Helping Children Grow in Their Relationship with Jesus: A Guide for Parents and Grandparents
As parents and grandparents, few responsibilities are greater than guiding the next generation in their walk with Jesus. The world is loud and distracting, but children need to see and experience faith lived out in real, practical ways. Here are some timeless ways you can help kids develop a genuine relationship with Christ.
1. Lead by Example
Children learn more from what they see than what they hear. If they see you praying, reading your Bible, attending church faithfully, and making Christ-centered decisions, they’ll understand that faith is more than words, it’s a way of life. As Paul wrote, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
2. Make Prayer Part of Daily Life
Prayer doesn’t need to be complicated. Show kids that prayer is simply talking with God. Pray before meals, in the car, before bedtime, and in moments of joy or trouble. Encourage them to pray out loud in their own words, helping them see God as their loving Father who listens.
3. Read the Bible Together
Children may struggle with Scripture on their own, but when you read it together, especially through children’s Bibles or stories, they begin to grasp God’s story. Ask simple questions, like:
As Deuteronomy 6:7 reminds us, “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
4. Worship as a Family
Make worship a natural rhythm. Attend church together, sing worship songs at home, or share testimonies of how God has answered prayers. Let children see that worship is about joy and gratitude, not just a Sunday routine.
5. Serve Others Together
Faith grows when it’s put into action. Bring your children or grandchildren along when serving at church, helping a neighbor, or supporting a local ministry. When kids see that faith includes caring for others, it helps them connect love for God with love for people (Matthew 22:37–39).
6. Encourage Questions and Conversations
Children are naturally curious. Instead of shutting down tough questions, welcome them. Be honest if you don’t know an answer and look it up together. These conversations build trust and remind kids that their faith is real, not forced.
7. Surround Them With a Faith Community
You can’t do it alone. Children need other Christian role models—youth leaders, teachers, and peers who reinforce the same message at church and in community. This helps them see that following Jesus isn’t just a family thing, but a way of life shared by many.
8. Celebrate Milestones of Faith
Mark spiritual moments; baptisms, first communion, mission trips, or even a child finishing their first Bible. Celebrate them like you would birthdays or graduations. These affirmations show kids that their walk with Christ matters deeply.
Final Thought
Parents and grandparents hold a unique influence that no pastor, teacher, or friend can replace. By living out faith authentically, creating space for prayer and Scripture, and guiding children into worship and service, you plant seeds that God will grow in their hearts.
Proverbs 22:6 says it best: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
