When I was little, there was a TV show called The Waltons. Each show ended with the lights down in the house and all of the family members hollering good night to each other from various rooms. I wanted a family like that. One with lots of siblings who love each other so much that they have to get that last “good night” in before their head hits the pillow.

Growing up, I only had one sibling, and let’s just say the relationship was rather contentious until we were about 30. I figured there was just something wrong with us and vowed to do better when I became a parent.

Then my kids were born.

I quickly learned the truth about kids fighting. Turns out, conflict is a normal part of life. Any two people put in the same space will eventually have different ideas, goals, and desires. (Just get married, and you’ll figure that one out!)

But here’s the thing. We don’t have to give up on the idea of building strong sibling relationships. We are just going to have to be intentional about helping our kids cope with their differences and better learn to resolve that inevitable conflict. One of the best ways to do this is to be PROACTIVE about teaching our kids to stir up love (instead of trouble) with acts of kindness.

7 Acts of Kindness for Siblings to Stir Up Love

1. Speak kind words.

One of the best ways to start stirring up love is with our words! Proverbs 16:24 tells us that gracious or kind words are sweet like honey, and Proverbs 15:4 describes a gentle tongue as a “tree of life.” Take a moment to think about those images. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have that kind of beautiful peace in our homes?

We can accomplish so much with just our words! Though we often tell our kids to be kind or say nice things, we can’t assume they know what “kind words” should look like. They might just need some inspiration! That’s why we included space in the Sibling Challenge Journal for kids to record their ideas. When you give kids tools, they can stir up acts of kindness for their siblings without the roadblock of not knowing what to say. As a bonus, these words are great to practice for sharing love with anyone in their lives!

2. Do something extra “just because.”

Stirring up acts of kindness for your siblings starts with your words, but kind words need to be backed up by kind actions. And no, your kids aren’t the only ones who find it difficult to stir up kind actions “just because.” Here’s what I teach my kids. Kindness is not something we necessarily feel like doing, and it’s not something we do because the other person has done it to us. We can be the FIRST person to do something kind, and we don’t need a reason to do it. Our Sibling Challenge Game cards share lots of practical ideas even for younger kids, like making a snack or drink for your sibling or giving him or her a back or foot rub!

3. Make food together.

The kitchen is such a wonderful place to stir up love—and yummy treats! Working together to get through a recipe is a great way to inspire sibling kindness and love. Who doesn’t love making a bit of a mess and getting to enjoy a treat afterward? We will sometimes even give the extra goodies away to friends, neighbors, or elderly people. Once you get stirring, the love goes everywhere!

Another way to turn food into an opportunity for kindness and love is having a picnic. Picnics take a bit of creativity and extra planning, and a lot of kids are way better at this than you might think! In our home, we have a special blanket and basket specifically for having picnics. Getting to use these special items is super fun for the kids, and they get to use their creativity to come up with fun ways to help their siblings enjoy the whole experience.

4. Write an encouraging note.

I don’t know about you, but to me, one of the kindest things someone can do for me is to write me a note. I feel loved when I see that someone took the time to tell me in writing that they love me or are praying for me or that I’m doing a good job. (This is why my office has notes from friends and my kids all over it).

I love the time and intentionality that notes show, so I encourage my kids to use notes as a way to stir up love! Siblings may write out in a note something they would have trouble finding the words to say out loud. Maybe they can take the time to explain why they love their sibling or encourage their sibling in something they’ve seen them do well in. Something we do is hide notes where the other person is likely to find them. Then, in the middle of school or a chore, that sibling is encouraged and feels loved!

It may be hard to find the right words to say in a note at first. But we’ve got you covered! Our Sibling Challenge Journal includes small love note prompts for siblings to write and give to each other! These notes, while small, are an intentional way to act in kindness.

5. Serve them.

Romans 12:10 encourages Christians to show love to one another by “outdoing one another in showing honor.” Showing honor might not be the first thing on your child’s list of things to do, but it is so valuable to learn! And showing honor often just looks like seeing needs and meeting them—sounds a lot like serving people, right?

Service is a huge way for siblings to show each other kindness and love. Suggest your child do a chore for their sibling without being asked to help or expecting anything in return. Siblings can also clear each other’s dishes or help clean up a mess to show kindness as well. Serving can be as simple as giving up the favorite living room chair and allowing a sibling to sit there instead. Encourage your kids to look for opportunities they can find to serve—they are everywhere!

6. Build something together.

1 Corinthians 16:14 encourages us to do everything in love! So whether it’s intentionally serving someone or just going about our normal routine, we can be motivated by this verse. This is why we can make doing fun things together a way to show love! One really fun thing my kids love doing is building something together. They get to put all their creativity into making something and also learn to work together for a common goal!

Whether it’s a fort, an obstacle course, LEGO city, or a lemonade stand, working together to solve problems is an awesome way to work on kindness and stirring each other up to love. Plus, there will be giggles and silly situations they will remember for many years.

As your kids grow older, encourage them to build bigger things together like a charity fundraising campaign, a gift for someone, or even plan a family vacation.

7. Talk with your sibling about Jesus. 

Ultimately, the greatest expression of kindness and love toward someone else is telling them about Jesus! We often make this more complicated than it has to be. Telling someone about Jesus doesn’t necessarily mean we sit down with the Romans Road and spell out the plan of salvation for them. We simply might share something learned in our own quiet time with God or something from church. Maybe it’s sharing an answer to prayer. However that ends up happening, when it does, it is one of the biggest encouragements to hear my children telling each other about Jesus in love.

Another awesome way to show love to a sibling is by praying for them. Maybe they are nervous before a sports game or recital, or they aren’t sure about a certain friendship. Children are never too young to start casting their cares on Jesus (1 Peter 5:7). Siblings that know how to encourage this are wonderful examples of love! And sharing our needs with each other stirs us to love and grow closer to those we have shared with.

Do you want a little help nurturing the sibling relationship? Consider getting your kids a Bible study they can do together! It’s not a magic pill, but God’s Word is always faithful! Our My Brother’s Keeper study goes deeper into the nitty-gritty of sibling life and learning to be the kind of sibling God wants your kids to be.

I hope this has excited you about all the ways we can encourage our kids to stir each other up to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24) through acts of kindness.

We want good things for our kids. One of these good things is good friendships—we want our kids to find good people who will be loyal and encourage them to do right. But actually making friends is hard for many kids! For some, it comes naturally. For the rest of us, we have to learn and be intentional. This is one truth I shared with my daughter when she was in middle school.

Her sister was a natural. Everyone was friends with her. But Leah just wasn’t the same. Friendships were hard. She didn’t always know what to say, and few people walked up and made an attempt to befriend her. I told my daughter something I wish someone had told me at her age. FRIENDSHIP IS NOT about what others can do for you. It’s not about waiting for someone to act like a friend TO YOU. It’s about being a friend to others. Our acts of kindness TO OTHERS create those friendships that we desire.

