1. Read the Bible Together
Set up a family meeting and talk about what books of the Bible you want to read and what topics you want to learn about for the year. Then, plan out a book and a topic for each month of the year. If you have little ones, see if you can find simplified Bible stories that correlate to the book you are reading to help them understand better. Once you have a plan, mark each month with the topic and book of the Bible that you will be reading.
Another idea is to buy a chronological Bible and read through it that way. I have been enjoying a podcast called The Daily Bible Podcast with Tricia and Michelle this year. Tricia Goyer is a Christian author, and her friend Michelle has worked in different ministries. They are just two friends reading through the Bible and encouraging others to do the same. Each morning, in my email, I get the Scripture to read for the day and then listen to the day’s podcast on YouTube. (You can also find it on Apple, Spotify, etc.) They use the chronological Bible as they are reading.
You could also spend an hour together, using the first thirty minutes for the older family members to read and discuss the topic, chapter, or story. Then, spend the second half hour with the little ones, discussing the topic in more simple terms so that they can understand. Don’t forget to allow them to ask questions. Kids always have lots of questions.
2. Pray Together and for Each Other
Prayer is an important part of our day. Set up a time for your family to gather and pray together. You can discuss things that the whole family can pray about and individual needs within your family that need prayer as well. Don’t forget to add friends and other relatives to your list of things to be prayed over.
Related Resource: 3 Simple Strategies to “Unstuck” Your Goals
Do you have a goal that’s been lingering on your to-do list for what feels like forever? I share three simple and effective strategies to help you finally cross it off. Whether it’s a personal or professional goal, these three strategies—whether you use one, two, or all—will help you get unstuck, give you the momentum you need to make real progress, and finally achieve that goal. Read here to learn ways to reach your goals in 2025!
3. Serve More Together
Discuss what causes are important to you and where you would like to serve together. This could be organizing the church bake sale, volunteering at the local soup kitchen, or helping elderly friends or neighbours. The possibilities are endless.
Discovering ways to serve as a family fosters unity and demonstrates Christ’s love to others. Begin by discussing causes that resonate with your family—whether it’s aiding the homeless, supporting food banks, or assisting the elderly. Consider organizing your own service project, like cleaning a local park or running a donation drive.
Tips for Implementation:
- Use resources like VolunteerMatch or reach out to your church for volunteer opportunities.
- Set realistic goals for how often your family can serve together, such as monthly or bi-weekly projects.
4. Give More Together
Make a goal to give more together. You could save the monthly change to add to your tithe, give your time to a worthy cause, or help an individual. You can give your talents, offer your skills to an organization, or even teach someone to do something. When we give to others, we automatically think financially, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. We can give in other ways as well.
Generosity doesn’t have to mean financial contributions. Brainstorm ways to give using your time and talents. For example, you could:
- Save spare change to donate to a chosen cause.
- Share your skills—teach a class, bake for neighbours, or help someone with a home repair.
- Offer your time to mentor or tutor someone in need.
5. Start a Family Prayer Journal
Families have tons of conversations each day, and it’s easy for prayer requests to slip through the cracks. Why not start a family prayer journal? Everyone can write their prayer requests in the journal throughout the week, and then once or twice a week, you all gather to pray over all the needs in the journal.
Track prayer requests and answered prayers in a shared journal. This practice not only helps your family remain organized in prayer but also builds faith as you see how God works in your lives over time.
How to Begin:
- Dedicate a journal for this purpose and divide it into sections: personal needs, global concerns, and thanksgiving.
- Allow children to decorate the journal, making it a collaborative effort.
6. Worship Together
We can worship God wherever we are and for whatever reason. Turn up the praise and worship music in the car and sing along, or have it playing while you clean the house or fix dinner together.
Worshiping as a family strengthens your relationship with God and with each other. Explore different ways to incorporate worship into your daily life:
- Sing praise songs during chores or car rides.
- Attend church worship services together.
- Create a family playlist of favourite worship songs.
