During my time as a youth minister, I noticed that we were more of a babysitting program than a ministry. Parents were leaving their students with us while they went out to grab coffee and catch up. I knew something needed to change.
The Lord led me to Deuteronomy 6:7 (NIV).
“Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
The Lord describes and defines His perfect plan for discipleship. He says, “Impress them on your children.”
The New International Version translates the first word of Deuteronomy 6:7 as “impress.” In Hebrew, the root word means “to teach and to sharpen.” God is telling parents to teach their children His Word and intentionally sharpen them with Scripture for life’s challenges.
As the primary disciple-makers, the Lord has given parents the privilege and responsibility to intentionally engage their children daily with God’s Word.
After He tells us to “impress” His Word into the lives of our children, God gives definition to what He described. He says “…when you sit…walk…lie down…and get up.”
As the primary disciple-makers, the Lord has given parents the privilege and responsibility to intentionally engage their children daily with God’s Word.
What if we did as Moses instructed and equipped busy families to set aside time, even if only once a day, to intentionally engage with their children? Do you think that would build their confidence as disciple-makers in their home?
You may be thinking, “Change is hard. Besides, things worked out okay for the Israelites, right?”
When you look deep into Israel’s history, you find that after they entered the Promised Land they forgot the Lord. Judges 2:10 says, “And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that He had done for Israel.”
The Israelites did not tell their children about God and what He had done. They were too busy. Moses warned them, even in their busyness, not to forget God and what He had done.
“… when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (Deuteronomy 6:10-12).
Our culture is based on being in constant motion. Are we any different?
Change can be very difficult. However, if we are going to disciple our children, it’s time to change the scorecard and rethink the win of discipleship.
If you need a place to start, check out “Faith Talk Family Devotions,” a resource from the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s Faith at Home ministry, that provides 24 fun, easy-to-use devotions as you “sit at home,” “go down the road,” “lie down” and “get up.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was taken from content presented in the Scorecard online training that is provided by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
24 fun and easy to use devotions
Email [email protected] or call (800) 395-5102, ext. 5646 for more information.
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Email [email protected] or call (800) 395-5102, ext. 5646
