Celebrate Spiritual Milestones

Marking children’s physical “firsts,” such as first steps and first words, is an exciting and memorable part of parenting. Just as important, and just as worthy of celebration, are spiritual firsts, or faith milestones.

These milestones, or rites, help children know they’re growing up as Christians and continually reconnecting to their faith family. Milestones also allow churches and parents to partner together to raise up lifelong followers of Jesus.

Spiritual occasions that warrant family celebrations include:

Baptism or Dedication—Because children are a gift from God, we “give” them back to God by committing their lives to him. By witnessing a baptism or dedication, fellow church members agree to partner with parents to help raise children in the Christian faith.

Receiving a First Bible—When children receive God’s Word, it’s like their very own special love letter from God. He wants us to read the Bible and apply it to our lives. Making a “big deal” out of getting a Bible shows kids how important the book is to our faith and its growth.

Transitioning to the Preteen Years—Leaving behind elementary school symbolizes that preteens are beginning to “own” their faith. Somewhere along their spiritual journey, they’ll decide whether to draw closer to God or reject him. The great thing is that God is always there, waiting for young people to find him. And he’s always there for parents, too, guiding us as we lead our children through faith milestones.


Teachable Moments

1. Celebrate Baptisms—After seeing a baptism, talk to your children about their own baptisms—or their desire to be baptized. Tell them God washes away our sins. As a family, make handmade cards for newly baptized people.

2. Make the Bible Relevant—Show children how God’s Word applies to their lives. Talk about biblical heroes and how they both stumbled and grew in faith. Tie Bible verses into kids’ interests, from music or poetry to travel or adventure.

3. Model Lifelong Learning—Preteens often feel as if they’ve outgrown Sunday school. Provide age-appropriate Bibles and devotionals for preteens who are forming their identity in Christ. Also help them anticipate the future rather than be anxious about it.



Get your children thinking about their own faith milestones by asking these discussion-starter questions:

1. What times or events in your walk with God stand out the most to you, and why?

2. As you grow up as a Christian, what occasions would you like to celebrate, and how?

3. In what ways has your faith changed since you were younger?

4. What can I do to help your faith grow even stronger?



Good Intentions Don’t Always Pan Out

• In a Barna Group survey, 85% of parents said they believe they have the primary responsibility for teaching their children about religious beliefs and spiritual matters.

• But in another Barna study, fewer than 10% of parents who regularly attend church have consistent family time with God.


Ask God:
1. To help you nurture your children’s developing faith.

2. To show your children how he’s with them as they grow.

3. To help you make faith milestones important.



Parenting Insights
In Shift (Group), Brian Haynes discusses the value of at-home “Faith Talks” for leading kids spiritually:

1. Faith Talks should occur regularly and be age-appropriate. Each week, set aside time to focus on biblical truth in a relational way.

2. Faith Talks should focus on God’s Word. Read the Bible together, celebrate it, and adjust your lives accordingly.

3. Faith Talks don’t have to be difficult or formal. Make them fun; for example, go outside on a hot day and compare standing in the sun and shade. Then read and discuss Psalm 121:5.

4. Faith Talks are a priority. They shouldn’t depend on children’s choices or attitudes. God instructs parents to be intentional about leading their children spiritually.




Family Experience: Journeys With Jesus
Use these activities to celebrate your family’s past and future.

• Family Timelines—You’ll need a 6-foot piece of butcher paper, markers, masking tape, and a Bible. Tape the butcher paper to a wall. Together, create a timeline of your family’s journey with God using words, drawings, and Bible verses. Include marriages, birthdays, and milestones, such as when a child entered preschool or when you moved. Add fun memories and difficult times that affected everyone (illnesses or injuries, vacations, job or school changes, and so on).

Afterward, discuss these questions: “What are our best memories? What difficult events have we overcome? How did those events make us closer? How have you seen God moving in our family through the years? How have we experienced God’s faithfulness? What are our future dreams for our family?”

• God’s Path—You’ll need a map of your hometown, a highlighter, a Bible, and a red marker. Mark important spots on the map, such as your home, school, church, friends’ houses, and more. Highlight the roads your family uses most often. Read aloud Psalm 139:1-3. Say: “God always knows where we are, what we’re doing, and where we’re going. He has big plans for us as we grow and get to know him better. God loves us and will always be with us.” With a red marker, draw a large heart around all the map sites you’ve highlighted. Hang up the map as a reminder of God’s promises.