Faith Filled Homes

Foundations of Faith for Modern Christian Families

In the tapestry of family life, each thread—each moment, decision, and lesson—contributes to the overall picture. For families walking in faith, the need for a strong foundation is woven into the fabric of everyday life. It’s about creating an environment where love, communication, discernment, and faith are not just taught but lived. Let’s explore how we can lay down these foundational stones in our families, ensuring our children grow in a home where faith flourishes.

Speak Love

The cornerstone of a faith-filled home is love. Jesus showed us that love is the greatest commandment—love for God, ourselves, and others. In parenting, this means creating a home where love is the default language, where actions and words are guided by compassion and understanding.

Heather, from our parenting panel shares, “You know I think great advice is to  let your kids see you fail and apologize to them for doing that. We’re not on a pedestal. We’re just people doing life. And they learn a lot from that. You know they learn a lot from seeing that we’re not perfect. I think it sets them up well.”

Derek, another panelist, encourages a great way to speak love. “I’m terrible at being fully transparent with my kids because… you don’t want your kids to know that you fail or that you struggle, or doubt your decisions. It’s about where you fall short and you’re making mistakes and being willing to say ‘You know what? I messed up;’ and apologize showing that you’re willing to be transparent about your shortcomings.”

Practical Tip: Make it a daily practice to show love in tangible ways. Whether it’s a note in your child’s lunchbox, a hug after a long day, or sitting down to listen to their stories without distractions, these acts of love lay the groundwork for a strong faith foundation.

Embrace Open Communication

A home where questions are welcomed and doubts can be voiced without fear is a home where faith grows. Open communication fosters an environment of trust and learning, where children feel safe to explore the depths of their beliefs and the world around them.

Coming from parenting a blended family Heather says, “We’ve had a lot of doubts. I would not be being truthful if I said we felt like we had it figured out. [My husband and I] joke a lot about me raising teenagers before toddlers. I learned a lot of things through doing the teenage parenting. First, it gave me a little bit of wisdom that I had not expected.”

For example, she says, “One of the biggest times of doubt for us was when [our son] Luke was trying to choose a college—just trying to figure out what is the best choice. Of course, finances came into play, and Luke wanted to major in environmental science, specifically wildlife biology. And as a Christian, walking into that field and going on campus visits, finding that there really isn’t a lot of room for faith and public university campuses for that major. And so, walking him through that and the campus tours. Then, we ended up at a Christian college… and he fell in love with it. And that was just us trusting God to find that right place. So, he is studying wildlife biology on a Christian campus.”

Practical Tip: Encourage regular family discussions that allow everyone to share their thoughts and feelings about faith, life, and everything in between. Use these conversations as opportunities to explore biblical principles together, making the Bible a living, relevant guide.

Teach Discernment

In a world brimming with information and varying perspectives, teaching our children to discern truth from falsehood is crucial. Discernment is a skill that helps them navigate life’s complexities through the lens of their faith, making choices that align with biblical values.

“My ex and her family have a different religious background than myself. So my kids come into the situation with very mixed understanding of the Bible and faith,” Derek adds.

“They don’t celebrate [Christian holidays] with their other family. I try to make sure that we talk about the importance of the biblical reason behind these things. So, when we get into Christmas, talking about the reason behind it, my kids love to make sure things are factual, correct and historical, which I think is an amazing thing.”

Practical Tip: Engage with your children about the media they consume, the conversations they have, and the situations they encounter. Discuss these in light of biblical teachings, encouraging them to think critically and seek God’s wisdom in all things.

Prioritize Family Time

The rapid pace of modern life often leaves little room for quiet reflection or meaningful family moments. Yet, it’s within these moments that the seeds of faith are sown and nurtured. Prioritizing family time is not about adding another item to our already full schedules; it’s about making intentional choices to be present with one another.

John shares family time from the perspective of a parent and grandparent. “My adult children all have their own children. And I think what’s maybe the most interesting thing is to watch how they have determined what they will do traditionally in their home to celebrate Christmas. I think this speaks to their comfort level within their faith to do— not necessarily mom and dad always did—but to determine, based on their culture, their friends, their relationships, and their environment, how they are going to be relevant in their faith during the holidays.”

John points out the common denominator: “They all like to come together as family.” His oldest son is in Colorado, his daughter and youngest son live in Arizona with their families. “They’re all very busy in their lives. Their kids are anywhere from 16 years old down to five. Opportunities to get together are few and far between because of the age differences…. They all find their own way to create their own traditions, and we support all of them. We try to enter in whenever we can because we realize our time and our opportunity to influence them before the [kids] leave the house is fleeting.”

John concludes, “It was just entering into their lives and their activities, trying to plug in and speak into their lives.”

Practical Tip: Designate regular times each week for family activities that encourage bonding and spiritual growth, such as Bible study, prayer, service projects, or simply enjoying nature together. Let these moments be a refuge and a joy for your family.

Building a strong foundation of faith requires us to nurture a living, breathing part of our daily lives, showing our children that following Jesus is a journey of joy, challenge, and profound reward.

As we lay these foundations, we’re equipping our children and grandchildren for a lifetime of faith, ready to face whatever comes with courage, love, and a deep-rooted trust in God.

If you missed the first blog in this series, check it out here.