8 Ways to Help Your Family Know Jesus
I thought I was good at math. I made good grades in my high school and college math courses. I really did. But more recently, whenever one of my kids needs help with their math homework, it can feel like I’ve never seen math before. Sure, part of the problem is that just a little time has passed since I last did the math they’re learning. But, the bigger problem is that they’re learning math in a whole different way. And often, I’m simply bewildered by it all. We’ll start by trying the way they’re taught to do math, but inevitably, we’ll give up and figure it out the way I know works. So far, nobody has gotten detention.
Family discipleship can feel similar. There are times when as parents we might believe there’s one proper way to disciple our kids. Or, we think that there’s one right method or resource for leading family devotions. We’ll try it—we’ll give it our all—but for some reason, it just doesn’t click, and before long it has sapped the life and joy out of family discipleship. As a result, we might even throw in the towel.
But here’s the good news: There isn’t just one way to disciple our kids. In fact, there are several ways that get us faithfully to our goal of helping our kids know Jesus, trust in Jesus, love Jesus, and live like Jesus. As long as that is our destination, how we get there is secondary. So with that in mind, here are eight different ways you can help your kids know Jesus.
- Church. Many families start here—by connecting their kids into church. That’s great, of course, but we just can’t let it end here. A big part of discipling our kids is for our families to participate in a local church with joy and sincerity, not obligation. They need to see us truly and meaningfully engaged with a community of faith. We shouldn’t let church be the bulk of our kids’ discipleship, but we shouldn’t let it be absent either.
- Prayer. If we could do only one thing to disciple our kids, let it be prayer. Remember that a key part of family discipleship is helping our kids come to know and love Jesus. And, what better way to do that than by talking with Him? Regular times of authentic, vulnerable prayer—at night, at meals, in the car—not only connect a child to Jesus, but they model what a relationship with Him looks like. If you’re just beginning in family discipleship and looking for a place to start, start here.
- Devotions. When most parents think of family discipleship, they probably think of devotions: regular family gatherings to read and talk about the Bible. And it’s true; devotions should be a significant component of family discipleship. But, family devotions aren’t one-size-fits-all. Some families use a devotional resource, others use a catechism, still others follow a Bible reading plan, while others focus on the Bible passage from church the Sunday before. Some sing. Some play learning games or engage in learning activities. Others put their faith into practice by serving. The key is to find what works for your family. Be realistic: Start with a manageable cadence, perhaps once a week for ten minutes. Once you develop the habit, build from that win by gradually expanding the time and perhaps the frequency. If you don’t know where to start, try a family devotions book or ask another family at church or a pastor.
- Books. Reading to preschoolers and younger kids is so important for them, and it’s also a wonderful way to spend time together. In addition to reading traditional children’s books, weave in trusted faith-based books and Bible storybooks. This is a great way to introduce a child to the faith and to prompt conversations. If you have older kids, read with them. If you have preteens or teens, choose books to read individually and discuss.
- Conversations. Deuteronomy 6 is the classic passage on family discipleship, but when you look at it closely, you’ll notice that it talks much more about “everyday” faith than formal organized times of family devotions.Those structured times matter, but these organic, as-you-are-going times just might be the most effective tool in our family ministry tool belt. When we weave Jesus into daily living—into all we do and say—we show our kids that knowing, trusting, loving, and living like Jesus isn’t part-time for us. It’s a full-time way of life. Take advantage of conversation opportunities all around you to talk about Jesus. If you struggle to find natural prompts at first, start by simply asking your child what they’ve learned about Jesus recently, how they’re growing in their faith, or what questions they have about God.
- Events. A powerful way to engage in spiritual conversations with your child and to help apply their faith to everyday living is to look for connections to events all around you. Seek out conversation starters in the news, politics, entertainment, and sports. “How do you think Jesus would vote on that issue?” “What’s the gospel message of that commercial?” “Did that athlete show us Jesus?” “What would you have done if you were the main character in that movie?”
- Activities. Think about where your family spends much of its time. How can you weave faith conversations into them? What does it look like to live like Jesus on the ball field, at school, in the neighborhood, at work, and elsewhere? In addition, consider engaging in some intentional hands-on learning activities. For example, if you’ve been talking about trusting in Jesus, do trust falls. If you’ve been talking about God’s creativity, take a nature walk.
- Serving. As parents, we can’t miss that our calling in family discipleship isn’t just for our kids to know, trust, and love Jesus. That’s all critical of course, but it’s also for our kids to live like Jesus. We have been made to reflect Jesus’ perfect humanity in the world around us. As Jesus loves, we are to love. As Jesus is compassionate, we are to be compassionate. And so on. Part of family discipleship, then, is to find regular ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus—to serve others. Volunteer at a local food bank or shelter. Help an elderly neighbor by mowing their yard. Have a yard sale to raise funds to support a missionary. Show your kids that your faith is an active faith.
As you begin family discipleship or take the next step, remember a couple things. First, you can do it! God has not given you a task he won’t help you complete. Second, keep the long view in mind. Don’t try to do everything at once. Choose one or two steps to take—even small ones. One might work better for you right now than another, and that’s okay. Gain a win somewhere and then build from that win. Effective family discipleship is found in single moments added together to form a beautiful tapestry of faithfulness.
Looking for more family discipleship resources? Check out Family Discipleship That Works and Faith Foundations.
Copyright © 2025 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.
Brian Dembowczyk (PhD, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is associate publisher for Thomas Nelson Bibles and the author of Family Discipleship That Works and Faith Foundations. He was previously the managing editor of The Gospel Project, a Bible study curriculum used by over 1.6 million adults, teens, and children each week, and he has also been a pastor, discipleship pastor, and family pastor.