Family in Marriage and Family

1. Formation in Marriage
and Family

2. ‘Marriage … is the source of both
the family and the state, and the
nursery of the church.’
Luther on Marriage and Family

3. ‘Married people … can do no better
work and do nothing more valuable
either for God, for Christendom, for all
the world, for themselves, and for their
children than to bring up their children
well. … For bringing up their children
properly is their shortest road to
heaven. In fact, heaven itself could
not be made nearer or achieved
more easily than by doing this work.’

4. ‘In the Christian doctrine, in which,
after the doctrine of the Gospel and
faith, we teach how we should
conduct ourselves in a godly and
honorable manner in this life,
marriage is the first and chief thing;
for it is the beginning and origin of the
whole life.’

5. 7
Practical
Strategies
for Family
Faith
Formation

6. • Make Sunday morning a time for
resourcing families.
• The 4 Keys: faith talk, devotional
practices, rituals and traditions,
service.
• Provide “At home” pieces.
#1 - Connect Sunday
Morning with Monday-
Saturday in the Home

7. “Taking Faith Home”
www.formingfaith.com

8. • Advent, Lent or Pentecost
Workshops.
• Seasonal family devotional
resources.
• “Make it easy for them”.
#2 - Use the Seasons of
the Church Year to Help
Families Live Faith-fully

9. • Use baptismal preparation to
give parents guidance and
resources.
•Use marriage preparation to
help couples think about the
future “shape” of their family life.
#3 - Use Baptisms and Marriages
as Key Strategic Opportunities

10. • Introduce “parent” nights into
your instruction programs.
• Bring together kids and parents
– help them “do the faith” with
one another.
#4 - Build and Parent and Family
Dimensions into First Communion
and Confirmation Preparation

11. • Provide aids for parents who
worship with children.
•Educate parents about
worshipping with children.
•Give attention to the “senses” in
worship.
• Recruit “pew parents”.
#5 - Make Worship Child and
Parent Friendly

12. • Follow-up on married couples
each year.
•Use the Alpha “Marriage
Preparation Course”.
•Offer “Parents Nights Out”.
•Look at marriage mentoring.
#6 - Be Proactive in Caring for
Marriages

13. #7 - Tend Your Own Marriage and
Family Life