God expects parents to be the primary disciple-makers of their children. Your home will never produce growing disciples without the intentional investment of one generation into another.
Parenting Trends
- We have wrongfully told parents to drop their kids off at church so that ministry professionals can disciple their children.
- Our children will never be fully discipled if we expect programs to do what God called parents to do.
- Parents are increasingly sacrificing their children’s spiritual priorities for worldly pursuits.
- We are teaching our children by our examples of what is essential and what is expendable.
- Don’t be surprised if your children’s spiritual health does not surpass your personal examples or rhythms.
Biblical Expectations
- God places the burden clearly on parents to be their children’s primary disciple-makers.
- Children will most likely be proficient in whatever the parents most eagerly prioritize.
- A wise parent disciples with the biblical message while considering a distinctive method.
- Proverbs are not guaranteed promises, but they are best-case processes.
- The Bible teaches that success is found not in the guarantee of an outcome but in the wisdom of the process.
- While a parent’s specific responsibilities change through the years, the spiritual role never subsides.
Personal Applications
- Children – Reject any form of mediocre dedication to the things of the LORD.
- Parents – If you are going to dedicate your child to some pursuit, make sure it has eternal value.
- Doubters – Most children who resent their parents’ faith witnessed a church association without a character transformation.
- Empty-Nesters – Don’t let regret or astonishment cause you to abandon the task of impacting your children.
- Singles – Don’t settle for marrying someone whom you wouldn’t want a child to repeat his or her example.
Your greatest contribution to the Kingdom may not be what you do but whom you disciple.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.