How to Nurture Friendships Through Acts of Kindness

1. Initiate friendship.

When my middle school daughter was struggling, I encouraged her to look for people who needed a friend and then BE the friend. Instead of looking to fit in with people or be in a certain group, I encouraged her to look for people sitting alone and strike up a conversation. This simple act initiated dozens of friendships in church, groups, traveling, camps, and even as a dual-enrollment student at college!

This is truly the best way to build strong friendships that stand the test of time and don’t fall apart if you forget to wear or say the right things. But it’s also one of the kindest things we can do. Everyone needs a friend, but most of us don’t really know how to build quality friendships—especially when we are in our teen years.

Another great way to encourage your kids to do this is by reminding them to look around for the person who doesn’t seem to know what’s going on and take them under their wing. Kids love explaining things to others and feeling like the expert! They can use this enthusiasm to help others feel loved and included.

2. Put others first.

We go hiking in the woods a good bit, which means encountering bears is a very real possibility. Once when looking for bear spray, we saw a shirt that said, “No need for bear spray. Just hike with a friend that is slower than you are.“

It was funny but also sad because the reality is we live life like that. Okay, I know most people would never actually do that, but every day we make little decisions to put ourselves first. Instead, put your friend first. The Bible tells us to:

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Philippians 2:3

Most people are happy to “help” until it slows them down or is inconvenient. We fall into the trap of helping only if it’s not a sacrifice. Helping others may require us to slow down and be intentional. It may cost us something, but it is always worth it! Jesus was the ultimate example of this. Friendship is a sacrifice. You don’t push your friend down as bear-bait.

What does this look like practically?

• Look for those struggling to keep up. Drop back and cheer them on.
• When you see someone who has too many things to carry, offer help!
• Stop to talk to someone even if you are in a hurry.
• Don’t make things a competition. Make it something you do together!

As parents, it may take a little reminding and even pointing out needs. We can mention something like, “I’ve noticed your sibling has a lot of school work and chores to do. Could you help out in any way?” or “Your friend seems really discouraged. Maybe you could offer to talk with them.” The act of offering to help others will impress the importance of kindness on our kids and make them better friends in the process!

3. Give generous gifts.

Encourage a spirit of hospitality and generosity in your child by helping them share with their friends. Letting them pull out their favorite toys while friends are over instead of hiding them teaches them to give their best to others rather than being selfish. But sharing doesn’t come easy for anyone. This is something your kids will need to practice and something you’ll want to help them with.

Drum up ideas for ways that your kids can share with others. One day, send them to class with cookies for everyone or a snack like Chex mix for Sunday School. You can even suggest that they bring a sheet of stickers to church just to pass them out and be kind. Passing out goodies to their friends is an instructive experience for your kids of how blessed it is to give rather than receive!

Here are 10 Valentine’s Day Bible verse printables your child will enjoy giving to their friends, but don’t wait for a holiday. You can give stuff like this anytime! When you do, it’s even more meaningful than doing it when everyone else is or when it’s expected.

4. Speak kind words.

Words are hard enough for us as adults, right? Our kids need to learn early that their words can be either a powerful tool for kindness or a destructive weapon. They need to choose wisely!

We can set a good example by watching our own words. Remind them what gossip is and help them avoid it in their conversations with you. Then, they can do the same with their friends. When I was young, I learned that someone who will gossip to you will also gossip about you. Help your kids steer clear of this friendship-killing habit!

The good thing is that when we use our words wisely, we can strengthen our friendships! Help your kids practice kindness in thinking of encouraging things to say like “I love your laugh” or “You are so kind to people—that’s one reason I’m glad you’re my friend.” The Bible says words of kindness are life! We can help our kids learn this while they are young.

5. Write an encouraging note.

While speaking kind words is definitely an important action, there are more ways to be kind through our words! There are times we may not be around to speak to someone when they need encouragement, but we can do something else instead.

Encourage your child to write a kind note to someone. Maybe they can leave a note in their friend’s backpack for them to find when they get home or send a postcard to a friend who is far away. Another fun idea is to write a bunch of notes and put them all in a jar to give to a friend. Then, when he or she is feeling sad or discouraged, they can pull out a note from their friend to read!

My kids use these Fruit of the Spirit Love Notes to encourage each other and their friends. It’s a great way to write a simple note that also shares biblical truth!

6. Be consistent.

A great way to nurture friendships is by being consistent. We need to help our kids learn to be consistent, with new and old friends, in all situations.

I like to remind my kids to be on the lookout for ways to be a consistent friend, someone people can trust to be a friend. Maybe it’s asking the new neighbor to go for a bike ride, sitting with different groups in Sunday School, or smiling and waving to someone they met at church. We can be a great example in helping our kids be consistent in all types of friendship situations.

This verse in Proverbs comes to mind often as I remind my kids to be consistent friends:

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17

Whether it’s teaching them to ask questions and be a good listener, encouraging them to seek out playdates, reminding them to talk to their shy friend at church, or helping them drop off cookies to someone from youth group who is sick—these things will help our kids be a consistent and trustworthy friend in all situations.

7. Talk about Jesus.

Sharing about Jesus to others is hard for most of us. That is true in part because we make it harder than it is. We assume several things that make it nearly impossible:

• We assume we must have the whole story mapped out in verses to show them in the Bible.
• We assume it’s our job to foster the results.
• We assume we have to know everything the Bible says in order to do this.

NONE of those things are true! Yes, it’s great to learn things and grow in Christ so we can better share Him with others. In fact, the more you grow, the easier this becomes. But the biggest thing we can share with others is found in 1 Peter 3:15.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

1 Peter 3:15 KJV

Talk to your kids about this verse and help them to see what it means. As Christians, we are called to be different. We might make a different choice. We might react differently. We might see a viewpoint that someone else doesn’t see. When your friends notice these things and ask why, this is your chance to share how God has helped you.

When my son went through his first round of chemo, this became his weekly goal. We prayed before arriving, and he handled the blood draws, needles, and port access like a champ. When the nurses would marvel at his strength, he would always say, “God helps me!”

That’s all it takes to be a witness! Share the hope. Tell others how God helps you. Explain why you are different sometimes. It’s the kindest thing you could ever do. One day, your friend might ask for more information. If you know, show them. If not, remind your kids that there are people who can help, like pastors, teachers, and youth group leaders!

More Resources on Kids’ Friendships

Friendship is a topic Christian parents should diligently pursue! Our kids need good friends, but they need help navigating the waters of friendships.

Find more tips for nurturing kids’ friendships here.

Find prayers for friendships here and enjoy this free printable!

