50 Next Steps of Faith

Last night in our bulletin, our Children’s Ministry Director, Tina Schramme and myself shared 10 “next steps” of faith and other faith building activity suggestions for families. The full list we’ve compiled has 50 of those activities which I am posting here. We put this list together in response to the message I shared two weeks ago in which I encouraged our congregation to consider what was the “next step” of faith they needed to take in order to continue growing. I hope you find some great ideas for family activities on this list and consider how you might continue your journey. Any questions, you can email me or Tina.

1. Start an kindness jar. Put a marble in there every time someone in the family does something caring or kind for another. Plan a celebration when the jar is full.
2. Commit to praying for your children every day. Here is a sample prayer: God, help me to order my life after the example of Christ, that [child’s name], surrounded by steadfast love may be established in the faith and confirmed and strengthened in the ways that lead to life eternal.
3. Begin your meal time together with a word of prayer, or teach your kids a meal-time prayer song they can sing as well.
4. Begin setting aside 30 minutes a day to study God’s word. [If you have not already purchased a Transformation Journal, this is a great resource for your daily study time. You can pick one up in our resource center. You can also join us on Tuesday nights for the Transformation Journey Bible study.]
5. Join a small group where you can connect with other parents who are seeking to grow in their faith. [We’d love to help you connect with other parents. Let us know if we can help]
6. Volunteer as a family at the Wesley Mission Center. [For more info, visit www.wesleymissioncenter.org]
7. Give an allowance to your children and help them learn the importance of saving for the future and sharing with others.
8. Schedule a family night each week to reconnect with one another. Tina has a ton of ideas for great family night activities.
9. Ask your kids what they would like to you to pray about for them. Model for your kids the importance of prayer by responding to their concerns.
10. Create a family symbol that means “I love you” so you can use it in public settings where kids might get embarrassed. It happens before you know it, but don’t miss out on the opportunity to tell your kids you love them.
11. Make a time capsule with items representing what is important to your family. Talk about why these things are “valuable” to you. Bury it with plans to dig it up in 5 or 10 years.
12. If you have young kids at home, purchase a Kid’s Bible for them and read from it every night before they go to bed. Here is one we would recommend for our little ones.
13. Make your evening meal time a priority. Strive to eat dinner together as a family every night of the week.
14. Commit to regular worship attendance. Make being in worship each and every week a priority so that your kids learn the importance of weekly worship attendance.
15. Set aside one night a week for a date night with your spouse. You will be investing in your marriage as well as your children’s marriage.
16. Talk to your kids about tithing and let them know why that is important to you.
17. Make a cross as a family and hang it by the door to remind you to take your faith with you throughout the day.
18. Find a mentor for you and schedule some regular time where you can connect. Look for someone who you respect and have the courage to ask them if they would be willing to invest in your life and in your family.
19. Attend a marriage conference with your spouse or commit to reading a book like Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.
20. When you head home from church each week, ask your child about what they learned during their breakout time.
21. Volunteer once a month in our children’s ministry program. Help your kids see how important it is to serve and how much you care about seeing them grow!
22. Ask for help! (From other families, pastors, or church staff)
23. Pray in the car on the way to school.
24. Begin a journal of your thoughts, struggles, and prayers you have shared for your children. Make plans to give that to them as a special gift at their High School graduation or on their wedding day.
25. Plan a surprise special day for your spouse and let the kids help plan out the activities that would best express thanks to their Mom/Dad. Pick a random day where you can honor your spouse and teach your kids the importance of expressing thanks.
26. Look for ways to talk about God as you are driving. Mention the beauty or creativity of nature and express gratitude.
27. Start a prayer list in a notebook. Write down concerns and dates when prayers are answered.
28. Make and take a meal to someone who is having a rough week.
29. When you make a mistake, ask for forgiveness. Model this for your kids by asking forgiveness of them when you make a mistake.
30. Make “fortunate” cookies.  Make simple sugar cookies and decorate each one with something to represent what you are grateful for. Make this an annual activity.
31. Take a “God Walk” where you look for God in the things around you.
32. Go on a Mission trip together.
33. Pray for people at work or school who are “difficult”.
34. During the Christmas season, pick out an angel from the angel tree and shop together. Let the children spend part of their money to help.
35. Visit a Nursing home together. Just visit with the residents and share God’s love with them.
36. Talk about the faith history of your family. What impact has it had on your immediate family?
37. Play Charades. Let every family member contribute 5-10 characters, TV shows, movies, or Bible Characters; mix them up and take turns acting them out.
38. Baby-sit for a single parent or a couple in need of adult time.
39. Read the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20). Create your own family commandments. Keep it to 5-8 so they can easily be remembered. Let everyone contribute and post them in your home.
40. Talk to your kids about inviting their friends to church. Let them know that if they ever want to bring a friend, you would be more than happy to call their parents and invite them to come to church with you.
41. Make Promise Coupons. Each person writes something they promise to do if the coupon is redeemed. Give everyone several to use.
42. Read Genesis 1:11-13. Plant a seed or bulb and talk about God’s creation. Watch it grow and then give it to someone else.
43. Make a Blessings Scrapbook. This can be simple or elaborate. Weekly or monthly put in notes, pictures, scraps, whatever would remind you of the blessings you have received. Thank God for all of them.
44. Tell your children that you are praying for them.
45. Create a Family Crest. Let each child contribute with symbols that represent them.
46. Pick a TV show with a positive message like Extreme Home Makeover and make an appointment to watch it as a family each week. Talk about the experiences of these families and relate them to your own experience.
47. Celebrate a Sabbath day each week. Talk about why you do this and what is allowed or not allowed on this special day.
48. Read Psalm 119:105. Give everyone w flashlight and turn off the lights. Have everyone find their way through the house using only the flashlight. Discuss how this applies to the scripture.
49. Make a list of Godly behaviors. Then think of people who demonstrate these behaviors and write them beside each one as an example and role model.
50. Memorize scripture as a family. Help each other rehearse it through out the week. Celebrate at the end of the week.