Putting Feet to Their Faith
February is upon us, and the world is bursting with hearts and flowers. It’s also that time of year when the spotlight is on love. When we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind, it naturally flows into loving others. In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus speaks about loving God and loving our neighbors. As leaders, we have the opportunity to help families teach their kids to put these words into everyday actions. When we intentionally connect biblical truth to real life, kids begin to see that faith doesn’t end on Sunday—it shapes how we live all week.
Children often assume a neighbor is simply someone who lives nearby, but Jesus consistently expanded that definition. The first idea that kids need to understand is that a neighbor isn’t just a person who lives next door but anyone God puts in our paths, even the ones who are very different or unpleasant.
When Jesus says in Luke 6:31, “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them,” it gives parents and us an easy way to talk with children about actions that express love. Putting concrete ideas to Jesus’ words helps them apply loving your neighbor to everyday settings like school, sports, and home. Encourage kids to look for people like the classmate who sits alone at lunch, the teammate who struggles or makes mistakes, or the elderly neighbor who needs help with tasks, and talk about ways they can share Jesus’ love with those who especially need it. By tying Scripture directly to familiar, everyday situations, children learn that loving their neighbor is something they can practice right now and incorporate into daily life.
Children are always watching how adults treat others. They observe our actions, and they see those of their parents. Long before kids can explain theology, they recognize kindness, patience, and fairness. Kids notice when we greet every child by name, respond calmly during conflict, and speak respectfully to other volunteers and parents. They see when we work to include everyone in games and activities, and warmly welcome new kids. When children see that kind of love demonstrated through our actions and those of their parents, they understand how to do it themselves.
We know that children learn best through action. Abstract concepts like kindness and compassion become meaningful when kids have simple, hands-on ways to practice them. Serving together helps children connect belief with action. When kids and families participate in service, faith becomes shared and memorable. We can lead the way by offering approachable service opportunities that fit different family schedules. Offer materials to families to make cards at home for kids entering foster care or experiencing lengthy hospital stays, and take care of delivering them. Encourage families to donate supplies and work together to assemble blessing bags they can carry with them to give to those who are dealing with homelessness. Find a community outreach where you can invite parents and kids to join you in loving others in practical ways, or set up times for families to shovel snow or rake leaves for elderly church members.
Although we can teach kids about this at church, loving your neighbor is a faith practice that grows best when children see it reinforced at home. We can support parents by offering simple tools to make spiritual conversations more approachable. Families are more likely to engage when they are given one clear idea they can try during the week, short discussion prompts tied to the lesson, encouragement to notice and celebrate kindness, and prayer ideas that include neighbors and community needs. Making these tools available to parents is an important part of encouraging what happens at home. When faith becomes part of everyday family rhythms, children learn that following Jesus impacts how they treat others everywhere they go.
