Ep. 406: What Makes Faith Stick? 5 Keys to Raising Lifelong Followers of Jesus

Ep. 406: What Makes Faith Stick? 5 Keys to Raising Lifelong Followers of Jesus

From Let's Parent on Purpose: Christian Marriage, Parenting, and Discipleship by Jay Holland and Christian Parenting

May 11, 2026 · 31 min

About this episode

This episode discusses five key elements that help raise lifelong followers of Jesus in children.

This episode of Let’s Parent on Purpose explores a crucial question for Christian parents: what makes faith stick in the lives of our children? Drawing from over 25 years of youth ministry experience, Jay shares five key elements consistently present in students whose faith endures into adulthood. While acknowledging the mystery of God’s work, he emphasizes that intentional discipleship at home plays a primary role. Parents are encouraged not to outsource spiritual formation to the church, but to become the leading spiritual influence in their child’s life. The first two elements—truth kids understand and relationships they trust—highlight the importance of clearly communicating biblical truth in age-appropriate ways and surrounding children with trusted, godly influences who reinforce faith beyond the home. The episode continues with three additional pillars of “sticky faith”: habits they own, purpose they live, and transforming moments they remember. Jay explains that lasting faith develops when children move from passive participation to personally owning spiritual disciplines like prayer, Scripture reading, and service. He also stresses the importance of helping kids see…

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