Are you seeing any areas in which your kids need help with friendships? We have a Bible study specifically for them! Check out Navigating Friendships to encourage your kids in their acts of kindness toward others and equip them to enjoy healthy friendships now and in the future!

I’m sure you, like me, have had to break up many a squabble caused by one child feeling justified in hitting or yelling because the other child took something away from them. As adults, most of us have struggled with anger towards someone who has hurt us or even been tempted to take revenge. And even if we don’t physically take revenge, maybe we allow ourselves to be vengeful or unforgiving in our hearts. Let’s be honest—usually, our natural response when someone has hurt us is to hurt them back.

But God tells us something different in Romans 12:19-21:

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Not only should we refuse to take revenge, but we should intentionally do good to those who we would consider our enemies. Though “heaping burning coals” might seem like some kind of righteous revenge, the idea here is actually that our love and kindness would so confuse and frustrate our enemy that the result would be them turning to God—the source of the love we show them!

Of course, we should never let someone continue to harm us or our children in our efforts to do good to them. That’s not what these verses are telling us to do! But we can, when it is safe and wise, still show them kindness.

Loving enemies is tough for adults AND children, but it may be especially difficult for our kids to come up with ways to love their enemies on their own. This is why I want to share with you 5 ways our kids can love their enemies through acts of kindness.

5 Acts of Kindness Towards Your Enemies

1. Pray for them

The first and the best place to start is prayer (Matthew 5:44)!  When we remind our kids to pause and mention their enemies by name before the throne of our Heavenly Father, we are teaching them to ask for His power and wisdom over the situation. His great power and love is unlike anyone else’s. It works at the heart level. It cuts right into the heart of a matter and creates change from the inside out. 

I know that when it comes to praying, it’s sometimes hard for kids AND adults to know where to start. But don’t be discouraged! Our kids’ prayer bundle will help teach your kids what prayer is, why it is in important, and how to use it.

For more tips, check out our post on teaching children to pray!

2. Offer a smile or peaceful gesture

In addition to praying for their enemies, kids can show kindness through actions as simple as a smile or acknowledging nod. Think about it—what better way to extend forgiveness and love to someone from a distance? Maybe it isn’t safe to have a conversation at the time, but kids can still show God’s love through this simple action!

As Romans 5:5 explains, we are able to show God’s love to others because He has poured His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. As we spend time getting to know God through His Word, that love grows and grows so that it flows out of our hearts and into the lives of others! Written with this goal in mind, our kids’ Bible studies help your children dig into God’s Word every day so they will know God better and grow His love in their hearts.

3. Hold the door open for them

Loving our enemies isn’t just not taking revenge—it’s also intentionally doing good to them! If we were only kind to those who were kind to us, we would not be fulfilling God’s call to love our enemies (Matthew 5:46-47). There’s not much heaping of coals going on when we only show kindness to our friends! Believers are different from the world because we are able to love not only those who are loving towards us, but also those who are unkind, rude, or hurtful towards us.

When dealing with an enemy, it can be hard to be intentionally loving while also keeping a safe distance. But holding the door for an enemy is a way to show consideration and kindness without being in-your-face or requiring a response. The enemy to whom your child is trying to show kindness may not even acknowledge this gesture, but it will still set your child apart in their mind as someone who wishes good for them and not evil.

4. Anonymously help with a task

Showing kindness does not always involve an in-person interaction like a smile or holding the door. There are plenty of ways to serve enemies without their ever knowing who helped them. Kids can mow their enemy’s lawn while he or she is gone or even bring their trashcan back from the road on trash day. Even taking notes for an enemy who is absent in class could spread kindness.

Since helping with some tasks could be unsafe or unappreciated, I try to remind my kids that if they have any doubt as to whether their task would be helpful, to run their ideas past me. But don’t forget to encourage your kids as they begin initiate acting in kindness towards their enemies!

5. Leave a gift where they will find it

Another anonymous way our kids can show kindness is by leaving a gift for their enemy. Maybe they would like to bake some cookies to leave on that grumpy neighbor’s front porch. They could even write a kind note to their enemy and leave it with a piece of candy where they know he or she will find it and understand it is for them.

Our FREE printable random acts of kindness game gives you so many ideas on how to show kindness anonymously or in person! Make it a family challenge to show kindness—whether to enemies or friends.

Looking for a great way to share the love of Jesus this Valentine’s Day? These FREE Valentine’s Day Bible verse printables are perfect!

We are always looking for ways to tell people about Jesus. Whether it’s a kind act or direct conversation, we want everything we do to point to God’s love. Valentine’s Day is no different! In fact, it’s the perfect time to spread a sweet love note that includes the beautiful message of scripture!

Look for more teen or adult-friendly valentines? Check out 7 Free Valentines Scripture Printables for simple and elegant ideas your friends, co-workers, and even neighbors will love!

10 Free Valentine’s Day Bible Verse Printables for kids

1. God has made you “smartie”

This valentine is so simple, yet the kids will love it! For less than $10 you have Valentine’s for the whole class!

All you need is the printable, some cute washi tape, and a bag of Smarties candy. Print the cards on cardstock for stability. One tip for printing: make sure that you set your printer to the “best” quality. It will make your printables really lovely. Once printed, I cut them apart with a trimmer for ease, but scissors will work as well.

2. Jesus, the Ultimate Super Hero Valentine’s Day Bible Verse Printable

I made these super cute valentines with my oldest son a few years ago and they were such a hit! All you need are lollipops, scrap ribbon, and the printables. This one contains two items to be printed. The first is the cape. It’s up to you, but I prefer to print these on plain paper, as they are more flexible. Once I slip them on, I crinkle them a bit for character. Many use cardstock for this part though and that’s fine, too. Just remember to write the “to and from” section on the back of the capes before you slip them on.

The second printable is the small circle. I do print this one on cardstock and then punch a hole at the top and bottom. The last step is to simply tie a ribbon at the top of the lollipop and then slip the circle through the stick.

3. Mini Bibles Valentine’s Bible Verse Printable

This might be my favorite Valentine’s day Bible verse printable this year. I guess it’s the crafty girl in me. But don’t fear, it’s not as hard as it looks. You can make a class set in under an hour!

First, gather your supplies and cut the paper and ribbon into the right sizes (noted below). On the back of the cardstock, write your “to and from.” Glue/tape the ribbon about halfway down the center of the OTHER side of the cardstock.

Tape two nuggets in the center of the valentine paper. Fold your printable verse in half and then glue to the top of the candy. Bring the ribbon over the top and glue down in the center. Trim if needed. Set aside to dry.

