I will just jump straight in; the answer is YES! Think this out with me...what are some of the most important things we teach our children?
- Sharing
- No hitting
- Patience
- No yelling
- Be polite
- Show care for others,
- Work Ethic
How many times a week do you have to address these topics with your kids? So many more than 1x a week. That's the thing, even if you had perfect church attendance your children could only attend Sunday School 1x a week, maybe 2x with a Wednesday night added in. The truth is our children need us to help them build a foundation in faith that is sturdy enough for them to pile on every problem, celebration, accomplishment, set-back, and challenge they encounter in their entire life. It takes more than church. This is up to us, parents!
In this interview with my good friend, Amanda, she and I dive into the basic reasons to disciple our kids. How do we do it? What are we looking for? How do we know if our efforts are working? Amanda and her husband live in north Georgia with their 4 beautiful children. The oldest started a hybrid homeschool program last year and the other 3 range down in age to her newborn! She is a wonderful woman of faith, an encourager to her friends, and a calm wealth of wisdom in motherhood. Grab a cup of coffee and a cozy blanket; snuggle up and dive into what Amanda had to share.
Q1: Why should we disciple our kids? Isn't that what Sunday school and church camp is for?
A1: Discipleship of my children is one of the greatest privileges I have as a parent. God has entrusted these tiny beautiful little souls to my husband and me. We are the primary influence on their developing worldview and are in a unique position to teach and, most importantly, live the gospel out in front of them day by day. In Deuteronomy chapter six, we are called to teach our children about the Lord and his ways when we are at home, on the road, going to bed and getting up (Deuteronomy 6:7).
Q2: How did you learn to disciple your children? What does that mean to you?
A2: It has been a lot of learning as I go. Since each child is so different and their needs vary, I have often sought the Lord on how to proceed with each child and the various issues that come up along the way. I find myself in prayer often. I think the most important thing I can be doing as a parent is being in God's Word, so that His ways are on my mind and taking effect in my life first. I am their primary example of a Christ follower and they learn a lot through how I live my life on a daily basis. It's a great joy to be a central part of their growing relationship with the one who loves them beyond measure.
Q3. What are some practical ways you disciple your kids at home?
A3: We utilize a children's Bible, catechism questions, daily devotions, and Christian school curriculum (much like Pitter Patter Disciples).
Q4. Are there any specific stories you can share where you have seen the fruit of discipleship in your children?
A3: One discipleship opportunity that comes up often is teaching our children to treat others the way they would like to be treated. This usually happens when one child wants to play with a sibling’s toy. It usually begins with an argument, followed by a request for me to step in as the referee. We talk about how they would want their siblings to treat them if the situation were reversed. Would they want their sibling to share a new toy with them? When they say yes, we discuss how they can show that same kindness and generosity to others—treating others as they would like to be treated. They are usually able to see the value and share well...sometimes.
Q5. Is there pressure to bring our kids to Christ? What is the end result you are looking for, or how do you mark success in this category of parenting?
A5: I don’t feel pressure to bring my children to a moment of conversion right now. Instead, I see my role as shaping their understanding of God so they can recognize how wonderful He truly is, develop a deep connection with Him, and ultimately enter into a genuine lifelong relationship with Him.Of course, a prayer of salvation would come as they begin to understand what it means to be a Christian, but I don’t want them simply to repeat a prayer. I want them to understand what it means and what a profound honor it is to give everything to the One who gave everything for us.My goal is for their lives to revolve around God and His ways and to be built on a solid foundation. No matter what life brings, I want them to have the tools to recognize God’s presence and respond in light of His Word. I want the knowledge of God to become the foundation of their worldview, with salvation flowing naturally from that understanding. Ultimately, I want my children to grasp the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice and willingly live each day for His glory—not merely out of a sense of obligation, but because they truly know and love Him.
Q6. Is there anything else you would like to share, or any encouragement you can give to parents?
A6: This season of life is exciting! We are given such a special role and it shouldn't be undervalued. God has entrusted us with this unique privilege, soak it up. Let the good times and the hard times shape our own hearts to be more like Jesus. As we grow closer to Him our own parenting will reflect His ways more and more.
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Thank you, Amanda! And to you, momma, I hope your coffee is still hot and you feel encouraged. At the very least, I pray you know you're not alone. Discipleship was not something that was talked about much when I was growing up. I had no idea how to truly teach my children that Jesus is in everything we do, and the reason we do anything is because of Him. Let's keep learning together.
Until next time, be blessed!
Lizzy
I would love to hear from you. Send me a message at heylizzy@pitterpatterdisciples.com or send me a note from the Pitter Patter Disciples webpage!