Faith Path: Giving & Serving
Recommended Ages: 9+
God blesses and entrusts each of us with gifts, talents, and resources. Look for opportunities to teach your child to be a good steward of these blessings from the Lord in a way that will honor and glorify Him.
Teach your child to make a difference
GIVING
Followers of Jesus give a portion of their income to meet the needs of God’s work and other people as an act of obedience and worship. In Genesis 28:10-22, we see Jacob making a vow to the Lord, worshiping Him, and giving ten percent (also called a tithe) back to God.
In reality, teaching children about money through tithes and offerings is not about giving to God. It is about reminding ourselves that we are dependent upon the One who gives all good gifts and that we are mere stewards rather than owners. Giving reflects obedience by showing we love a God who is worthy to be obeyed in all areas of life. It is also an opportunity to participate in something bigger than ourselves with eternal value.
- Model It: Start by putting into practice the disciplines you want your child to learn. This may mean taking steps to become a better steward of your family’s finances. Let your child see that you first give money toward tithing, then savings, and so on. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, the Bible says “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
- Teach It: If your child receives money from an allowance, jobs, or gifts, take the time to help him or her divide the money wisely. A good place to start is to set aside 10% for giving, 10% for savings, and 80% for spending on other activities and items. Use the Rolling in Money activity card and stickers included with this kit to make your own boxes to help them start the habit of good stewardship.
SERVING
In addition to financial resources, God has also entrusted us with gifts, talents, and time. As believers, we have the great opportunity to worship and glorify God through the spiritual discipline of service. Help your child discover their unique gifts and explore how they might use those gifts to glorify Him. Use the Assessing Your Child’s Spiritual Gifts tool included with this kit to get started and then find ways to experience serving together. A few simple suggestions include:
- Shared Passion: Spend some time talking with your child about the things that interest and concern him or her. It will be more meaningful if you share a passion for the specific area of service.
- Good Fit: Help your child find good serving options. It can be as simple as baking cookies for a homebound neighbor, an extended serving time such as a mission trip, or meeting a particular need on a regular basis.
- Set Expectations: Put your child more at ease by explaining what to expect. If visiting a nursing home, for example, explain he or she may encounter odd sights, sounds, and smells.
- Build Your Relationships: Take note of what your child does well while serving. Intentionally encourage him or her by saying you are proud of how they demonstrated a great attitude or area of strength.
- Be Safe: Keep a close eye on one another especially children/teens if serving in unfamiliar settings.
- Talk About It: Ask questions when you finish serving together such as “What kind of difference did you/we make?”, “Why was it important to do this project?”, “How did it impact those you served?”, and “How did it impact you/your family?”
- Pray: Take a few minutes to pray asking God to bless those you served.
DOWNLOAD FULL RESOURCE KIT REQUEST PRINTED RESOURCE KIT
recommended books
77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference
By Penny A. Zeller
Serving others is a vital part of the Christian life. Time and again Christ demonstrated the importance of putting others first and giving what we can to help those less fortunate. As adults, we recognize the importance of instilling these values in our children and youth, but simply telling them to love their neighbor isn’t enough; to leave a lasting impression, they need to see and experience love in action. 77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference is an easy-to-use resource that parents can use to cultivate compassion in their children and engage their family in acts of service. Filled with suggestions, activities, Bible verses, and topics for discussion, this re-usable manual inspires families to look for ways to make the world a better place by making a difference in the lives of others.
Features include:
- Creative activities that can be adapted to fit your unique family
- Service ideas for a variety of budgets
- Bible verses at the end of each activity to help children connect the practical aspects of God’s truth to their lives
- Interactive discussion questions to help teens understand the importance of each activity and correlate it to God’s Word
- Suggestions that encourage whole families—parents, kids, grandparents, and other relatives—to spend time together as they practice biblical servanthood
In addition to families, these ideas and activities can be easily adapted to use with youth groups, Sunday School classes, home school curriculums, small-groups, and church-wide community projects.
About Faith path
We believe God designed the family to be the primary disciple-making relationship. In other words, God gave parents the privilege of nurturing faith in the next generation. That’s why the Faith Path was created. It's a step-by-step plan to help you be intentional as you prepare for key faith milestones and foster spiritual disciplines in your child’s faith journey. From parent dedication to leading your child to Christ to launching your young adult, the Faith Path resources are designed to assist you in discipling your children.