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4 Simple Steps Towards Faith Formation in the Home

Hannah L. Knehans DFLM

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Introduction

All Households: Church Workers & Lay Members

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Faith At Home

  1. Family Devotions
  2. Bible Reading
  3. Prayer
  4. Faith-Filled Conversations

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Home-Centered�Church-Supported�Faith-Formation

The Biblical Model

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The Biblical Model of Faith Formation

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Faith-Formation

Through biblical education, prayer, and a focus on God’s plan for life, the Holy Spirit will work faith in adults and children in each household.

Home-Centered

Households/families are the primary area where worldview & belief (religious, political, social, etc.) formation occurs.

Church-Supported

The role of the Church is to equip heads of households and support them as they guide and instruct the members of their households.

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Intellectually we understand that faith is more than knowledge and good morals. We certainly desire for those we lead to possess a robust faith that impacts every aspect of life, and we hunger to see faith that transcends childhood belief into lifelong faith…. It is about understanding how to live out what we believe by the power of the Holy Spirit. Genuine faith is established when someone has a firm conviction.

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Anthony, M., & Marshman, M. (2015). 7 Family Ministry Essentials. David C. Cook. (pg. 14)

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Family of Origin

The faith-formation in your childhood home influences your home now.

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1. Family Devotions

Intentional Times of Faith Formation Together

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What do Home Devotions Look Like?

  • Intentional time to grow in the faith.
  • Age-appropriate conversations.
  • Family routines/rhythms.
  • Prewritten readings and/or creative activities.
  • Discussions about God’s will & His promises for us (Law and Gospel).
  • Appling the Bible to everyday situations.

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Family Devotion Elements

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INVOCATION

“In the Name of the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit” (make the sign of the cross)

PRAYER

Say the Lord’s Prayer, a memorized or prewritten prayer, or make up your own.

Devotion book, story Bible, or deeper reading of a Scripture passage or the Catechism.

READING

The Apostles’ Creed is a simple confession of faith. Consider saying the 10 Commandments.

CREED

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Family Devotions with All Ages

  • Do devotions of some kind with the entire family.
  • Devotions or deeper Bible Study with one parent.
  • Competition or other motivations help.
  • Try to build intrinsic motivation.
  • Check for retention & comprehension.
  • Challenge youth to consider deeper theological concepts (connect to the Catechism.)

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2. Bible Reading

Digging into God’s Word Together

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Choosing Age-Appropriate Bibles

Young Children

  • Simple or less words and more pictures.
  • High Contrast
  • Read-a-loud
  • Sturdy design
  • Small size

Elementary Age

  • Appropriate reading level
  • Discussion Q’s and devotional thoughts to make connections to daily life

Jr. & Sr. High

  • A study Bible
  • Encourage individual Bible reading
  • Bible study of a specific book or topic

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Littles Can Learn Too!

  • They retain so much information from the formative years.
  • Sing with them.
  • Engage their senses.
  • Make it a priority and routine.

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children 4 and Up�Memorization�Copy work�Deeper Understanding

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  • Pick a verse to memorize together, say it multiple times daily and differently.
  • Write verses and use them as number, spelling, and hand-writing practice.
  • Start teaching more specific words and their meanings: “faith”, “hope”, “sin”.

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Older Children

  • The whole Bible (OT & NT) is one narrative containing God’s plan of salvation.
  • Discern Law and Gospel.

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Bible Reading & Devotions for Youth

  • Ask questions that promote critical thinking.
  • Focus on deeper theological topics.
  • Relate readings to what’s going on in their lives.
  • Ask them to imagine they were in the story; how would they react?
  • Help them think about why God included that story or passage in the Bible, what He wants us to learn.
  • Ask them to pick the topic or read out loud.
  • Check for retention & comprehension.

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Learning the Bible at All Ages

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  • Use illustrations.
  • Ask for word definitions.
  • Learn more about the biblical context.
  • Seek to promote a deeper understanding of concepts.
  • Ask leading questions.
  • Connect to other Bible characters and stories.

