Timothy
We mature in faith through relationships with other people of faith. People like Sunday school teachers and pastors can play a big role in nurturing faith of children, but it is parents and other regular caregivers who are the biggest influences on a child’s life. We are probably becoming even more aware of this reality right now during mobility limitations of the pandemic. In this letter to Timothy, his mentor Paul is trying to lift his spirits and to help him have the courage to do the work at hand. To do this, he reminds Timothy of the faith that was “lived” in his grandmother, his mother, and now in himself. He has a grounding that he can draw from now. What a gift.
We as parents and caregivers can also gift the children in our lives with this lived faith.
This month, identify how this is happening - and dream about new ways for it to happen.
We as parents and caregivers can also gift the children in our lives with this lived faith.
This month, identify how this is happening - and dream about new ways for it to happen.
Read It
2 Timothy 1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Pray It
God, thank you for the gift of faith lived by your big family of faith. Thank you for the faith lived by (name your “spiritual ancestors”). Help us to pass it on. Amen.
Do It
Talk together about all the ways the stories of God and lived faith are being passed on in your family. Write or draw them on paper, dry-erase board or a chalkboard. Some examples might be:
Look at your list together. What could the children name? Maybe you identified things you didn’t even realize were happening! Is this list enough? What more could your “spiritual family” do to pass on lived faith?
For children ages 0-5: Do the above exercise with the grown-ups in the household, then choose one practice to be more explicit about with your little one. Tell your child(ren) the story of Timothy learning about God from his mother and grandmother. “There was a man named Timothy who taught people about Jesus and helped them live in the way of love. Do you know how Timothy was able to do that? He had a mother and a grandmother who taught him about God’s way of love, and then he was able to teach others. In our family, we teach you about Jesus so that, like Timothy, you can share Jesus’ love with others.” Then do the practice. This will help your child(ren) connect why you do what you do.
Explore it:
New: All-age, home-based, year-long resource
Daniel and Talashia have been at work on a new all-age, home-based, year-long resource that can help families pass on the faith. For a modest fee, households, small groups and churches can subscribe for a year. The website went live on June 4, and we will send you an email with the link soon!
Resources to help children love as Christ loves
In light of current events in our nation that bring racial injustice to the forefront, we recommend these resources to your family as you process these things together:
- Prayer before meals
- Bedtime reflections
- Reading scripture or story Bibles together
- Telling Bible stories as a family
- Parent/Caregiver spiritual practices that are seen by the children
- Active participation in a family of faith
- Nature walks
- The words that are used in the family
- Care for the poor
- Standing up to injustice
- Reaching out to support those who are experiencing prejudice
Look at your list together. What could the children name? Maybe you identified things you didn’t even realize were happening! Is this list enough? What more could your “spiritual family” do to pass on lived faith?
For children ages 0-5: Do the above exercise with the grown-ups in the household, then choose one practice to be more explicit about with your little one. Tell your child(ren) the story of Timothy learning about God from his mother and grandmother. “There was a man named Timothy who taught people about Jesus and helped them live in the way of love. Do you know how Timothy was able to do that? He had a mother and a grandmother who taught him about God’s way of love, and then he was able to teach others. In our family, we teach you about Jesus so that, like Timothy, you can share Jesus’ love with others.” Then do the practice. This will help your child(ren) connect why you do what you do.
Explore it:
New: All-age, home-based, year-long resource
Daniel and Talashia have been at work on a new all-age, home-based, year-long resource that can help families pass on the faith. For a modest fee, households, small groups and churches can subscribe for a year. The website went live on June 4, and we will send you an email with the link soon!
Resources to help children love as Christ loves
In light of current events in our nation that bring racial injustice to the forefront, we recommend these resources to your family as you process these things together:
