So… When Was the Last Time You Talked About God at the Dinner Table?
If you just stared off into space trying to remember, you’re not alone.
A recent Christian Standard study found that only 12 percent of kids have regular faith conversations with their mom… and just 5 percent with their dad.
Five. Percent.
That’s roughly the same odds as your kid voluntarily doing their homework without you asking.
Why That’s a Big Deal
Here’s the truth: kids are constantly having “faith conversations”—just not always with us.
They’re having them with YouTube algorithms, TikTok creators, classmates, and Spotify playlists.
In other words, if we’re not guiding the talk, someone else is.
And let’s be honest—most of us dads want to say something, but we freeze up. We’ll talk to our kids about Fortnite, football, or why the trash still isn’t out—but when it comes to faith? We suddenly sound like Moses at the burning bush:
“Uh… Lord, I am slow of speech…”
Faith Talks Don’t Have to Be Weird
We picture faith talks like mini sermons, but they don’t have to be. Sometimes it’s just about weaving God into normal life moments.
Example:
Kid: “Dad, why do bad things happen?”
You: “That’s a good question, buddy. Even Jesus’ friends asked that. Want to know what He said?”
Boom. You just did theology in under 20 seconds, without pulling out a Greek lexicon.
Or:
Kid: “Dad, why do you always pray before meetings?”
You: “Because I mess up less when I invite God first.”
That’s it. Authenticity > perfection every time.
The Silent Generation of Faith
When parents don’t talk about faith, kids assume it’s either not important—or that they’re supposed to figure it out on their own.
The result? Faith gets outsourced to culture.
But our kids don’t need a TED Talk—they need a table talk.
Ten Questions to Spark Faith This Week
You don’t need a seminary degree; you just need curiosity.
Here are ten quick “conversation starters” you can sneak in during carpool, bedtime, or Chick-fil-A runs:
- What do you think God is like?
- If you could ask God one question, what would it be?
- When was the last time you felt thankful for something small?
- What’s one thing you think Jesus would post if He had Instagram?
- Who do you think needs a friend right now?
- What’s something hard you faced this week?
- Do you think prayer actually changes stuff? Why?
- If God wrote you a text message, what would He say?
- What’s something you’re proud of that no one saw?
- What’s your favorite Bible story—and why do you think it matters today?
Ask. Listen. Laugh. That’s the holy trinity of family conversation.
The Point Isn’t Perfection—It’s Presence
Your kids don’t need a pastor; they need a parent who shows up.
They’ll forget 90 percent of your lectures but remember 100 percent of your love.
So this week, talk about faith like you talk about sports—often, casually, and sometimes with snacks.
Because if faith isn’t in the home, it’ll be found somewhere else.