MATERIALS NEEDED FOR MINI BIBLE:

• 2 Hershey’s Nuggets
• Cardstock cut into pieces that are 2.25 inches wide, 1.5 inches tall. This is the one I used.
• Thin Ribbon (cut into 2 inch long pieces)
• Printable Verses
• Tape, Glue

4. Trust the Lord with all your Heart Verse Printable

I’m a busy mom. Sometimes things like Valentine’s Day threaten to consume me. I want cute valentines to give out, but I don’t have a lot of time. If this resonates with you, I think you’ll really love this valentine. (As a bonus, it’s under $5 to make a class set!)

Simply print the cards on cardstock for stability. One tip for printing: make sure that you set your printer to the “best” quality. It will make your printables really lovely. Once printed, I cut them apart with a trimmer for ease, but scissors will work as well.

Then, tape on heart-shaped candy of your choice and add a personal “to and from” message. A meaningful Valentine’s Day Bible verse printable valentine done. Simple, huh?

5. Jesus, Light of the World

In a world with a billion allergies and special diets, sometimes it’s nice to have something cheap that isn’t candy! If you’re looking for answers to that quandary, you’ll love this Valentine’s Day Bible verse printable!

Glowsticks are usually found in the dollar bins for $1 per package. That’s a wonderfully frugal deal! Or you can grab these from Amazon. Either way it’s less than $10 to make a class set and you’ll have leftover glowsticks for a glowstick family fun night.

Print the verses on cardstock for stability. Once printed, cut them apart with scissors and add a personal “to and from.” Punch holes at the top and bottom and slip onto the glowstick. Your kids’ friends will love it! I’ve also seen people give these out for all kinds of occasions!

6. Pencil Bookmark Valentine’s Day Bible Verse Printable

Another great non-candy Valentine’s option, we’ve used these pencil valentines for both the holiday and year-round events because the message is one that everyone needs to hear! “Your name is written on the palm of His hands.” Isaiah 49:16

Coming in at $10 for a class set, all you need is Cardstock and a fun valentine’s pencil. Often you can find these in the dollar bins or holiday sections. I got the red heart pencils here. You will also need your hole punch and paper cutter (not mandatory, but creates a nice clean cut!)

7. Mini Bubbles Valentine’s Day Bible Verse Tag

Kids get enough candy at Valentine’s. Be every mom (and kids) hero with these simple mini bubbles Valentine’s Day Bible verse tags. We’ve given them to preschool classes, children’s church, and older kids. Bubbles are fun no matter how old you are. Sometimes you can find bubble packs at Target in the Valentine’s section, but if not, these white heart bubble wands from Amazon are perfect! If you split the pack, you can still make a class set for less than $10! Print your tag on Cardstock and tie with your favorite ribbon. I used twine and fun red ribbon.

8. S’mores Valentines Day Bible Verse Topper

Who doesn’t love s’mores? We made these one year for my Wednesday night class at church and they were a huge hit with the 6th graders! They take a little more time to make, but they are rather inexpensive.

Lots of church camps have used this printable to make up little kits for their attendees, too. It doesn’t have to be valentine’s to share God’s love with someone!

MATERIALS NEEDED FOR S’MORES VALENTINE’S BIBLE VERSE BAG TOPPERS:

• Cardstock: one sheet for every two toppers you want to print
• 4 inch wide party bags. You can get them at Walmart or craft stores. Look in the cake decorating aisle. Or order them from Amazon to get them the cheapest.
• Paper cutter (not mandatory, but creates a nice clean cut!)
• Heart shapped chocolate candy (the Hershey’s ones look better than the Dove)
• Graham crackers (each bag contains two whole crackers broken in half)
• Marshmallows (two per bag)

9. Chapstick Bible Verse Printable

Another really simple valentine, this chapstick printable is literally the bomb. Ok, I’ll refrain from the corny mom jokes. But seriously, Luke gave these to the nurses one year when he was doing weekly chemo and they absolutely adored them! But if you have the budget or you only have a small group of kids, they will love this valentine.

MATERIALS FOR LIP BALM BIBLE VERSE PRINTABLE:

• Cardstock: one sheet for every six valentines you want to print
• Paper cutter (not mandatory, but creates a nice clean cut!)
• Lip balm: any kind works, we went for Burts Bees. It’s the best!
• Washi tape to adhere the lip balm. We used this one.

10. Valentines Bible Verse Printable Bag Toppers

This free printable valentines Bible verse bag topper is my new favorite because you can literally fill it with anything heart-shaped! If you are doing this for a large class, you need a slightly larger budget, but it’s a great one for a smaller church class or homeschool group of kids.

I used Dove chocolates, conversation hearts, Jolly Rancher hearts, cinnamon hearts, and even pretty jellybeans, all found at your favorite big box store.

These make great gifts for teachers, neighbors, and even the staff at your church, too!

MATERIALS NEEDED FOR VALENTINE’S BIBLE VERSE BAG TOPPERS:

• Cardstock: one sheet for every two toppers you want to print
• 4 inch wide party bags. You can get them at Walmart or craft stores. Look in the cake decorating aisle. Or order them from Amazon to get them the cheapest.
• Paper cutter (not mandatory, but creates a nice clean cut!)
• Heart shapped or valentine colored candy

My bags are always taller than needed. Simply cut it down and staple the bag shut before you add the bag topper.

Download Your Free Valentine’s Day Bible Verse Printables

Just fill out the form below and we will send the printable straight to your inbox. We can’t wait to see how you share God’s love with those around you!

There’s something absolutely wonderful about a day devoted to loving others! Of course, we should be doing that all year long, but Valentine’s Day is an extra special chance to intentionally love on those around you!

If you’re looking for easy and FREE Valentines Bible verse printables to both encourage your friends and share the love of Jesus, we’ve got you covered!

Valentines Bible Verse Printables Bag Toppers

Luke 10:27 is one of my favorite verses about love! This free printable valentines Bible verse bag topper is my new favorite because you can literally fill it with anything heart-shaped! I used Dove chocolates, conversation hearts, Jolly Rancher hearts, cinnamon hearts, and even pretty jellybeans, all found at your favorite big box store.

These make great gifts for teachers, neighbors, and even the staff at your church!

Materials needed for Valentine’s Bible Verse Bag Toppers:

• Cardstock: one sheet for every two toppers you want to print
• 4 inch wide party bags. You can get them at Walmart or craft stores. Look in the cake decorating aisle. Or order them from Amazon to get them the cheapest.
• Paper cutter (not mandatory, but creates a nice clean cut!)
• Heart shapped or valentine colored candy

My bags are always taller than needed. Simply cut it down and staple the bag shut before you add the bag topper.

S’mores Valentine Bible Verse Bag Topper

Who doesn’t love s’mores? We made these one year for my Wednesday night class at church and they were a huge hit with the 6th graders! They take a little more time to make, but they are rather inexpensive.

