Do you want to help your child develop a strong faith in Jesus? Are you looking for ways to teach them about the importance of living a life centered around Him? If so, then this blog post is for you! We take a look at practical tips and activities for teaching your child about Jesus and His teachings.
Introduce Who Jesus is
One of the most important things you can do to teach your child about Jesus is to introduce them to who He is. Explain to them that Jesus is God’s son, and that He came to Earth to teach us how to follow God’s laws and be good people. You can also talk about Jesus’ death on the cross, and why He did this – because He loves us and wants us to be saved. Show your child how Jesus showed us how to love each other and care for those in need. Explain how Jesus was the perfect example of how we should live our lives, and how He showed us what it means to be a good person.
Read Bible Stories Together
Reading Bible stories together is a great way to introduce your child to Jesus. You can start by reading from a children’s Bible like the Jesus Storybook Bible or The Beginner’s Bible. As your child matures, you can move on to more advanced versions of the Bible. Choose stories that correspond to their stage of development and understanding. Make sure to explain any terms they don’t understand, as well as the context of the story. Discuss the moral of the story and how it relates to Jesus and his teachings. Ask them questions to get them thinking about the story and its application to their lives. You can also have your child retell the story in their own words and draw pictures to illustrate it. Not only will this help them remember the stories, but it will also help them understand and apply the lessons they learned.
Discuss Jesus’ Teachings
The teachings of Jesus are some of the most important lessons we can learn in life. It’s important to talk to your children about what Jesus taught and why it’s important to listen and follow his words. Talk to your children about the parables Jesus told, such as the parable of the lost sheep and the prodigal son. Talk about how Jesus taught us to love one another, forgive our enemies, and be humble. Discuss how Jesus taught us to show kindness to everyone and put others before ourselves. Explain how Jesus taught us to have faith in God and trust that He will provide for us. Through discussion, your children will begin to understand and appreciate the teachings of Jesus.
Pray Together with Your Child About Jesus
Prayer is a powerful tool that can help your child learn more about Jesus. Prayer can be a way for your child to connect with God and learn about His will for their life. It can also be a way for them to express their needs, worries, and concerns to God.
When you pray with your child, it’s important to talk about what you are praying for and why. Explain that prayer is a way to talk to God about anything and everything. As you pray with your child, encourage them to bring their own needs and concerns before God.
You can also model how to pray by using the Lord’s Prayer or other Bible based prayers. This will help your child learn what prayers should look like. Additionally, it will give them a starting point when they are ready to start praying on their own.
Finally, don’t forget to listen after you pray together. Talk about what was said, and ask your child if they have any questions or comments. This will help them understand prayer better and open up the conversation about Jesus and faith.
Make Time to Worship as a Family
Regularly set aside time for your family to worship together. This could be weekly, biweekly, or monthly, depending on your family’s schedule. During this time, you can use Bible verses, songs, and prayer to honor God. You can also take turns reading a Bible passage and discuss its meaning. Make sure to keep it meaningful and engaging for your child.
Involve your child in the worship experience by allowing him or her to pick songs and pray aloud. This will help them feel included and encourage them to participate more actively in the future. You can also have them lead a prayer or read a Bible passage.
If you’re looking for resources to supplement your family worship time, consider getting a devotional guide that’s specific to children. There are plenty of great ones available online, and they can be a great way to introduce your child to the Bible in an age-appropriate way.
Show Christlike Behavior Yourself
It is important to remember that you are your child’s first teacher. As a parent, it is essential that you model Christian behavior and values in order to provide an example for your child to follow. Show your child how to love others by being kind, generous, and compassionate. Demonstrate how to be a good listener and how to be patient in difficult situations. Talk about how Jesus was humble and selfless, and show your child how you can practice these same values. Let your child know that there are consequences for their actions, but also explain that God is always ready to forgive them if they ask for it. Showing your children your love for Christ in how you love your neighbor is a blessing to them and a life changing example.
Don’t Force Belief on Your Child
When teaching your child about Jesus, it’s important to remember to not force them to believe in him. While it’s important to introduce your child to the teachings of Jesus, it’s important to remember that ultimately your child must decide for themselves if they want to accept and follow Jesus. This is an important step for them to take on their own journey of faith.
Instead of trying to force your child to believe, focus on providing them with a rich spiritual environment that will help them learn more about Jesus and his teachings. Talk to them about Jesus and the Bible and answer their questions. Encourage them to read the Bible, attend church services, and participate in church activities.
Drawing from your own faith, be a role model for your child by living out Christian values and beliefs in your daily life. Show them that following Jesus isn’t just something you read about in a book – it’s something that you live out in your day-to-day life. This will help your child better understand what it means to have a relationship with Jesus.
Encourage Questions and Discussion About Jesus
Encouraging your child to think for themselves and find answers, and trust in God on their own is what will give them a real and lasting relationship with Jesus. To this end, it is important to foster an environment where questions and discussions about Jesus are encouraged. Questions stimulate critical thinking and help children to understand why they believe what they believe. To help start the conversation, give them simple examples of Jesus’ teachings, such as the parable of the Good Samaritan or the story of the Prodigal Son. Encourage your child to start the conversation like they would any other conversation, and to keep it casual. Ask them questions like “What do you think Jesus meant when he said ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’?” or “What do you think it means to ‘follow in Jesus’ footsteps’?” These simple conversations can open up a deeper dialogue about Jesus and his teachings.
