How To Teach Faith To Kids

Teaching kids about faith can feel like a struggle—at least, it used to feel that way for me. But then I learned one simple trick that changed everything. Want to hear it?

Storytelling.

Think about it—we all remember our favorite books or movies. The Bible itself is one big story, so this concept isn’t new! But as parents, we often feel like we have to have all the right answers and explain things perfectly, or our kids won’t understand who Jesus is or how to have faith in Him.

But what if, instead of focusing on perfect explanations, you simply shared real-life stories? Stories about times when you or people you know have experienced God’s faithfulness. Stories about when you put your faith in Him and saw Him move—maybe in the way you expected, or maybe in an even better way.

Of course, this means we need to be actively noticing how God is working in our lives and consistently practicing faith in Him.

A few weeks ago, I attended a retreat for a church staff we work closely with at Goby. While there, a friend had been struggling with a painful ankle injury. At one point, we gathered around him, laid hands on him, and prayed for complete healing. And guess what? God healed him! He stood up, walked around, and suddenly had no pain. His mobility was restored, and he even removed the brace he’d been wearing. It was a miracle!

When I got home, I told this story to my husband and my three young kids. I wish you could have seen their faces—probably the same expression you have right now! Hearing a real, true story from someone they love and trust deepened their faith.

Another time, we were in Hobby Lobby when my daughter tripped and fell into a large ornament display. She landed right on one of the metal prongs that hold the ornaments (I have no idea what they’re called!), and it badly bruised her cheek—just below her eye. Later, I sat my kids down and talked to them about God’s protection in that moment. If the prong had been just one inch higher, she could have lost her eye. That experience became a story of God’s real, tangible protection over her.

So here’s my challenge for you this week: Ask God to open your eyes to His faithfulness in your life. Pray for wisdom on when and how to share stories with your kids—stories that will teach them what faith is and what it looks like. Be on the lookout for stories of faith in other people’s lives, too.

Because when you share these stories, not only will your kids’ faith grow—yours will too.