7. Attend Church Regularly
It is important to attend church regularly as a family. We all need encouragement and biblical education each week. Also, take some time to find the right church for your family. Not every church is a good fit for all families. So take your time and visit several to find the right one. This will ensure everyone is happy and comfortable and will want to attend regularly.
Making church attendance a priority helps establish consistency in your family’s spiritual growth. If you’re searching for a new church, take the time to visit several to find the right fit for your family’s needs and values. Regular participation in church activities builds a sense of belonging and accountability.
Pro Tips:
- Look for churches with strong children’s programs and small groups.
- Discuss sermons as a family afterwards to reinforce learning.
8. Read a Family Devotional
It may help to purchase a family devotional to accompany your Bible study together. Some titles to consider are 5 Minute Family Devotional: Kid-Friendly Devotions for Growing with God by Brittany Rust, The Bedtime Family Devotional by Ruth and Patrick Schwenk, The Family Bible Devotional: Stories from the Bible to Help Kids and Parents Engage & Love Scripture by Sarah M. Wells, and Busy Family Devotional: 52 Short Devotions from Genesis to Revelation by Lucy Rycroft.
There are all kinds of family devotionals available to take your time and look at several to find out which one will work best for your family. Some devotionals are designed for bedtime, others for busy families, and still others for any time of day.
Enhance your Bible study time with a devotional designed for families. Some great options include:
- 5 Minute Family Devotional: Kid-Friendly Devotions for Growing with God by Brittany Rust.
- The Bedtime Family Devotional by Ruth and Patrick Schwenk.
- Busy Family Devotional: 52 Short Devotions from Genesis to Revelation by Lucy Rycroft.
9. Unplug and Talk about God
Turn off all your electronics and spend some time together talking about God. A great time to do this is around the dinner table. Make a strict no electronics rule, then talk about everyone’s day. Also talk about what God is doing right now in your family, and with your friends, what prayers has he answered, what prayers you are still waiting on, etc. Have each person around the table talk about what God is doing in their lives right now. You will gain some interesting insights about each person’s life and know how you can stand with them in prayer if need be. You can also celebrate answered prayers and give God the glory together as well.
Designate time to disconnect from electronics and engage in meaningful discussions about God’s work in your lives. Use the dinner table as a sacred space for sharing stories, answered prayers, and personal reflections on faith.
Ideas for Discussions:
- “What is one way you saw God at work this week?”
- “What prayer are you currently waiting on God to answer?”
10. Indulge in More Faith-Based Family Entertainment
Our entertainment media is full of nasty, ungodly content. How often have you turned on a show or movie with a great premise only to find it filled with violence and foul language? How many times have you picked up a book with a great plot only to find it’s filled with graphic sex? Have you ever been surfing the radio for it to stop at a station that is playing today’s music, and you want to grab the noise-cancelling headphones as fast as possible? Although not intentional, it’s easy to do. It’s happened to all of us.
Why not make a goal in the new year to be more vigilant about what your family sees, hears, and reads? When your kid comes home and is excited about the new book, TV show, movie, or video game that’s hot right now, take some time and research it. Find out what it’s about and what the rating is (for movies, TV shows, and video games); read book reviews as well. See if you can find any reviews by other parents online or even an objective review. It’s important to be diligent about what entertainment your children are consuming.
To help combat the shock value of most entertainment, steer your family to more faith-based family entertainment. Great American Family, Up TV, and Great American Pure Flix offer great movies and TV shows.
For books, search for Christian authors in some of your family’s favourite genres. For example, some of my favourite Christian romance authors are Karen Kingsbury, Debbie Macomber, Jessie Gussman, and Brooke St. James. Tons of Christian authors write in all different genres, so you are bound to find a writer you and your family will love.
This can be a little tricky with music. Am I saying don’t listen to secular music? Not at all. I listen to a mix of both secular and Christian music. I’m a huge fan of the 80s music, as well as today’s Christian music. You can check out the channel @ChristianFaithSounds for some current Christian music.
Having spiritual goals and growing in Christ is so essential for us as Christians, and having goals as a family is a great way to stay motivated. Take some time to choose a goal or two for your family next year and watch how your spiritual lives grow and flourish.
