By Leah Farish
How Can Grandparents Pass Their Faith to the Next Generation?
Our faith is not only something we believe. It is something we can intentionally share with the generations who come after us. Grandparents often have a deep desire to pass their faith on to the next generation. But what does that look like in everyday life? Abstract ideas like faith and salvation may seem out of reach for small grandchildren and may sound irrelevant to teens. When I became a grandmother, I wanted help communicate my faith. That lead me to start a podcast to interview experts about intergenerational topics. Through those conversations, I have gathered practical ideas for sharing my faith in meaningful, age-appropriate ways.
Here are some things you can try:
1. Take Your Grandchildren on a Faith Journey
Share the Places Where You Experienced God: Tell the Stories of God’s Faithfulness
Take a “faith journey”: drive or walk to various places where “God heard me here”. Places where you cried out to the Lord in acute need, or where you saw an answer to prayer. I’ve shown my kids and grandkids where I was when I prayed with the elders of my church for healing for my husband’s cancer (he is healthy now), the lakeside seat where I wrestled with depression, and where I stood in a field of daffodils praising God for my college friend accepting Christ. My hope is that when they are in those places long after I am gone, they will recall God’s steadfast love made real.
2. Introduce Your Grandchildren to Missionaries
Help Them See What It Means to Follow God’s Call
Introduce your grandchildren to missionaries who are taking the gospel around the world. Missionary work may draw them in as it seems like an adventure yet make sure they understand the focus is on following God’s call in obedience to share the gospel. Let them ask questions of these missionaries. If the missionaries have kids themselves, be sure to find out what it is like for kids in foreign countries. Discover how even the young people are being used by God as a witness.
Pray for Missionaries Together
3. Connect Their Interests With Christian Role Models
Find out prayer needs and pray together. Consider how you as a family can support the missionaries and especially the kids. If the kids are the same ages of your grandchildren, encourage them to connect by email or letter.
As grandparents, we often have relationships and connections that can open doors for our grandchildren. If one grandchild is interested in medicine, invite a believing doctor over for dessert and candid career stories. If another kiddo is interested in art, visit the museum or studio where your Christian friend works. Seek out Christian role models for your grandchildren beyond you and your family.
Show Them That Faith Belongs in Every Area of Life
Think through the various interest areas of your grandchildren and seek to connect with a Christian who is serving in that area. Challenge them to find out how this professional seeks to live for Christ in their area of employment. This is a great opportunity to share that life is not made up of secular and sacred parts. All of life is to be lived for the Lord.
4. Give Them Tangible Reminders of Their Faith
Consider tangible items that point to your faith in Jesus.
Use Meaningful Gifts to Point Them to Jesus and Create Reminders of Faith in Your Home
One idea is that if your family allows it, give the grandkids a gift of a picture of Jesus. I am letting each grandchild choose from a few prints so that each will have one that best reminds them of Christ. I recall that one Christian leader I read as a young parent said that every child should have a picture of Jesus in their bedroom. I was certainly influenced by a poster I had in my room growing up, of Jesus with children. In the sky above was an airplane going by. It made me aware of Christ’s presence in every generation. If a picture doesn’t work for you, a gift of a cross necklace or Bible can be meaningful. One family I know had a 5-year-old who was rather a skeptic. They gave him a small Bible with a handsome cover, unsure of how he would receive it. He hugged it and said, “Wow! It’s all I ever wanted!” Who knew that would be a breakthrough for him!
5. Make Your Faith Visible in Your Home
Look for simple ways your faith can be visible in your home. Scripture verse artwork, plaques, and pictures speak of your faith without you even having to utter a word.
Let Your Grandchildren See You Practice Your Faith
Having a Bible open on an end table to the passage you are reading or one that is important to you. Better yet, allowing them to see you reading your Bible and praying.
Create Everyday Opportunities to Talk About Jesus
Christian music playing in the background and praying before meals are tangible ways to share your faith. They can also be good conversation starters.
6. Sing Songs of Faith With Your Grandchildren
Use Music to Create Lasting Memories
Sing to them. Faith-filled, soothing lullabies and rousing choruses stay with them. There are a couple of rhythmic church songs I only sing to them when I push them in their swings. You don’t have to be a songbird; just a simple tune and edifying lyrics will catch in their memories longer than most sermons.
Let Simple Moments Become Spiritual Memories
Recently I was sitting with my son as he was putting his kids to bed. After a story, he said, “Now it’s time to sing our song.” He proceeded to lead them in an old, rather obscure praise song I had rocked him to sleep with, that I hadn’t thought about for 25 years. It brought tears to my eyes. We may never know how God will use those simple moments. Our calling is to faithfully share, model, and point our grandchildren to Jesus, trusting Him with the results.
7. Connect Scripture to Their Everyday Lives
Help Grandchildren Apply Biblical Truth to Real Life
Relate Scripture to their experience. It’s fine to teach the standard Noah and Jonah stories, but those are far from their daily life. Here’s a note I wrote to my seven-year-old grandchild:
*I noticed some verses last night in the little book of 3rd John. It said that a man named Diotrephes was making trouble. Then John said that Diotrephes “always wants to be first.” *
*Do you think that’s a bad thing? Looks like John thinks so. *
*Do you know someone at school who is always pushing in line, or showing off? *
Do you think when Jesus said that “the last shall be first” He was expecting to put some show-offs at the back of the Kingdom?
Maybe we can talk about this when I come next week.
It’s not a Daniel in the lion’s den story, but I think it could connect with a child.
Choose Bible Stories That Speak to Their Current Challenges
Think through what the challenges as well as the blessings that are being experienced by your grandchild now. Seek to connect them to biblical truths. Is there a certain character trait or spiritual gift that you see exemplified in your grandchild? Encourage them to continue to grow in that area. Is there an area of character that needs to be worked on? Are they struggling with obedience or perseverance or forgiveness? Think through biblical characters, choosing one who overcame a similar struggle. Does your teen grandchild need to stand for truth while others are compromising? Daniel or Joseph are two that come to mind that would help encourage your teen grandchild. Is your teen granddaughter struggling with hard things that have come into her life? Consider sharing the story of Esther.
Trust God With the Legacy You Are Building
Remember, you are called to faithfully model, share, pray, and point your grandchildren to Jesus. While we cannot control the spiritual outcome, we can rest in the promise that God is faithful and good. We can trust Him with the legacy we are building.
Hear More Practical Grandparenting Ideas
The author of this post is Leah Farish of Conversation Balloons podcast. Hear more ideas at Conversation Balloons Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conversation-balloons/id1620044176 .
FAQ Section
What are practical ways grandparents can pass their faith to their grandchildren?
Grandparents can pass their faith to their grandchildren by sharing stories of God’s faithfulness, praying together, reading and discussing Scripture, modeling their faith, introducing grandchildren to Christian role models and missionaries, and connecting biblical truth to everyday life.
How can grandparents talk to grandchildren about Jesus?
Grandparents can talk about Jesus naturally through everyday conversations, family traditions, prayer, Scripture, music, personal stories, and discussions about challenges their grandchildren are facing.
How can grandparents teach grandchildren about faith without being preachy?
Look for natural opportunities to connect faith to everyday life. Ask questions, listen to your grandchildren, share your own experiences with God, and help them see how Scripture applies to real situations.
How can grandparents influence their grandchildren spiritually?
Grandparents can have a spiritual influence by intentionally modeling their faith, praying for their grandchildren, building strong relationships, sharing biblical truth, and consistently pointing their grandchildren toward Jesus.