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The Bible for Different Learning Styles & 5 Senses

  • Visual Faith: coloring sheets, Bible journaling
  • Audio books or read-a-louds
  • Videos
  • Skits: act out a Bible story
  • Memory verse cards or songs
  • Handwriting worksheets or hand lettering
  • Cook a biblical meal

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God’s Word in Your Home

  • Signs or art
  • Crosses
  • Nativities, Easter scenes, calendars, wreaths
  • Biblical toys
  • Sticky notes or little messages
  • Keep a Bible in a visible location
  • Placemats or books on the kitchen table

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3. Prayer

Individual & Family Conversations with God

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What is a prayer?

Prayer is speaking to God

in words and thoughts.

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(2017). Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation. Concordia Publishing House. (pg. 231)

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Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

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Ways to Pray

  • Meal prayers
  • Biblical prayers
  • Liturgical prayers
  • Out-loud prayers
  • Individual prayers
  • Corporate prayers
  • Flare prayers
  • Signal prayer

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  • Creative prayers
  • Songs and Psalms
  • Handwritten prayers
  • Prayer journaling
  • Prayer walks/hikes
  • Books of prayer
  • Drawings of prayers
  • Actions with prayers

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Prayer�at All Ages

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  • Teach the routine, daily prayers.
  • Teach them to pray at church.
  • Ask children and teens to pray out loud.
  • “Repeat after me” prayer.
  • Pray for them out loud.
  • Ask them to pray for you.
  • Teach them to pray on their own.

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ACTS Prayers

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ADORATION

Praise God for who He is and what He has done. Choose specific attributes.

CONFESSION

Ask God to forgive you for any specific sins you’ve committed and even sins you’re not aware of.

Ask God to help you with something. Pray for His aid for others in your life too.

SUPPLICATION

Thank God for what He’s done for you, your family, and others. Choose specific things.

THANKSGIVING

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4. Faith-Filled Conversations

Saturating Daily Life with God’s Will

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The greatest spiritual work happens in the normal moments of domestic life.

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Whitmel Earley, J. (2021). Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms. Zondervan. (pg. 24)

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What are Faith-Filled Conversations?

  • Ordinary conversations about current events, daily life, emotions, or difficult topics.
  • Approaching these conversations from a Biblical perspective.
  • Building trust with your family members.
  • Putting on the armor of God.
  • Growing confidence in apologetics.

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Examples of Faith-Filled Conversations

  • Sexuality and Gender
  • Identity in Christ
  • Denominations and Religions
  • Current Events/World Events/History
  • Review a Conversation or Interaction you had
  • Observations about Others
  • Personal Struggles

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The truth is, most Christians are busy with other things: the day-to-day of normal life-jobs, kids, budgets, sports, weather and what’s premiering on Netflix this week. None of this is bad, but the unfortunate reality is that most adults don’t seem to connect their everyday experiences with their faith. Or, at least, they aren’t talking about it as they do.

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(2018). Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age. Barna Group & Lutheran Hour Ministries. (pg. 7)

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Putting it All Together

Where do I start?

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You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

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The most important task that faces a father and mother is not the obvious physical childcare and support. Their major job, starting with the first day, is to provide their child with constant, accepting love. That kind of love has only one source: God.

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Buth, L. (2015). How to Talk Confidently with Your Child about Sex: A Guide for the Christian Family.

Concordia Publishing House. (pg. 7-8)

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Keeping it Simple

  • Pick one area to focus on for a week.
  • Just pick one family devotion at a time.
  • Make the most of your time.
  • Create a routine that you don’t have to think about.
  • You don’t need to be creative.
  • Find what works for your family.
  • God has commanded this; He will bless it!

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It Starts with You

  • Individual prayer and Bible study.
  • Prayer and devotions with your spouse.

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Some Resources

A Few More Tools to Help

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LCMS Apps

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Family Devotions & Bible Reading

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Children’s Catechisms & Hymnal

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Faith-Filled Conversations

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Book for Parents

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Questions

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Thank You!

Hannah L. Knehans

Director of Family Life Ministry (DFLM)

Family Discipleship Coach (FDC)

Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield, MO

hknehans@trinitylutheranspfd.org

417-866-5878 ext. 14