Lots of church camps have used this printable to make up little kits for their attendees, too. It doesn’t have to be valentine’s to share God’s love with someone!

Materials needed for Valentine’s Bible Verse Bag Toppers:

• Cardstock: one sheet for every two toppers you want to print
• 4 inch wide party bags. You can get them at Walmart or craft stores. Look in the cake decorating aisle. Or order them from Amazon to get them the cheapest.
• Paper cutter (not mandatory, but creates a nice clean cut!)
• Heart shapped chocolate candy (the Hershey’s ones look better than the Dove)
• Graham crackers (each bag contains two whole crackers broken in half)
• Marshmallows (two per bag)

Love Bible Verse Valentine Tags

Looking for something a little more simple? You’ll love these Bible verse valentine’s tags all about love. There are a variety of verses to print and cut out. You can use a clear bag of any size and fill with treats of your choice. Candy or homemade treats would be perfect in these bags!

Materials needed for Bible Verse Love Tags:

• Cardstock: one sheet for every 12 tags you want to print
• 4 inch wide party bags work best, but any size could be used. You can get them at Walmart or craft stores. Look in the cake decorating aisle. Or order them from Amazon to get them the cheapest.
• Paper cutter (not mandatory, but creates a nice clean cut!)
• Ribbon to tie the bags. I used twine, but you could also use fun valentine’s colors.
• Fill with candy or homemade treats. You could even attach these tags to other types of gifts like fuzzy socks or makeup bags.

Pencil Valentines Bookmark

Looking for a non-candy option? We’ve used these pencil valentines for both the holiday and a women’s retreat. The message is one that everyone needs to hear! “Your name is written on the palm of His hands.” Isaiah 49:16

Materials needed for Pencil Valentine’s Bible Verse Bookmark:

• Cardstock: one sheet for every 4 bookmarks you want to print. It can be fun or plain. As you can see I love glitter.
• Paper cutter (not mandatory, but creates a nice clean cut!)
• Fun valentine’s pencil. Often you can find these in the dollar bins or holiday sections. I got the red heart pencils here.

Mini Bibles Printable

This might be my favorite Valentine’s day Bible verse printable this year. I guess it’s the crafty girl in me. But don’t fear, it’s not as hard as it looks. You can make a class set in under an hour!

First, gather your supplies and cut the paper and ribbon into the right sizes (noted below). On the back of the cardstock, write your “to and from.” Glue/tape the ribbon about halfway down the center of the OTHER side of the cardstock.

Tape two nuggets in the center of the valentine paper. Fold your printable verse in half and then glue to the top of the candy. Bring the ribbon over the top and glue down in the center. Trim if needed. Set aside to dry.

Materials needed for Mini Bible Valentine’s Verse Printable

• 2 Hershey’s Nuggets
• Cardstock cut into pieces that are 2.25 inches wide, 1.5 inches tall. This is the one I used.
• Thin Ribbon (cut into 2 inch long pieces)
• Printable Verses
• Tape, Glue

Trust in the Lord Verse Printable

I’m a busy mom. Sometimes things like Valentine’s Day threaten to consume me. I want cute valentines to give out, but I don’t have a lot of time. If this resonates with you, I think you’ll really love this valentine.

Simply print the cards on cardstock for stability. One tip for printing: make sure that you set your printer to the “best” quality. It will make your printables really lovely. Once printed, I cut them apart with a trimmer for ease, but scissors will work as well.

Then, tape on heart-shaped candy of your choice and add a personal “to and from” message. A meaningful Valentine’s Day Bible verse printable valentine done. Simple, huh?

Materials for Heart Bible verse printable:

• Cardstock: one sheet for every six valentines you want to print
• Paper cutter (not mandatory, but creates a nice clean cut!)
• Heart shapped chocolate candy (the Hershey’s ones look better than the Dove)

Lip Balm Valentines Bible Verse Printable

Another really simple valentine, this lip balm printable is literally the bomb. Ok, I’ll refrain from the corny mom jokes. But seriously, Luke gave these to the nurses one year when he was doing weekly chemo and they absolutely adored them! Candy gets old this time of the year, plus not all adults want the extra calories. Bless them with something simple, yet still sweet!

Materials for Lip Balm Bible verse printable:

• Cardstock: one sheet for every six valentines you want to print
• Paper cutter (not mandatory, but creates a nice clean cut!)
• Lip balm: any kind works, we went for Burts Bees. It’s the best!
• Washi tape to adhere the lip balm. We used this one.

Download your FREE printable Valentines Bible Verse Printables

Just fill out the form below and we will send the printable straight to your inbox. We can’t wait to see how you share God’s love with those around you!

Looking for more ideas? Check out 10 MORE Scripture Valentine Printables for kids!

As has always been true for parents and teens, your teen is growing up in a different world than you grew up in. Maybe you are grateful for the opportunities your teen has and yet fearful of the challenges they face that seem far more sinister than those you faced yourself.

The exciting and redemptive reality is God has created your teen expressly for this time in which they are growing up! He is just as faithful and just as sufficient as He has always been. So let’s focus on what will never change—God’s truth. If your teen is focused on knowing and loving God, they will be more than prepared to meet the challenges and struggles in this ever-changing world. Here are some tips on how to help your teen grow spiritually so they can thrive in the time for which God has created them!

7 Ways to Help Your Teen Grow Spiritually

1. Set an Example

Through talking with my mom and relating my memories to her, I have learned that some of my earliest memories of my parents are from before I was 3 years old! Though we may tend to think, “They won’t remember,” our kids are constantly watching and learning from our example before we even realize it.

Now don’t panic! God does not call us to be perfect. Our calling is beautifully summed up in Micah 6:8.

He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

Even if you have not always been a perfect example, Christ’s mercy and forgiveness are more than sufficient. So it’s not too late to set a good example for your teen! Rather than being discouraged by where you fall short, be an example of how to humbly admit and correct your mistakes! This humility in our relationship with Him is what our Lord desires of us.

Our own spiritual journey is our greatest asset in helping our teens grow spiritually themselves! How you walk with your God teaches them about God and impacts how they, in turn, follow God. So do not be discouraged by this world, your teen’s attitude, or your own mistakes, but instead, follow hard after your God and encourage them to do the same!

2. Teach Them Why

“Why?” The #1 question parents dread. While there are times teens ask this question in a disrespectful or challenging spirit, many times they also genuinely wonder about the reasons behind rules. Because of their limited life experience, some rules might seem random or even ridiculous. So they want to know why. And honestly, my friend, this is a GOOD THING! In fact, we should probably ask ourselves “why?” more often than we do. Why DO we study God’s Word? Why DO we go to church? Why DO we avoid certain places or things that are not in and of themselves evil?

Your teen needs their questions answered! They are building their own worldview and will probably toss out anything they see no reason for maintaining in their own life. So, in love, patiently assume the best of your teen and answer their questions—and then invite more.

