Get Started with Family Discipleship

There is an important and God-ordained role for the wider body of Christ (the church) in biblical instruction, but parents have the primary responsibility and the greatest opportunity to influence their children’s spiritual development.

While there are exceptions, God often brings children to faith through believing parents who faithfully disciple them. 

As you begin—or continue—this sacred calling, may the Lord give you grace, confidence, and hope in discipling the next generation to set their hope in God.

Develop discipleship patterns

By God's grace, commit to these discipleship patterns:

  • Modeling: Walk before your children as a daily example of hoping in God, finding joy in Christ, and depending on the Spirit.
  • Family Discipleship Moments: Use everyday “along the way” (Deut 6:7) opportunities for gospel-centered conversations. 
  • Family Worship: Regularly read the Bible, pray, and sing together as a family.
  • Corporate Worship: Regularly gather as a family for preaching and teaching, worship, and fellowship with the local church.
  • Bible Study & Memorization: Introduce children to the breadth and depth of the Bible and help them hide it in their hearts through Scripture memory. 
  • Gospel Proclamation: Beginning early, present the key essential truths of the gospel and repeat and explain them with increasing depth.
  • Prayer: Pray in dependence on God’s sovereign grace for the faith of your children and teach your children to pray.

Find resources below for growing in these discipleship patterns

Focus your discipleship by age

A plan for applying family discipleship patterns in every stage of childhood

SEE PLAN

Resources for family discipleship

Guides for parents, devotionals, Bible memory resources, and more.

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