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Serving

AGE 8-11

Teach Your Child to Make a Difference​​

Serving

Age 10 is a great time to help your child discover their unique gifts and then explore how they might use them for ministry or missions, which is why we’ve created the serving step on the Faith Path. As the primary faith trainer of your child, you can set a goal this year as a family to bless others together through the spiritual discipline of service.

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In addition to financial resources, God has also entrusted us with gifts, talents, and time. As believers, we have the great opportunity to worship and glorify God through the spiritual discipline of service. Help your child discover their unique gifts and explore how they might use those gifts to glorify Him. Use the Assessing Your Child’s Spiritual Gifts tool included with this kit to get started and then find ways to experience serving together.

Putting it into Practice

Begin by explaining that God has blessed and entrusted each of us with resources, gifts, time, and talents. With these, we have the opportunity to worship and honor Him through the spiritual discipline of service. Having been first loved and served by Jesus (1 John 4:19; Mark 10:45), we can joyfully and generously steward these blessings to serve others and bring Him glory (Matthew 5:16).

 

Additionally, as parents, we have the privilege of helping our child discover their unique gifts, and then explore how they might use them for ministry or missions with the added blessing of finding ways to experience serving together. Your child will appreciate learning how God has wired them, and then seeing how they can bless others through serving.

Next Steps

  • Do the GPS Exercise: Spend time talking with your child about their gifts (G), their passions (P), and the specific needs in your community (S). Talk through where those three things intersect and how your child can serve at that intersection..

  • Good Fit: Help your child find good serving options. It can be as simple as baking cookies for a homebound neighbor or it can be an extended serving time such as a mission trip or meeting a particular need on a regular basis.

  • Set Expectations: Put your child more at ease by explaining what to expect. If visiting a nursing home, for example, explain he or she may encounter odd sights, sounds, and smells.

  • Build Your Relationships: Take note of what your child does well while serving. Intentionally encourage him or her by saying you are proud of how they demonstrated a great attitude or other area of strength.

  • Be Safe: Keep a close eye on one another, especially children/teens if serving in unfamiliar settings.

  • Talk About It: Ask questions when you finish serving together such as:

    • What were you encouraged about as you were serving today?

    • What kind of difference did you/we make?

    • What is one way you saw the Lord at work today?

    • How did it impact those you served?

    • How did it impact you/your family?

    • What is one thing you will walk away with today?

  • Pray: Take a few minutes to pray, asking God to bless those you served.

Let our Faith Path team know how we can support you in this process by texting FAITHPATH to 317-483-1525.

Intentional Faith Path Plan

How will you be intentional this next year?

  • Pray daily for and with my child.

  • Consistently spend time in God’s Word.

  • Bless my child daily.

  • Attend church regularly.

  • Schedule and have regular family time.

  • Create a habit of worship with my child.

  • _____________________________(add your own)

The next step on the Faith Path is Ready for Adolescence recommended at age eleven. We will offer a Ready for Adolescence kit to guide you.

Resources

  • 77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference by Penny A. Zeller

  • Focus on the Family resource: “Take This Spiritual Gifts Test With Your Family”

  • The Mission-Minded Family: Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny by Ann Dunagan

  • Becoming a Servant Bible Study by Not Consumed Ministry

Materials​

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