Family Discipleship

These are strange times we are living in to say the least. Most of us are home 24/7 minus essential workers and important errands. Most (if not all) of us can't go to work, school, or church (at least not in person). Families are spending way more time together (which in my opinion is a major blessing).

For years, God has worked in my heart regarding family discipleship, starting in my own family, and then putting it on my heart to do some sort of vocational family discipleship ministry. I have been praying for years about how to do that while doing my most important ministry, my own family.

I am not sure if this is the divine time, but I do believe God has called me for such a time as this to encourage parents in discipling their children. This is something we should always be doing, but even more so than ever since so many kids are missing out on Sunday School and children's ministries.

In my early days as a Christian in my 20s, God put this Scripture in front of me, which stirred my heart to what true family discipleship looks like:

Deuteronomy 6:6-9(NKJV)

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
  with all your soul,
  and with all your strength.6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children,
  and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
  when you walk by the way,
  when you lie down,
  and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand,
  and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

This passage of Scripture is The Shema, which is recited 4 times a day by devout Jews.
As Christians, it has no less meaning, power, or importance.

1) We must remember that the Lord our God is the one true God.
2) We are to love Him with everything that we have and everything that we are.
3) We are to keep God's Word in our own hearts.
4) We are to teach them diligently to our children.
5) We are to talk of them 24/7 with our children.
6) We are to keep them in front of us at all times.
7) We are to write them on our homes.

Many parents read this and feel guilty that they aren't "doing it right".
Well, let me just encourage you that:
1) guilt doesn't come from God - that comes straight from the devil and
2) no one is a perfect parent that always gets it right.

Here are some practical tips to help you:
1 & 2) Make sure your relationship with God is "right" first.
           Make sure you are putting Him first in your life
           (yes, before your significant other, your kids, your job, your home, your church).
           If He isn't first in your life, it is impossible to do the rest.
3) Make sure you are keeping God's Word in your own heart.
    Read, study, memorize, and speak the Scriptures.
    This doesn't mean you have to be a walking Bible or theologian,
    but if you are in the Word of God everyday, it will be evident in your life.
4) Teach your children God's Word.
     Now you might be thinking, "I am not a teacher."
     The great news is that you don't have to be.
     Who knows your children better than you do? NO ONE.
     Who loves your children more than you do? NO ONE.
     (I'LL BE POSTING TONS OF STUFF ABOUT THIS IN THE FUTURE)
5) Talk about God and His ways and His Word 24/7.
     Now you might be thinking, "WHAT?!"
     As you are going through your day and talking with your kids,
     talk with them about God, His ways, and His Word.
     (Example: If they are having trouble with a friend,
     remind them "A friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17)."
6) Keep God's Word in front of you at all times.
     Now you might be thinking, "WHAT?!"
     This doesn't mean you physically have to carry your Bible 24/7.
     What it means is that God's Word is at the forefront of your life.
7) Write God's Word on your house.
     A very practical one for this is to have Scripture around your home.
     This could be "religious art" or just notecards with God's Word on them.

I know I have put a lot here, but I promise, we will break this down a little at a time.