In the fall of 2022, Cedar Heights hosted a Sunday School class on the book “Family Discipleship” by Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin. The book talks about modeling your faith to your kids, and then walks through the three categories of Time, Moments, and Milestones to explore more specific ways of doing that. As the class concluded, we asked parents in attendance to share some of the ways they seek to implement these things in their homes.
Below are some of the ways the parents of Cedar Heights seek to capitalize on planned time set aside with their kids.
Darren and Sarah Johnson
Ages of Children: 4 and 7
We do nightly devotions with both girls. We have a few children’s Biles and devotion books that we will cycle through. We will also pray at this time. We pray before mealtime every evening. We also will regularly bring out a box of cue cards that bring up discussion points That are helpful + fun.
Elizabeth Neely
Age of Child: 11.5
Wake him up and he needs to wait 20 minutes before eating because of medication, so I read through the Bible in a year and review Awana verses.
Deut. 6 – talk about life in the car, walking to school, meals, playing at home, out on a family adventure and pointing back to the gospel, God’s Word, God’s Character, our sin and not being able to save ourselves, loving others. We talk about anything and everything
Eberts
Ages of Children: 4, 6, 8
(Before bed) we read the Jesus Storybook Bible with our youngest and chapter from the NIRV with the older boys. We ask for important words or phrases they heard and summarize the passage. We also make up songs to memorize Scripture.
Mike and Darcy Van Nyhuis
Ages of Children: 3, 10, 12, 14
2-3y Read Bible story, sing song, and pray – repeat after me prayer.
12-14 years – Intentional talks in the car about current topics/theology. Prayer for issues when they come up in daily life.
Dan and Kate Paredes
Ages of Children: 7, 5, 3, 1
Bedtime is easiest for 3 and 1. I try to do a Bible stories, songs, and prayers. Neither kids talk so things are pretty simple.
For the older boys, I use school as a designated time. I homeschool so its easy to do bible/theology and Awana during that time.
Avery Johnson
Age of Child: 1
Right now, after we are done with dinner, we read a page out of “Everything a Child should know about God” by Kenneth Taylor. We read the recommend Bible verses to go along with it. Then we play a human and sing it together. Martha’s favorite part is the singing. She stills and engages so well during our family worship. We try to sing the same hymn all week together so we can learn it.
Jamie Oppman
Age of Child: 2
Bedtime Bible Story with Story Bible Truth and Grace by Tom Ascol with catechism, Scripture Memory, and Hymns.