3 Convictions for Christian Character Building for Kids

Everyone needs something to live for—a deep, powerful conviction that fuels their every thought and action. Kids, especially, need a guiding sense of purpose and direction as they grow and come into themselves as people. That’s why an important part of Christian character building for kids is to help them acquire strong convictions that are deeply rooted in biblical truths and the purpose God has for them.

One of the characteristics of Generation Z is that they are very cause-oriented. They don’t wish to live for the traditional materialistic American dream, they wish to live for meaning and purpose, and are easily inspired to join big causes. Recognizing this, other people are frequently sharing concerning issues with them, encouraging them to get on board with those causes. Are we offering our kids something equally meaningful to live for that aligns with biblical standards, or are we letting others have greater influence with their convictions?

3 Convictions for Christian Character Building for Kids

There are 3 convictions you can teach your family for valuable Christian character building for kids: faith, family, and freedom. When these convictions are biblically solid, all other convictions or causes can be evaluated and built on them.

Now, the terms “faith, family, and freedom” might sound like a t-shirt—they even alliterate—but the world often uses and defines them separate from biblical standards. If we want to do a good job with Christian character building for kids through their convictions, we have to help them understand what both we, and God, mean through these terms. That way, when they hear the terms used in different ways, they can tell the difference and discern right causes or convictions from wrong ones.

1. Faith

Not only is faith the foundation on which so many worthwhile convictions are built, but it’s also one of the most important principles to teach for Christian character building for kids. Faith, as described in the Bible, is standing on the unshakeable, unchangeable promises of God. It’s believing in Him, what He’s done, and what He will do in the future. Because of the sheer magnitude of this conviction, we don’t want to use the word “faith” to describe simply believing in whatever you want to hope for, like believing your favorite sports team can win.

Teach kids to be bold with their faith and not intimidated. Be an example yourself for Christian character building for kids by expressing your faith in God’s promises in public forums so kids can see how it’s done. Remember that school children have a legal standing to express their faith in the classroom, in homework assignments, and in school activities. They’re allowed to offer to lead in prayer, host after-school clubs like a Good News Club®, or say anything they want about their own faith as long as it’s not unkind. The conviction to live by faith in God’s promises and express it freely is a cause worthy of sacrifice, and a vital one for Christian character building for kids.

2. Family

Another incredibly impactful conviction for Christian character building for kids, is family. Family is a sacred gift from God. Teach kids to cherish family by reaffirming your own commitment to it, even when things get hard. Frequently remind them of your gratitude for them and for the support of the family unit, tell your kids how much you love them, and be quick to both forgive and apologize when mistakes are made—exemplifying Christian character building for kids through your own behavior. Be sure to prioritize family time in your day-to-day as well, setting aside time to be together despite busy schedules or treating dinner as a daily family gathering—you don’t have to eat if you’re not hungry, but you do have to sit and spend time with everyone. If children don’t have access to their biological family or if family relations are strained, teach them how God is our family and of the love we can find in our Heavenly Father.

Every family relationship—spousal, parental, sibling, or a relative—is designed by God to teach us something about Himself. Protecting and upholding the family unit is both an important conviction and a fun concept to explore, as it teaches us more about different aspects of God’s character that we can then emulate as Christian character building for kids.

3. Freedom

Our last conviction, freedom, is a little more difficult to navigate and communicate to kids in an effective manner as “freedom” is often wrongly associated with an attitude of rebellion—as in, “I can do whatever I want because it’s a free country”. So, while this conviction might take a lot more intentional training through Christian character building for kids, that just makes it all the more worthwhile when kids understand what freedom through God really means.

Jesus said that the truth of God’s Word sets you free. What does that truth set us free from? Slavery to sin, guilt, and regrets. The book of Romans has much to say about freedom from sin, while having the deep conviction of freedom is central to the gospel message. When God created us, He created us with the free will—the freedom—to choose Him or not. This is a huge gift, and while freedom comes with great responsibility to choose correctly, the rewards are also great when we do.

If you want to help instill Christian character building for kids, find ways to let kids see you stand up for your biblical convictions on faith, family, and freedom. Don’t just be reactive or defensive when someone challenges them, either, but actively promote and follow these convictions through your everyday life. In the parable of the talents in Luke 19, Jesus tells the disciples to occupy and engage in the world until He returns—not hide in a corner and just try to survive until His return. Let’s show our kids that biblical faith, family, and freedom are causes to live and die for; remembering that every cause in life must come from a biblical foundation for fundamental Christian character building for kids.

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