Train Your Child… after church.
Your children’s Sunday school teachers, Children’s Ministers, and Youth Pastors and leaders work hard to present Biblical truths to your children. However, the short time these servants are with your children is only a vitamin to the daily nutrition you are charged with giving them. Church time (Sunday school and Big Church) was intended to be a resource to help you make the most of your children’s time at church and to follow up with what they learn there to help it apply to their everyday lives.
Most churches send home Parent Pages to help you train your children at home. These resources are available to you to connect you with what your child learned in class so you can have follow up discussions with your children (which have been proven to help children remember what they’re taught). It’s a chance to ensure your children understood the lesson and how it applies to their lives. Parent Pages are meant for you to spend intentional time with your child weekly talking about spiritual things.
If your church does not provide Parent Pages or any follow up materials, engage your child by asking at least five questions about their time at Sunday school. Here are some suggestions:
1. What was your favorite part of Sunday school this morning? Why did you like that part?
2. Did you learn anything new at church today? If so, what was it?
3. Do you have any challenges or projects to complete before next Sunday that we could do together (like memorize a verse or take a prayer walk)?
4. If you were talking to a non-Christian friend about your time at church today, what would you share with them that might make them interested in coming to church with you sometime?
5. What is something you would like to talk to God about your time at church today?
What invaluable moments these intentional discussions can be in helping your children process what was taught in class. The discussions also show your children the value you place on their spiritual training times. It’s good for you to share what you learned in church, too, especially something that applies to your family life from the sermon. They need to know that church is relevant to your life, too.
Train Your Child 