“Faith Files” are like a mental filing cabinet filled with everything we’ve learned, experienced, and reflected on about our faith. Each “file” grows over time as we live, study, and reflect on what God’s people teach and share.

I first heard about building Faith Files nearly 30 years ago while reading A Woman After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George—back when I was on “trophy wife duty” with Mr. Bob on Coronado Beach in California.

As a self-proclaimed organization nerd, I love the idea of intentionally diving deep into specific topics as a plan for personal faith formation. Now, if we want to get all nerdy, there’s actually a term for this—schema formation. A schema is just a fancy word for the mental structure that helps us organize and store information about a subject. Our faith “schemas” grow and shift over a lifetime of study, reflection, and experience.

In the philosophy of mind and cognitive science, a mental file is a system our brain uses to store and organize information about specific objects, people, or concepts. When we encounter something, a file is “opened” for it, and as we gain more information or experience, that file is updated. 

Okay, enough of the nerdy stuff.

Here’s why I bring this up: there are three Faith Files that are especially important for our children—particularly as they transition into student ministry. These are the foundation pieces of the Christian life, learned through church teaching, lived out in daily practice, and shared by believers of all ages.

The 10 Commandments

How do Christians live in the world set apart by God, for God?
This God-given list begins with how we love God (no other gods, no idols, honor the Sabbath) and ends with how we love one another (honor, truth, faithfulness, respect). At a recent New Room Conference, I heard a preacher say, “God chose ‘Do not covet’ to close the list because if we don’t covet, we won’t worship idols, lie, steal, or dishonor.” That hit home. Keeping the Sabbath reminded the Hebrews they were no longer slaves; reminds us that we are no longer slaves to sin.

The Lord’s Prayer

How do Christians communicate with God, for God?
This prayer teaches us to speak with confidence to our holy, providing, forgiving King. It reminds us that God’s kingdom reigns both on earth and in heaven. It’s truly our family prayer.

The Apostles’ Creed

What do Christians believe—together, everywhere, and throughout time?
This is the backbone of our shared faith. No hemming or hawing, no confusion—just the solid truths that unite Christians across generations and continents.

These three Faith Files are the foundation stones we’ll keep building on all our lives. Learn them often. Teach them often. Talk about them often. Memorize them. Reflect on them. Let them shape you as you practice the historic, holy habits of following Jesus. What’s good for kids is good for everybody!

Some of my other Faith Files? The 23rd Psalm (Sheep. Shepherds. Tables. Shadows. Memorized.). And the stories of incredible women of Scripture—Deborah, Ruth, Esther, the Shunamite woman, Mary and Martha, and Anna. The Christmas Story.

So… what are in your Faith Files?
If you’re not sure, ask yourself:

What story, truth, or teaching from Scripture could I talk about for ten minutes without any notes?

Start there. That’s one of your Faith Files. Now, how will you build on it?

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2