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Principles to apply to your family inspired by Timothy and his family

The story of Lois, Eunice, and Timothy generates several principles of family hope.

1. Spiritual formation at home. When parents and grandparents' faith is vibrant, alive, and visible, children and grandchildren notice and learn by observation.

2. Faith flourishes in complexity. Families often face uncertainty, turbulence, and chaos, yet those scenarios create complex situations where personal faith can flourish.

3. Faith stories. Telling and retelling the story of faith in families is monumental in developing religious heritage and legacy.

4. Women in faith formation. Women nurture children through care and support and have a unique ability to shape the faith of their children and grandchildren.

5. Men in faith formation. Men provide safety, security, protection, and resources for the family's well-being. A father's presence in forming faith is equally important to that of women in the family. The physical and spiritual absence of fathers in families continues to be a major dilemma in modern society.

6. Church and the flourishing family. Churches form supplemental support for faith formation in the home in addition to the primary role of parents in faith formation.

7. Character formation at home. The best teacher of faith is the example children see daily in the home. Faith is caught more powerfully than taught.

Parents and grandparents play a critical role in the faith formation of children and grandchildren. They also contribute to the flourishing of families and societies.

Human families are flawed but not beyond repair, restoration, redemption, and divine purpose. Even with its flaws and imperfections, the family is still God’s design for humanity.

Questions for Reflection:

- What kind of opportunities are available at home to form faith in children and grandchildren?

- What are ways to teach Scriptures and live out its truth among your children and youth at home?

- What do you need from your church to successfully form faith in your family?