Whether they’re young kids or teenagers, our involvement is crucial in nurturing their faith and spiritual journey.
Why Sunday School Alone Isn’t Enough
As a Sunday school teacher, I know how difficult it is to personalize each lesson for every child in my class. While we do our best, parents know their children more intimately. You understand the specific areas where your child excels and the challenges they face. This personal connection can often be missing in a larger group setting like Sunday school.
Sunday school typically lasts only an hour or two each week. During that short time, kids enjoy singing Christian songs, hearing Bible stories, and doing fun crafts. These activities are great for teaching the basics of faith in an engaging way. However, the limited time and large class sizes mean personalized attention is often lacking.
The truth is, we can’t rely on those two hours alone for our child’s spiritual development. Just as children need regular food and water for physical health, they need continuous spiritual nourishment. This includes prayer, Bible study, and daily discussions about their faith.
The Bible says, “These words…you shall teach them diligently to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). This means parents should talk to their children about spiritual matters in everyday situations. A child’s spiritual formation is a lifelong process that needs constant care.
By reinforcing faith at home, children develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Activities like family Bible reading, singing songs together, and discussing Sunday lessons help build their faith. As children grow, they will face challenges like peer pressure and other worldly influences. A strong spiritual foundation equips them to navigate these moments with God’s help.
So, while Sunday school is a wonderful resource, it’s not enough on its own. Christian parents have the primary responsibility for guiding their children’s spiritual growth, providing the personalized support their child needs.
How to Be Hands-On in Your Child’s Spiritual Growth
1. Teach the Fundamentals of Faith Early
Just as we teach kids numbers and letters, let’s also start teaching them the regiments of salvation:
- Creation: Explain how God created the world and everything in it (Genesis 1:1).
- Sin: Help them understand the concept of sin and why we need Jesus (Romans 3:23).
- Salvation: Introduce them to the story of Jesus’ love and sacrifice for us (John 3:16).
You might be thinking, “How can I teach my toddler about creation, sin, and salvation?” Don’t worry! It’s possible to teach these key concepts to even a 2-year-old through simple conversations.
Here’s an example of how I teach my son, Ari, who’s 2 years old. We don’t use anything complex, just basic, repetitive conversations that help him understand God’s love, the idea of sin, and Jesus’ sacrifice. I hope to record him saying this eventually, but I don’t push for a camera—just natural learning moments.
Here’s how a typical conversation goes:
Sometimes, we start like this:
Me: Who made Ari?
Ari: Me
Me: Are you sure? God made Ari and Mama. Who made the moon?
Ari: God
(I then go on to list other things)
Sometimes, we just start here:
Me: Do you know I love you?
Ari: Yes.
Me: But who loves you the most?
Ari: God.
Me: Where does God live?
Ari: In heaven.
Me: And heaven is so…?
Ari: Beautiful.
Me: The streets of heaven are made of…
Ari: Gold!
Me: But there’s something that can’t get into heaven. Do you know what that is?
Ari: Sin. (Sometimes, he’ll give examples like, “Oh, when I pushed Daddy,” or “When I kicked Aunty.”)
Me: And what is that called?
Ari: Sin.
When teaching this, I point out real-life examples. If my toddler does something wrong, I gently say, “That wasn’t nice—that’s sin.” This helps him understand that things we do that are not good are called sin. By tying the concept to everyday behavior, he starts recognizing what sin is.
Me: Sin is anything we do, say, or think that doesn’t make God…
Ari: Happy! (Sometimes, he says, “God is sad.”)
Me: But God did something amazing! He sent Jesus to do what?
Ari: To die on the cross. (Sometimes, he just says, “Die.”)
Me: Yes, Jesus died on the cross and rose after how many days?
Ari: Three days!
Me: That’s right—three days. Can you count to three? And what did Jesus’ blood do?
Ari: Wash away our sins.
Me: Yes, it washed away our sins, and we are now clean. So when you do something bad or sin, what do you tell God?
Ari: I’m sorry.
We’re still working on this, but this simple conversation allows me to introduce the concepts of creation, sin, and salvation. Bedtime has become a special time when we often talk through these ideas. Sometimes, he gets distracted, but most nights, we’re able to cover everything. If he’s not interested, I don’t push it—I let him lead.