The fastest way to lose your teen is to answer “because!” or “I said so!” But prideful or defensive responses don’t help them learn! So if you don’t know the answer (which, by the way, is totally normal!), admit that you don’t know but that you will find them an answer. Then, search God’s Word so you can give them an authoritative answer. Showing them how to base decisions on biblical principles teaches them to do the same in the future with their own decisions.

One great way to search out what the Bible says about practically following God in everyday life is by going through our Foundations of Faith Bible study. This study gives you verses about a specific topic and then asks probing questions to help you firm up what you believe and figure out how to explain it to others. Having answers to life’s questions is one of the best ways to build a foundation of spiritual growth for your teen.

3. Teach Them How to Pray

Maybe you have been praying for years, or maybe you have just recently begun—either way, yay! Whether it’s old hat or entirely new for us, we can sometimes forget that our teens do not automatically know how to pray. Jesus had to teach His disciples to pray, and we need to do the same for our kids to help them grow!

When it comes down to it, prayer is a conversation with our God before His throne. While we are His children and He loves to hear us pray, He is also our great God and deserves respect. Because of these things, we need to be diligent in learning how to pray respectful prayers that are consistent with the Spirit’s leading rather than flippant, empty, or thoughtless prayers. Thankfully, God’s Word clearly shows us how to pray and why we should be praying!

There are many excellent passages for studying prayer like the Psalms, Paul’s letters to the New Testament churches, and most importantly, Jesus’ model prayer for His disciples in Matthew 6. Another wonderful place to start is a Bible study on prayer like our In the Garden Bible study, which teaches from the Bible why we pray and how to pray using the ACTS method.

Our #NotConsumed Prayer Journal, a resource for you or your teen, also incorporates the ACTS model and gives you the ability to write out your prayers and look back to see what God has done over a year of consistent prayer!

Another great resource to support you in your prayer life is our Prayers for the Future printable. This calendar guides you through 30 days of casting your cares on Jesus, reminding you of His desire that you lay them at His feet rather than carrying them yourself.

4. Help Them Study the Bible

By now, you probably have seen that we believe studying the Bible is super important! And, well, it is. Taking time out of your day to study God’s Word is a “vital sign” in your spiritual life and the spiritual life of your teen. Think about it—how can they possibly grow spiritually if they don’t know what the Bible says about it?

Bible study takes hard work and a lot of focus. But this discipline will reap much fruit if you and your teen are consistent! Though the principle, “Read your Bible, pray every day, and you’ll grow, grow, grow,” may seem incredibly simple, the truth rings through this children’s song. Time in God’s Word takes consistent effort and determination to accomplish.

Now, Bible study does not have to occur at 5:30 am—sigh of relief. In fact, if I did that, I would probably come away dazed and with no spiritual enrichment at all. Consider linking Bible study with another task to naturally flow with their daily schedule. For example: after getting dressed for school, after breakfast, or before getting ready for bed. No matter what time you choose—scheduling it in will make it easier to be consistent. Another factor that will help is finding a comfortable little “spot” that is free of distractions (yes, leave the cell phones or siblings in the other room!).

If you and your teen want to explore what makes a good Bible study routine, we can help! Our Developing a Quiet Time study is designed to help kids and parents (yes, we have a parent version too!) intentionally design their own time with God so they can grow spiritually.

5. Get Them Connected to Your Local Body of Believers

In addition to reading God’s Word and praying, your teen needs to be connected to the local church to grow spiritually! The reason the early church spread so rapidly was that they were meeting DAILY to read the Word, pray, and worship together in song. The spiritual encouragement of gathering with other believers is unparalleled and absolutely essential to growth! Church family gives us support, love, accountability, and much, much more.

The best way to get involved with your local body of believers is to serve! We know from Romans 12 that one of our key purposes as Christians is serving God by serving other believers. Thankfully, we don’t have to do everything or be stuck in a job we hate. Romans 12:4–8 describes how each part of the body is gifted differently so we can all work together for the glory of God.

The best way for your teen to figure out how they are gifted is just to start serving. Soon, it will become apparent what they like or dislike and what they are good at and not so good at. Maybe they could come early for Sunday School and help set up chairs, or maybe they could play their instrument or sing for worship. And let’s be honest—the nursery and children’s programs are always looking for more helpers! As your teens prioritize the needs of Christ’s body, they will grow in their ability to serve others as Christ served us.

6. Listen to Them

While the teenage years are exciting and fun, they introduce many struggles and questions into a teen’s mind and heart. They are beginning to learn and experience new things while also not quite understanding how to “do life” yet. Because of these things and many other factors, your teen may really need someone to listen to them while they talk out the things whirling through their minds.

These can be confusing or even embarrassing things to bring up. If they think you won’t try to see it from their point of view or won’t take time to listen without automatically “diagnosing” and “solving” their problem for them, they may not talk to you. They are growing into adults faster than you realize, so show them you respect their thoughts and give them the time to voice their legitimate questions and concerns. Believe it or not, they desperately want your help and approval (but they won’t tell you that ).

You can encourage these conversations by having “dates” with them or reading a book together. Even going through a Bible study is a great way to get important ideas to surface so you can talk with (and I mean mostly listen to) your teen about life. Asking them questions free from expectations or advice like “What did you think about that situation?” or “What do you see yourself doing in life?” are great conversation starters.

Your willingness to listen to them may encourage them to be more open to listening to you or entrusting you with their struggles. And this is what you want—because you can’t help them grow spiritually if you do not know how they are struggling.

7. Teach Them to Counsel Their Emotions With Truth

One of the biggest attacks on our teens today is the constant stream of lies coming at them from all directions concerning their emotions. “Love yourself,” “you are enough,” and “manifest your truth” are just a few. If this shocks you, take a look through social media—even Pinterest is drenched in this self-focused, create-your-own-truth mentality.

Though we can cut down on exposure by limiting social media usage or filtering entertainment, we do live in this world, and we cannot hide from it. We cannot control what comes out of other teens’ mouths or the lives of relatives. What we can do, though, is teach our teens to respond to the emotional nature of these lies with God’s truth.

No, it doesn’t feel good to lay aside your desires in favor of serving someone else. And it is so easy to believe that what works for me must be truth and others just have to deal with it. But this is not godly! Help your teen learn to combat these feelings with truth from God’s Word so they are protected and growing spiritually.

We realize this is a hard struggle, and we want to help! Our new My God Says Life Journal identifies 15 areas where we have seen our pre-teens and teens struggle most. This journal allows them to write out their thoughts and responses to Scripture while encouraging them with Bible-filled activity pages and stories of faithful Christians.

I pray and hope these 7 bits of advice encourage and strengthen you as you fight the good fight and help your teen grow spiritually!

