Where to Start: Your Home

“The truth is, we are discipling our kids right now, either intentionally or unintentionally. So, let’s try and do this on purpose.”

Parents, we love to have a children’s ministry on Sunday mornings. It is our privilege to be with your kids and hopefully pass on the content of who Jesus is and what He commanded, to give them a chance to watch and imitate a disciple or two, and to be immersed in the culture of what a group of disciples act like with each other. But the basic, irrefutable truth is that we only have the chance to do that for two hours per week. The remaining 166 hours per week are spent with you, the parent. There is simply no way that we could possibly disciple your children in any adequate way. But the great news for all of us is that we weren’t meant to. You are the true disciple maker. You are the one who is already passing on content, apprenticing your kids, and immersing them in your culture. We exist merely to reinforce what is already going on in your home.

Often as parents we find ourselves intimidated by the challenge of discipling our kids (and especially our spouses). But, be encouraged. God has made you for this moment, and for this task. And please remember that discipleship is not a flashy content-delivery program. Rather, it is a natural process of living a life in front of and with our kids that they will imitate, for good or for ill. The truth is, we are discipling our kids right now, either intentionally or unintentionally. So, let’s try and do this on purpose. It is God’s plan for us, so we can be confident that the infinite, living God, and all of heaven, is on our side.

So what are we encouraging you to do?

• Follow Jesus. Only a disciple can make disciples.
• Do your best to live a life that is worth imitating. This is really hard. But the great thing about following Jesus is that failure is the prerequisite for discipleship in an economy of mercy and grace. So we get to fail, and then keep on imitating him. 
• Immerse yourself in the community of disciples, and bring your kids along. This immersion is critical.

Remember: You were made for this moment. Our goal with this series is simply to encourage you and equip you for the task at hand. You are not alone.

Part Seven

View Part Six.
View the full resource.