Take Your Child to Church Services and Sunday School Classes
Taking your child to church services and Sunday school classes is an important part of teaching him or her about Jesus. In these settings, they will be exposed to the teachings of Jesus and the stories of the Bible. They will also have an opportunity to interact with other children and adults who share their faith. During Sunday school, they will learn more about God and His Word in a fun and interactive way. Church services are a great way to introduce your child to worship and to learn from the sermon or teaching.
At church, your child can also find opportunities to serve through service projects or by helping out with Sunday school activities. This will not only help them learn to serve others, but it can also help them feel more connected to their faith and the church community. Additionally, attending church gives your child a chance to make new friends who share similar beliefs.
By taking your child to church services and Sunday school classes, you are giving them a chance to connect with God and other believers. It is a great way to reinforce the lessons they have been learning at home.
Talk About the Sacraments of Baptism and Communion
The Sacraments of Baptism and Communion are important to the Christian faith and to understanding the relationship between Jesus, the Church, and individuals. It is important for children to understand these sacraments and what they mean. Explain that baptism is a sacrament in which one is washed of original sin, made a child of God, and marked with the cross of Christ. Talk about how communion is a way to remember Jesus’ death and resurrection and to be nourished by his body and blood.
Be sure to explain to your child that these are not just symbolic gestures- they are sacraments that are meaningful and powerful. Make sure your child understands that baptism and communion are for those who have professed saving faith in Jesus Christ and are able to understand the significance of these sacraments. Additionally, explain that while Scripture does not give an age for partaking in communion, it is typically offered to those who have been baptized.
In conclusion, talk about the sacraments of baptism and communion with your child in order for them to understand their significance within the Christian faith.
Learn About the Bible and Christianity Together
Learning about the Bible is an important part of teaching your child about Jesus. Read Bible stories together and discuss the lessons, themes, and characters. Talk about the Bible’s teachings and how they can be applied to everyday life. Show your child how the Bible is relevant to them and how it can be used to help guide their decisions. Encourage them to ask questions about the Bible and help them develop their own understanding of it. You can also use fun activities to explore different aspects of the Bible, such as word searches, coloring pages, and other games. Not only will these activities help your child learn more about the Bible, but they will also help them develop a stronger connection to their faith.
Involve Your Child in Church Activities
Involvement in church activities is a great way to help your child understand and grow in their faith. It gives them an opportunity to learn more about Jesus and build relationships with other believers. Consider allowing your child to join the choir or a youth group. These activities can be fun, and they can give your child a chance to make friends and explore their faith in a safe, supportive environment. If your child is interested, you can also attend activities such as Vacation Bible School, mission trips, and other service projects with them. These activities can help your child learn about Jesus in a fun and engaging way.
Celebrate Holidays Related to Christianity
One of the best ways to teach your child about Jesus is to celebrate holidays related to Christianity. The holidays are part of the Christian faith, and they can help to bring family and friends together as they focus on Jesus and celebrate his life. Easter, Christmas, and Pentecost are three of the most well-known holidays in Christianity, but there are also other lesser-known holidays such as Ascension Day, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Palm Sunday.
Celebrating these holidays is a great way to get your child more familiar with the Christian faith and the stories of Jesus. When celebrating Easter, for example, you can talk about Jesus’ death and resurrection and allow your child to participate in activities such as dyeing Easter eggs or decorating Easter baskets. You can also read Bible stories together as a family to learn more about Jesus’ life.
When celebrating Christmas, you can talk about the birth of Jesus and talk about the importance of giving rather than receiving during this season. You can also focus on the importance of Jesus’ teachings during this time, such as loving your neighbor and being kind to one another.
By celebrating these holidays, your child will gain a better understanding of Christian faith and be able to form a deeper connection with Jesus.
Find Ways for Children to Serve Through Service Projects
Getting your child involved in service projects is one of the best ways to teach them about Jesus and His love for us. Service projects are excellent ways to show children how we can use our time and resources to help others, and how our actions can make a difference in the lives of those in need. Service projects can also help children become more aware of the needs around them, and open up conversations about how they can help address these issues.
When planning service projects with your child, make sure to choose activities that are age-appropriate and that your children will enjoy. This could be anything from helping out at a local soup kitchen, to collecting items for a local homeless shelter, or even just doing something simple like volunteering at a pet adoption center. The important thing is that your child has the opportunity to give back and learn more about Jesus and His teachings at the same time.
Give Them Opportunities To Live Out Their Faith Everyday
Giving your children the opportunity to live out their faith everyday is a great way to show them how to put their faith into action. One way to do this is to find service projects they can get involved in. Volunteering together at a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter can help your child understand the importance of serving others in need. If you have the means, consider taking a family mission trip abroad. This will give your child the chance to put their faith into action and learn about different cultures, all while doing it in an unfamiliar environment. Additionally, you can look for ways to serve your community by joining local church service projects or by encouraging your family to donate clothes or toys to those in need. By providing your child with opportunities to serve, you’re helping them grow in their faith and learn how to live out what Jesus taught.
Conclusion
In conclusion, teaching your child about Jesus should be done with love and patience. Explain to them Jesus’ story and the message of hope and salvation that He brings to the world. Show them how Jesus’ teachings can positively impact their own life. Give them the opportunity to explore their faith and form their own unique relationship with Jesus. By taking a loving and thoughtful approach, you can help your child develop a strong foundation for their faith.