It takes time, but by practicing a little bit each night, your toddler will gradually understand. Children are like sponges, and you’ll be amazed at what they can absorb and comprehend at such a young age. Please keep it simple and repetitive, and, most importantly, make it part of your everyday routine.
2. Use Songs and Memory Verses
Repetition is key when teaching young children, so try weaving Christian songs and memory verses into your daily routines. Singing familiar hymns or memorizing simple scriptures, like “I can do all things to Christ who gives my strength” (Philippians 4:13), helps instill faith early on. You can listen to a song on the memory verse here.
For more tips on helping your kids memorize Bible verses and easy and short memory verses to teach, check out my blog post here.
3. Pray With Them
My son, Ari, and I have a simple prayer routine that helps build his spiritual life. We pray together in the morning and evening, incorporating prayer into everyday life. We start by thanking God for our family and mentioning each person by name. Ari also loves to include his five classmates from daycare. He wasn’t very vocal when we first began, but now he often leads the prayers himself. I gently encourage or pray for him if he doesn’t feel like praying.
a. Praying for specifics
Sometimes, we pray for specific things in Ari’s heart. After we had already ordered him a gray bike, Ari began praying for a blue one. When the gray bike arrived, I reminded him to thank God for it. In his tiny voice, he said, “But I wanted a blue bike.” This became a teachable moment about gratitude and accepting God’s gifts. Over time, Ari stopped praying for the blue bike and grew to love the one he had.
Praying with your child teaches them how to communicate with God and opens up opportunities for spiritual conversations that shape their faith journey. Through these moments, you’ll learn a lot about their thoughts, feelings, and spiritual matters.
4. Pray for Them
In addition to praying with your child, praying for them is essential. Whether you’re folding laundry, watching them sleep, or finding quiet moments throughout the day, pray for your child’s spiritual formation and growth. Covering your child in prayer is one of the most powerful ways to support their spiritual development and ensure they grow with a strong foundation in their faith community.
5. Discipline in Love
As you teach them about faith, remember to correct in love. Discipline should always point back to the love and grace we receive through Christ. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:4, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Correcting gently helps them understand that God’s love is at the center of everything, even discipline.
6. Support and Collaborate With Sunday School Teachers
Be kind to your child’s Sunday school teachers, smile, and show your appreciation for the important work they do. Many Sunday school teachers are volunteers with limited resources and time, often balancing their own families and other commitments. These teachers are doing an incredible job managing a class full of young children with different needs. They are stretched thin trying to teach Bible stories and foster each child’s spiritual growth. A little kindness and appreciation can go a long way in supporting them.
If possible, communicate with your child’s Sunday school teacher about what they are teaching. This way, you can reinforce those lessons at home. Collaborating with Sunday school teachers can make a big difference in your child’s spiritual formation. By working together, we ensure our children receive consistent messages about faith both at church and at home.
Practical Steps to Stay Involved
- Devotionals: In addition to your regular family devotion, take two days during the week to focus on what your kids learned in Sunday school. Reviewing their memory verses and lessons can help cement their understanding. For older kids, you can track their spiritual growth by using a Sunday school log. I will create a Sunday school log sample and make this available.
- Faith-Based Activities: Engage in faith-based activities that reinforce what your child is learning in Sunday school. You can draw scenes from Bible stories, play Bible-themed games, or watch Christian cartoons together. There are plenty of free printables and activities on Pinterest that you can add to your child’s after-school routine. Incorporating their memory verses into these activities helps solidify their learning. I’ll also be providing more Christian resources for kids on this blog, so stay tuned for helpful tools to support your child’s spiritual development.
Final Thoughts
Parenting is a sacred responsibility, especially when it comes to our children’s spiritual lives. While Sunday school is a valuable resource, it’s not enough on its own. As Christian parents, we are called to teach, nurture, and guide our children in their faith journey. Through prayer, intentional teaching, and love, we can raise children who don’t just know about God but also experience His love in their everyday lives.
So, how can you take the next step in being more hands-on with your child’s spiritual growth?
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