It is so strange to walk through stores with empty shelves. Never in my life have I seen so many things out of stock or in short supply. While we bemoan the absence of many things we often take for granted, this mindset of scarcity often extends to our hope. But this is one thing not in short supply today. Whether you felt hopeful when you rolled out of bed this morning or were immediately overwhelmed at the prospect of making it through another long, messy day, our hope remains because it is not dependent on us!

And it doesn’t stop there! Our hope is also not dependent upon our circumstances. We don’t have to wait until things get better. We don’t have to “skip to the good part.” There’s hope here in whatever God has gifted you with today. Here are some things to remember when you feel like there is no hope.

6 Things to Remember When You Feel Like There Is No Hope

1) Our Hope Is Not in This World.

Many people place their hope in improving government, better healthcare, bigger scholarships, or nicer housing—all of which are valuable and good things. But these things cannot comfort a heart that is broken or heal a body stricken with disease. As Christians, we look to something greater than comfort and security in life.

The character of our God is the only safe place to let our hope rest. It is because He will never change (James 1:17) and because He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5) and because He is strong enough to keep us forever in His love (Romans 8:35–39) that we have hope for the challenges of today and the cares of tomorrow. Why are you cast down in your soul? When you feel like there is no hope, hope in God!

A great way to increase your hope in God is to study His character. Our #NotConsumed Prayer Journal includes an entire section focused on finding God’s character in Scripture and praising Him for areas of our life where we have seen that character trait displayed in His care for us. Encourage your heart and grow your hope with this beautiful resource!

2) Our Hope Is Not Foolish.

When we respond with “God is good” to a trial, it may seem foolish to those watching. Unbelievers might think we are simply in denial about the reality of life. But we have a higher reality! What looks like rose-colored glasses to the world are, in fact, lenses of eternity giving perspective to this short time we have on earth.

We find in 1 Peter 1:3–9 that our view of suffering and hardship in this life is informed by the perfect work of Jesus in saving us and providing the hope of an eternity of joy and worship before God’s throne. Though we may encounter suffering in the loss of a job or the death of a loved one, we know an eternity of blessing awaits us because of Jesus!

Ephesians 1:15–21 speaks of the hope we have in the riches found in Jesus Christ. We take heart because we know God’s plan to eventually bring all things back to the way they should be in the future. Our focus is not on this life but on the next, where Jesus will reign on earth and in heaven. This hope is as eternal as God’s love for us, His children.

3) Our Hope Is Not Based on Our Circumstances.

Maybe you feel like your life is a roller coaster with never-ending, unpredictable twists and loops. Or perhaps you are at the top of a mountain enjoying the breathtaking beauty around you. But whether you are on the mountain top or deep in the valley of the Shadow of Death, hope remains. Because it is based on the unchanging nature of our God (Hebrews 6:17–18), our hope will not get smaller or larger with our trials and joys. It is not diminished by our belief or lack of belief—it is unchanging though we are changeable.

Because God’s goodness is unchanging, you can be joyfully hopeful no matter what is going on in your life. When people see you smiling amidst tears and patient in pain, it will cause them to question, “Why does she have hope?” This is your opportunity to say, “My God gives me hope.”

4) Our Hope Is Certain.

How many times have we said, “I hope this Amazon package gets here on time,” or “I hope it doesn’t rain so my hair stays.” This kind of hope is not anything certain—in fact, it is the uncertainty that causes us to hope for a good outcome rather than an unfavorable one! But the hope of a Christian is not a vain wish for the best outcome.

One faithful pastor loves to explain hope as a “joyful, expectant certainty.” This is the hope of a Christian! We KNOW our Jesus paid for our sin. We KNOW our God is in control of all circumstances in our lives. We KNOW that eternity means life everlasting. Because it is found in the One who can never lie (Titus 1:2), our hope is certain. When we are tempted to feel like there is no hope, we can trust His certain promises (2 Corinthians 1:20).

We want to help you learn the certain promises of God so you can have hope inside you. This is why we have made our #NotConsumed Scripture Cards! As you meditate on the sure promises contained in these verses of Scripture, commit them to memory. Then send them to others to encourage them with this certain hope!

5) Our Hope Is Alive.

Sometimes we think of our hope resembling the ubiquitous dark tree that died five years ago but still tenaciously stands its ground against the decay of age. But this tenacity is only part of our hope! This hope we have is not just lasting—it is actively alive! It is not a beautiful flowering plant whose buds fade and whither as the plant goes dormant for winter. Our hope flowers and grows despite the fierce winter storms or biting frost.

When you feel like there is no hope, remember that because our Jesus lives, our hope is alive! Jesus is always interceding for us at the right hand of God (Hebrews 7:25). This means that despite our failures, uncertainties, or weakness, He never stops pleading for God’s mercy and grace for us. Because of this, we have new mercy for each day and certainty that our God is faithful (Lamentations 3:22–24). And this gives us hope.

6) Our Hope Is Life-Changing.

Do you live like you have this hope? How would it change your life every day if you submitted your worries to the loving care of your heavenly Father? Maybe the struggles would not drag us quite so deep. Maybe the setbacks of everyday life like laundry, messes, or school days barreling off the rails could be viewed as blessings rather than burdens—the cares and sorrows as opportunities to rest in mercy rather than flounder in anxiety.

Hebrews 6:19–20 tells us that the hope of Jesus anchors our souls. This steadiness transforms our lives and makes us calm in storms, patient in trials, and joyful in pain. This hope changes our lives.

Today, choose to live according to your hope!

Show others that you have life-changing hope by wearing our Hope T-shirt!

Have you ever noticed how the holidays almost always come back to the idea of gifts? There are candlelight services, parties, family, carols, food, activities . . . and yet gifts are always on our minds as our to-do list grows longer and longer. The trouble is the longer the list gets, and the more gifts we feel we need to give, the more distracted we become from the entire purpose of Christmas—JESUS!

If you’re reading this post hoping I’ll solve that problem for you, I really can’t. There are so many wonderful things about celebrating Christmas, most of which I’d never suggest we give up. But what if there was a way to balance things? What if there was a way to focus our gifts on Him?

Every year I look for ways that I can give my kids gifts of faith. I want them to have gifts that GROW them spiritually and help them stay focused on the real gift of Christmas. And no, I don’t mean just physical things either. Let me tell you about some of my favorites.

7 Christmas Gifts That Keep Your Focus on Jesus

1. The Gift of Giving

Jesus came to earth to serve, and His ultimate act of service was giving up His life for us. From soup kitchens to packing shoeboxes for orphans, I’m sure you’ve noticed that serving others has become a part of many holiday celebrations. It probably seems a little unorthodox, but what if you gave your kids the gift of giving this year?

