How to Help Kids Know & Use Their Gifts

There are so many great reasons why many of us stepped into kids ministry. Maybe it was a love for animal crackers, a desire for more glitter-based art work, or the absolute thrill of wearing a costume at nine o’clock in the morning on a Sunday. These are all valid reasons, but underneath all of the glamour, we were all motivated by the possibility of helping kids grow in their faith.

That’s the heart of what we do. We want to see kids know Jesus, follow Jesus, and build a faith that lasts. But as you’ve probably learned, helping kids grow can be a little more complicated than it sounds.

How do you measure spiritual growth?

What “counts” as progress?

Which metrics actually matter — and which ones just make us feel busy?

For many of us, when we think about spiritual habits we go straight to the classics–reading the Bible, praying, going to church. And yes, those things are very important. But what if we could zoom out and think about discipleship in a more holistic way?

That’s why our discipleship strategy focuses on four spiritual habits–Spending Time with God, Spending Time with Others, Using Your Gifts, and Sharing Your Story. We believe these habits sit at the center of spiritual growth, and they become the lens through which you can see everything you do each year—your teaching, your events, your strategy with parents, and even how you empower your volunteers.

We want to help kids build these four habits—and anytime we see a kid practicing even one of them, we can celebrate it as a sign of real spiritual growth. So in this blog, let’s look at just one of these habits–

USING YOUR GIFTS

Every kid in your ministry needs to know that God made them unique, on purpose, and equipped with specific gifts, talents, passions, and resources. And when they begin using those gifts to love God, love others, and make a difference, something shifts. Their confidence grows. Their empathy grows. Their faith grows.

So how do we help kids learn to Use Their Gifts? Here are a few practical ways to start–

• MAKE OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE. Telling kids to serve is a good start—but giving them a chance to actually do it is even better. Build in real roles where kids can help–cleaning up supplies, passing out materials, leading discussions in their small groups, or assisting with worship. And don’t limit these opportunities to just your weekly program. Challenge kids to serve at home, at school, or in their community—like helping with chores, caring for a sibling, or picking up trash in a nearby park. Kids grow when they’re invited to practice what they’ve been taught.
• CALL OUT WHAT YOU SEE. Kids don’t always notice their own gifts. That’s where you come in. Catch them doing something amazing—showing kindness, stepping up to help, solving a problem creatively—and name it. A simple, “You’re really good at that” can stick with a kid for years. Your words help connect their everyday actions to God’s design.
• TELL STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE USING THEIR GIFTS. Kids remember stories. Use Scripture, real-life examples, or stories from your own ministry to highlight people who used what God gave them to make a difference. When kids see that gifts don’t have to be flashy to matter, and that God uses all kinds of people in all kinds of ways, it can help them imagine what they can do too.
• CELEBRATE EVERY STEP. Growth isn’t just measured in milestones—it’s measured in moments. Celebrate when a kid uses their gifts, even in small ways. Give them a shoutout in their group, send a quick note home, or tell their parent what you noticed. When kids know that using their gifts brings joy and encouragement, they’ll want to keep doing it.

And if you’re looking for new ways to help your kids use their gifts, we’ve got a few ideas for what that could look like…

You can also help kids identify needs around them and discover how they can make a difference — just like in the Community Care Kits resource from Grow Curriculum. As a whole group or in smaller teams, invite kids to talk about the needs they see in their community and brainstorm ways to respond, like assembling hygiene kits or filling backpacks with school supplies. Then let small group leaders guide conversations that help kids understand the world around them and imagine the many ways their gifts can make an impact.

There’s so much you can do to help kids learn to use their gifts. And if you need more ideas, we’d love to support you. When you use Grow Kids Curriculum, you get everything you need to help kids build the habit of Using Your Gifts—weekly teaching materials, complete event guides, discipleship activities, small group resources, and tools to help parents invest at home. We’re here to help you disciple kids and help them grow in their faith.