When we gather as a family to brainstorm for ideas to do or make for others, our mission is always before us. Christ charged us with the Great Commission, “Go ye and make disciples of all nations…” Therefore, everything we decide to make and do has that in mind, “to make disciples”. That is the purpose of this site, too. In the home, we focus on discipleling our children as they also watch us, parents, how we try to imitate Christ and be His disciples. This aspect of the home is so critical. It is parenting by intent rather than by default.
Parenting by default is also parenting but with no purpose or vision, just let life go by and do what you have to do to survive. You know, sleep, eat, go to school, get a job, get married and have kids so they can go to school and continue the cycle. Parenting by intent is having a purpose. Our purpose for every Christian home should be to point our children to the Savior so they can have their personal relationship with Him. Jesus commands us to let the children come to Him. Wow to us is we are stumbling blocks for our children to come to Him. The way we present the Gospel, our prayer life and even the way we read His Word will communicate a love for God or religion.
The home is the place where children meet and encounter God. It is a place of Evangelism. It is not Sunday school, youth group or children’s church. It is the home. The home needs to be supplying the church with the leaders, pastors, teachers, evangelists, apostles and prophets.
How do we parent intentionally?
The answer is very simple: Just being with your children. As Deuteronomy 6:4-6 teaches us, when you rise up, when you sit down, when you walk by the way, and when you lie down. Everyday, there are many opportunities to disciple our children in the ways of the Lord, which is the way they should go.
I have mothers coming to me asking me to have play dates with them so their children homeschooled or toddlers can grow in their social skills. I do like to get together with other moms who are homeschooling or have little children. But, I am also always concerned because small children tend to learn from each other’s sinful natures. Parents misunderstand that their children don’t need other children their age to learn social skills. On the contrary, children need to be with older adults or mature older children who can teach them good social skills. What is a three year-old going to learn from another three year old? Proverbs 13:20 says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
Some ways we disciple our children in a day to day basis is by simply pointing out what the Word of God says about issues that come up or about His Creation as we talk a walk. When they disobey, I instruct the what God requires from them, to obey their parents. When they are unkind to one another, I remind them over and over that Jesus commanded us to love one another. As we study History, we draw lessons from His dealings with man. As we study God’s Creation, we marvel at such powerful designs in plants, animals and the entire physical world.
Jesus certainly demonstrated it to us when he chose his twelve disciples. They pretty much lived together. They saw Him pray, eat, love, teach. The disciples turned around and did the same. It is my prayer that my children will do the same and even go beyond what we teach them.
How do you disciple your children? How have your children encountered God in your home?
The Home - Part 7