Yes, I know that means you’ll need to plan something and get involved, but it will be worth it. When we serve others, God gives us a feeling that money can’t buy! Not to mention, planting this focus in your kids’ hearts now will keep their minds off the material things—at least some anyway.

We can’t say to our kids, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), and actually expect them to believe it if we aren’t modeling this for them.

What if you only gave “service gifts” this year? Wouldn’t that be an interesting challenge? I like to encourage my kids to give in unique ways by giving their time and even sometimes their money. I want them to learn to give like Jesus. I encourage them to make homemade cards to send to family members. They call relatives to wish them a Merry Christmas, they do chores for their siblings, they take in trash cans for neighbors—these are just a few examples of how they give of their time and serve others.

For more ideas on how to help your kids learn to serve and give, check out our Random Acts of Christmas Kindness printable pack.

2. The Gift of Prayer

The example of Jesus encourages us to put others first but then to make sure our spiritual life is in check. It’s no secret that life brings hard circumstances, and we don’t always know how to handle those things. We need a lifeline, and that lifeline is Jesus THROUGH the gift of prayer.

Maybe you don’t think about prayer as a gift, but again, Jesus was born to give us this very gift. Before Jesus died on the cross, we did not have the privilege of talking to God directly. Only priests could do it and only behind a veil. That veil was torn on the cross, and now we have this amazing gift of personal fellowship with God.

If you’re feeling like the gift of prayer is kinda like IKEA furniture with foreign instructions and lots of pieces, you’re not alone. Even the disciples felt that way and asked Jesus to teach them! We’ve got a great list of prayer resources just for you.

Just remember this, any good builder uses tools. If you want your kids to build a solid and consistent prayer life, you’ll probably find yourself loving this Kids’ Prayer Bundle to make the job easier. Of course, there’s a prayer bundle for adults, too!

3. The Gift of a Quiet Time

Cultivating a better prayer life is an incredible gift, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. If you want a healthy relationship with your lifeline and Savior, Jesus, prayer isn’t enough. I tell my kids to think about it this way. No one has a friendship with a person who talks all of the time and never listens. It’s impossible. If you are going to have a relationship with God, you’ll need to listen.

How do we listen? Well, God doesn’t speak audibly these days, but He has written down everything He wants us to know in the Bible. Give your kids the gift of a quiet time by helping them learn to study the Bible consistently.

The Quiet Time Bundle is the perfect way to help them learn why, what, and how to spend time with God and grow in faith.

4. The Gift of Church

What an amazing gift God blessed us with when He gave us the church! On our best days, we laugh together, eat together, and worship together. When the storms of life rage around us, the church is our safe place. Our community that comes together to be the hands and feet of Christ—lifting us up before our heavenly Father in prayer and offering us a shoulder to cry on, a hot meal, or even just a friend to walk the hard road with us. It is a community of friends who become the family of our hearts.

If you have a wonderful church family, take time this holiday season to talk with your kids about why we need the church and how very blessed they are to experience the community that they have through the body of Christ! Encourage them to do their part to welcome newcomers, serve, and support your church body. 

Maybe you don’t have a church family. Or maybe you go to church, but it isn’t the community that you know it should be. If this is the case, I encourage you to pray about getting more involved in your church or finding a church home. What better gift can you give your kids this year than the beautiful gift of fellowship that God has created for each of us?

Whether you’re attending a church that you’ve been in for years or looking for a new one, one great way that you can help your kids get more out of worship service each week is by helping them focus! The Sermon Notebook is a great tool to help your kids take notes during the service, write down their favorite Scriptures, and even record prayer requests. 

5. The Gift of Scripture Memory

When we list the things that we can do to grow in our walk with the Lord, most people think of reading their Bibles, praying, and going to church. Scripture memory doesn’t usually make the list, but it is easily one of the most valuable things we can do to help our kids grow in their walk with Christ. 

Giving your children the gift of Scripture memory is one way that you can fill their minds with the truth they desperately need to be deeply rooted in Christ. The Bible tells us that the Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path! We can trust that it will give our kids the wisdom they need to help them know what’s right and what’s wrong in a world that seeks to confuse them about the truth. 

Hiding God’s Word in your kids’ hearts means that when you’re not there to point them in the right direction, you can have peace in knowing that the Holy Spirit will bring those Scriptures to mind to help them along the way. It means that when the opportunity arises for them to share the gospel, they will know just what to say! And when they need to come alongside family, friends, and others who are hurting or need wisdom—they will have the words of Jesus in their hearts to share. 

This Christmas, I challenge you to make Scripture memory a priority in your home! Not sure how to get started? No problem! We’ve created a set of Scripture Memory Cards that you can use to start hiding God’s Word in the hearts of your kids!   

6. The Gift of Siblings

The older we get, the more we treasure the gift that God has given us in our siblings. Unfortunately, our kids don’t always see things quite the same way. It’s hard to help your children understand the wonderful gift that their siblings are to them amid the arguing, complaining, and sometimes tug-of-war that’s happening down the hall! 

This year, it’s time to take on the challenge of helping your kids start to see and appreciate the incredible gift that their siblings really are!  

So how do you get your kids to hear you? How do you change their hearts so that they love their siblings and recognize the gift that they’ve been given? Our Sibling Rivalry Help Center is loaded with resources to get you started! We also have a fantastic Bible study called My Brother’s Keeper that will show your family the truth about siblings, straight from God’s Word. 

7. The Gift of Mercy Through the Story of Jesus 

God gave us the gift of mercy when He gave us Jesus! The story of His mercy starts in the Bible at the very beginning. Before Adam and Eve had even left the garden, God set a plan in place for the redemption of mankind. You see, we are all deserving of death for our sins. But God. I love those words! But God extended mercy. Compassion. Grace. While we were yet sinners, He loved us.   

This beautiful gift of mercy was extended to us—and its story, HIS story, was woven throughout the entire timeline of history. You’ll find redemption in the garden with Adam and Eve, you’ll find it on the ark with Noah, you’ll find it in the deserts of Moab with Ruth and in the valley while David tended the sheep. 

This Christmas, take the time to savor God’s mercy toward you and your precious family. Take time to show your children what a beautiful gift God bestowed on us when He offered mercy through the captivating story of His Son, Jesus Christ. 

One powerful way to walk your family through the journey of the redemption story is with our brand new Bible study Uncovering Mercies at the Manger and the Christmas Countdown Cards. Take a fresh look at the classic Christmas story this year, digging deeper than ever before. You will be amazed at the ways God has been working for you since the very beginning.

As we prepare to enter into this Christmas season and the season of giving gifts, let’s give some unexpected gifts this Christmas. Let’s commit together to keep our minds on Jesus and the gifts that draw us closer to Him. Do you have any gifts you would add to this list?