The Bible places great importance on nurturing faith in the home (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Here are some faith practices that other households have found life-giving. Are there additional practices that you would like to include?
 
1.  NURTURING . . . AND MODELING . . . A DAILY RELATIONSHIP  WITH GOD

• As a parent, you actively nurture your own spirituality by personal prayer and Bible reading.
• You find support for growth in faith by joining a small group or meeting regularly with a spiritual director or friend.

2.  CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT PROMOTES AWARENESS OF GOD

• You talk with your children about faith questions and engage in conversations about spiritual matters.
• Your home includes symbols of faith and sacred works of art.
• You sing songs of faith, play musical instruments, or listen to music that inspires your faith.
• You guide your children to enjoy and experience the presence of God in nature. Your family has established faith rituals for special times of the year such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter or birthdays.

3.  PRAYING TOGETHER

• You pray together at meal time.
• You pray with your children at bedtime and encourage them to learn how to pray themselves.
• You teach your children that prayer includes both listening and speaking to God.
• You teach your children to pray for the needs mentioned during "Joys & Concerns," for the ministries of LMC, and for our pastors, lay leaders, and mission workers.
• In times of sickness, hurt or pain, you pray with each other.

4.  PASSING ON THE STORIES OF FAITH

• You share how following Jesus Christ has changed your life.
• Your family reads Bible stories together each night. You tell your children stories of faith heroes and family stories of faith. You encourage your children to memorize key Bible passages.

5.  PARTICIPATING IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH

• If you're in Chicago on Sunday, you're in church. You arrange your children's other activities so that participating in the life of our congregation comes first: Sunday school, youth group, vacation Bible school, and church retreat. Your children see you actively participating in the life of this congregation, as you feel led by God.
• Your family contributes to the church's mission by giving your tithes and offerings to God.

6.  EXPRESSING FAITH BEYOND THE FAMILY

• You encourage your children to help and serve others by giving generously of their resources.
• You share with others what God has done in your lives.
• As a family, you practice resolving conflicts in fair and peaceful ways and encourage your children to do the same in situations outside of your family whenever possible.
• You live out your responsibility for God's world by carefully using natural resources and recycling and reusing materials whenever possible.