THE DISCIPLESHIP OF PARENTING
Geoffrey R. Kirkland
Christ Fellowship Bible Church (St Louis, MO)
Discipleship is teaching. Disciples learn from the instructor both formally in content and informally by imitation. No greater context exists for children to be taught about God, self, life, eternity, Truth, and conduct than the home. The home is the home-base for discipleship. Parents are the primary disciplers of their children. This responsibility to teach and mentor the children does not fall to the Sunday-School teacher, the youth leader, the pastor, the peers or social media. Parents must undertake the duty of teaching and training the children.
First, parents must disciple by formal instruction. Fathers and mothers must teach the children a Christian worldview that is robustly and thoroughly biblical. The children must learn the necessity of discerning everything through the lens of Scripture. This can come through schooling in the home, teaching in family worship, and careful instruction.
Second, parents must disciple by godly example. The regular heart-cry of parents should be that of Paul to the believers: follow me as I follow Christ. Let the children see godly conduct, Christian conversations, a heart stayed upon Jehovah, love toward the ungodly, compassion for the lost and perishing, and prayerfulness in troubling situations. As the children see you live for Christ for the long haul, this indirect discipleship will model for them how they ought to live and follow Christ in daily living.
Third, parents must disciple by prayerful intercession. A vital expression of discipleship is diligent prayer with and for the children. Children must hear the parents call out to God on their behalf. Parents should regularly plead with God for regeneration, redemption, sanctification, and maturation of their children (and their spouses, and their children, etc.). Teach and model Christian living in the area of prayer by actually praying with and for the children.
Fourth, parents must disciple by patient, yet persistent evangelization. Truly and specifically, a disciple is one who has come to Christ and genuinely follows Him as Lord and Savior. Every parent longs for this for their children. Knowing that only God can save the souls of perishing sinners, including children, parents must continually proclaim Christ and regularly summon the children to examine themselves so as to ensure that their faith is actually their own and not their parent’s. Continuous evangelism of children is vital by both the father and mother in the Christian household.
Fifth, parents must disciple by catechizing the children. Catechism is the teaching of truth through question and answer format. Lots of good catechisms exist that teach systematic theology in a clear and cogent manner. Fathers should take the lead in ensuring that the catechism is taught in the home and that the children learn the facts of Scripture, theology, the Lord’s prayer, and the ten commandments in an orderly and memorable way. To catechize the children is a sure way to disciple the children.
Sixth, parents must disciple by teaching Christian living in the world. No child knows how to live in this world by looking deep within himself. God has given parents to teach how to live as a good citizen in society, what it means to work hard, how to order one’s household, how to relate to civil authorities.
God has given parents to teach these important truths to the children. The continued growth of these areas of doctrine, living, instruction, and imitation is part of the ongoing program of discipleship that God has given parents so they can lead their children well in the grace of God and in the Word of truth.
This is part of the ongoing blog series on Parenting.
