As a parent, you want to pass faith in Jesus onto the next generation and live out the gospel in a way that becomes irresistible to your children. The goal is for your kids to see you displaying Christ’s love so clearly that your example becomes the basis for family discipleship.
That can sound like a daunting task, so how do you practically disciple your family?
God gives us the answer through His Word.
When the Bible serves as the foundation of our lives, we can teach our children to live for Christ and make an eternal impact.
Depending on the Word of God
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” — John 1:14
You can trust the Word of God to be your guide as you disciple your family because it is trustworthy and timeless.
These attributes are part of God’s character and who He is. God is eternal and worthy of our trust. Therefore, take Him at His Word. Apply His Word when you disciple your family and live out His Word in your everyday life.
When you apply God’s word, His promises are evident in your life. Those promises include:
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self-control
The gospel becomes irresistible to your spouse, children, and other family members when you display the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
Why You Can Use God’s Word to Disciple Your Family
Times have changed in the last three decades. The culture has sought to redefine family, identity, and purpose. Despite what is happening in the world, the Word of God remains unchanged. God’s Word can change your life, but the Word itself will never change.
You can disciple your family using the Word of God because it is trustworthy.
- “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” —Matthew 24:35
- “For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.”—Malachi 3:6
- “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” —Numbers 23:19
- “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” —Isaiah 40:8
You can disciple your family using the Word of God because it is applicable today.
- “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” —Hebrews 4:12
- “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:16-17
5 Ways to Disciple Your Family
- Family discipleship is not just about what you say. It’s more about what you do.
“But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” —1 John 2:5-6
Kids tend to replicate and repeat what their parents do more than what they say. They pay attention to how mom handles stress or how dad responds under pressure. They see how parents love each other, spend their time, and care for others.
This doesn’t mean you can never get stressed or overwhelmed. Instead, when you do, you can reveal to your kids what it looks like to glorify God and make the gospel irresistible through trials and tough times.
- Do you get down on your knees in prayer?
- Do you open the Word?
- Do you speak words of life or words of death?
- Do you complain or praise?
When your kids see how you trade anxieties for the peace of God in day-to-day trials, you disciple your family in a powerful way. You become living proof of a loving God to watching children.
- Family discipleship is about being moved with compassion.
“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” —Matthew 9:36
Jesus was moved with compassion. Our kids and families are moved by compassion.
The word “compassion” in Matthew 9:36 means “pity” in Greek. Jesus felt pity for them, not because they were sick or needy, but because they were “weary and scattered.” They were like sheep without a shepherd. In other words, they had no leader to show them the irresistible good news of Jesus’ coming Kingdom.
They had poor leadership that for far too long had pointed them to rituals and traditions instead of to God Himself. As a result, they didn’t recognize God’s only Son when He was standing before them.
As you disciple your family, show them Jesus. Times when your children are troubled, discouraged, and weary are opportunities to shepherd them and point them to Jesus and His promises.
To lead with compassion:
- Remind your kids that this life is passing.
- Empathize and pray with and for your kids.
- Tell your kids about how Jesus transformed your weary and scattered life.
- Resist the urge to judge.
- Family discipleship is about being a city set on a hill.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” —Matthew 5:14-16
Disciple your family by pouring into them. Listen to and give them your undivided attention. Speak of God’s glory as you do “good works.”
Jesus said we are to be the “light of the world.” The world is a dark place. When you do “good works,” it is to glorify God. Hypocrites can do good works, too. However, as a Christ-follower with a heart to disciple your family, your good works demonstrate a spiritual change and are a light to the world.
Be humble, merciful, and peaceful.
Ask yourself:
- Do I display humility?
- Am I meek and merciful?
- Do I hunger and thirst for righteousness?
- Do I seek peace?
When the qualities in the Beatitudes (mentioned just before Jesus talks about being a city on a hill) shine forth from you, you become that city on a hill. The light will multiply and pour into your kids, who will then be able to disciple others.
- It’s about focusing on the fundamentals of faith.
“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”—1 Corinthians 2:2
When you disciple your family and kids, prioritize the basics of faith. Focus on the life of Jesus and tell stories that teach your family and a watching world to respect Him.
When you read in the Bible about the early church, you see them…
- Meeting whenever and wherever they could
- Studying God’s Word together
- Fellowshipping and praying
- Remembering Jesus’ death and resurrection
Everything they did came from these basic things. Many of us understand the basics, yet we get distracted and don’t live them out. As a result, our kids and families see inconsistencies and not Jesus.
- It’s about grace andtruth, not grace or
“And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified…So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word.” — John 4:39-41
You have a sphere of influence that no one else in the world has — your family. As you disciple your family, think about and pray for God to use you to equip them to impact their spheres of influence. You have an opportunity to help them navigate difficult tensions in today’s society, and in turn, those you share the Gospel with can share it with others.
Share the irresistible gospel as Jesus did with the woman at the well. Instead of rejecting her because of her sin, He was filled with compassion while also pointing out the reality of her sin. But He didn’t leave her there. The Spirit moved in her heart, and Jesus told her the good news of what was to come.
What did she do in response?
- She went into the city.
- She testified about who Jesus was.
- She encouraged others to come and see Jesus.
As a result of Jesus speaking grace and truth, she became a light to others—those in her sphere of influence. Jesus didn’t choose grace or truth; He was full of grace and truth.
Takeaway
As you disciple your family, seek answers from the Word of God, pray, focus on Jesus, and use every opportunity to testify to who He is. In the process, you will make the gospel irresistible to your children. For more practical training on family discipleship, join the 7-week Castles Family Discipleship program that explores God’s design for the family.