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 artwork, 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 the glamour, we were really motivated by the possibility of helping kids grow in their faith.
That’s the heart of what we do. We want to help 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 habits really matter over time?
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, and how you support parents and volunteers.
These habits shape the decisions, behaviors, and rhythms that help kids grow spiritually over time. And anytime we see a kid practicing even one of them, we celebrate it as a real sign of growth.
So in this blog, let’s focus on just one of these habits—
SPENDING TIME WITH GOD
Spending time with God is the habit we’re probably most familiar with. In fact, it’s often the first—or only—one we think of when we hear “spiritual growth.” While spending time with God isn’t the whole picture of discipleship, it is an essential habit to develop. After all, if kids are going to live out their faith, they need to learn how to connect with God on their own.
That connection can look different for every kid. It might involve opening the Bible, talking with God through prayer, or discovering how they best connect with God through worship. What matters most is helping kids see that spending time with God is personal, meaningful, and accessible.
So how can we help kids learn to Spend Time with God in ways that stick? Here are a few practical ways to start…
- GIVE THEM A BIBLE. Reading the Bible might not be the only way to spend time with God, but it’s a great place to begin. Give kids a Bible written in language they can understand—and would actually use. We love the NIV, NLT, The Message, and The Voice translations because they’re clear, engaging, and kid-friendly.
- HELP THEM MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE. Kids are amazing at memorizing song lyrics and movie quotes, so Scripture memorization is absolutely within reach. Make it fun with games, friendly competition, or a simple rewards system in small groups. You could even turn a verse into a catchy song. The more kids memorize Scripture, the more God’s Word becomes part of how they think, pray, and live.
- TEACH THEM TO PRAY. Prayer can feel unfamiliar—or even awkward—for kids who are just starting out. Help them by offering simple prayer models and explaining that prayer is really just talking with God. Then model it for them by praying out loud together and giving them regular opportunities to pray on their own and with others.
- HELP THEM DISCOVER HOW THEY’RE WIRED. Every kid connects with God differently. Some kids connect best with God outdoors. Others through art, music, movement, learning, serving, or quiet reflection. Help kids discover the ways God uniquely wired them to connect—and remind them that there’s no “right” way to spend time with God.
And if you’re looking for new ways to help kids spend time with God, here are a couple of great places to start…
The Trailblazer Journal is designed to help kids interact with the story of Jesus and practice a few new habits like prayer, gratitude, and reflection. Inspired by the stations of the cross, this interactive experience invites kids to walk a path that brings the story of Jesus to life in an age-appropriate way.
With the Bible Buddy Reading Plan, kids won’t be reading alone—they’ll have a special stuffed animal buddy to join them on their journey through Scripture. Each week, kids “adopt” a Bible Buddy to take home. Their new friend will tag along as they read, learn, journal, and grow in their faith. Whether they’re reading aloud to their Bible Buddy, drawing pictures of what they’ve learned, or writing down their thoughts, this experience will help kids connect with God in a personal and memorable way.
There’s so much you can do to help kids spend time with God. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, we’d love to help. When you use Grow Kids Ministry Curriculum, you’ll find everything you need to help kids build the habit of Spending Time with God—weekly teaching materials, complete event guides, discipleship activities, small group questions, and tools that help parents invest at home. Grow is more than just curriculum. It’s everything you need for your ministry—for the whole year, or just for next week!
In this post, here’s what we’ll cover: