Nine Steps to Disciple Your Children in the Home

How can parents effectively disciple their children, leading them to full devotion to Jesus Christ?

1) Embrace your role.  To be effective, you must be convicted that it is your responsibility to disciple your kids.  That this task cannot be delegated.  You can employ the help of the church, but you must not rely on the church.  I have heard two of the most popular pastors in America admit that they never have family devotions with their children -- without shame or regret.  This is a sin.  A dereliction of duty.  You must disciple your children at home. 

2) Pick a time.  Choose the day and time for family devotions (we call it Bible Time in my house).  For me, it is Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, right after dinner.  Don't just try to do Bible Time during your spare time.  You must make an appointment.  And then make a personal commitment to keep your appointment with your children.  Consistency is key.

3) Choose a curriculum.  When your kids are very young, the best curriculum is a Bible storybook.  There are an abundance of Bible storybooks on the market.  Kenneth Taylor, the author the Living Bible, has written a number of great Bible storybooks.  Another great book for young children is Leading Little Ones to God, by Mariam Schoolland.  I also recommend my own Home Discipleship Catechism.  As your children get older, the best curriculum may be simply reading the Bible together, one or two chapters at a time, and then discussing it.

4) Lead your children to be actively involved in church.  Even though it is your responsibility to disciple your children, you can't do it alone.  You need the support of a church family.  A church will give your child Christian friendships, godly role models, practical teaching, opportunities for worship, service, and giving, and much more.  If you do not have a church home, I invite you to Church Acadiana, where it is our vision to equip parents to disciple their children.  Get your child to church on Sundays.  Let them serve with you in a ministry.  Bring them with you to Home Group.  Teach them to tithe.

5) Set a godly example.  Christianity is caught, not just taught.  Your kids will be profoundly impacted by your example.  What kind of example are you setting?  Be the kind of Christian you want your children to be.  Let your example match your exhortation.

6) Teach them private spiritual disciplines.  Teach your child to have a daily appointment with God -- a quiet time.  Help them develop the habit of spending the first thirty minutes to an hour of the day alone with God, in prayer, Bible reading, and journaling for reflection.  Before Lydia and the kids begin the school day, everyone gathers together for prayer, and then they each find a corner of the house for a thirty-minute quiet time.

7) Protect them from ungodly influences.  Bad company corrupts good character.  Evil influences at school, in the neighborhood, on TV, on the team, on social media, in music, and in books can undo all the work that you've done.  I recently read a book by a pastor who was speaking negatively about home schooling because he said Christian kids should be sent to public school as missionaries.  He has good intentions, but bad thinking.  Should our kids join street gangs so they can reach the hoodlums?  Should we send our kids to the Muslim schools to reach the Muslim kids?  Should we let our kids hang out on Instagram and Snapchat as missionaries?  Several pastors have gotten caught hanging out in strip clubs.  Maybe they were just there as missionaries.

8) Beware of presumption.  Don't think that your kids will become Christians just because you are a Christian.  Don't think that your kids will turn out well just because you mean well.  Don't think that your kids will stay engaged in church when they grow up just because you drag them to church as kids.  Don't think that your kids are saved just because they prayed a prayer and got baptized.  Don't think your kids are born again just because they are well-behaved and make good grades.  You need to know your kids.  You need to watch them closely.  You need to look at their heart-orientation.  Listen to their conversation.  Look closely for the fruit of the Spirit.  Ask them often about the state of their heart; about their relationship with God.

9) Apply both discipline and instruction.  "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph 6:4, ESV)."  Teaching your kids the Bible and bringing them to church is not enough.  They need diligent instruction and discipline.  Instruction is teaching your children what to believe and how to behave.  Discipline is correcting them when they go wrong with verbal rebukes and the rod.

May God use you to lead your kids to become lifetime followers of Jesus Christ.