A FRESH START: The Goal of Family Discipleship

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9

If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time!  What should be our goal in teaching children in the home and at the church house?  As parents and teachers, we are to shepherd a child’s heart.  The Jews were taught this in the Shema—this core text in Hebrew life—from Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

We disciple children by doing three things.

First, we are to speak A CONVINCING WORD ABOUT GOD. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (v.4-5‬). Our instruction is to lead children to know about God and based on what they know—to love Him.  Our aim is not just nice behavior (which is merely external), but genuine belief (which is internal). Rules alone will bring conformity that can quickly be discarded in adulthood, but teaching children to know and love God results in transformation that is abiding.  The bullseye of our target in teaching is not just conduct, but conversion.

Second, we are to show A CONSECRATED WALK WITH GOD.  “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.” (v.6‬). As vital as the doctrine we speak is, it is only believable in the devotion we show. “Do what I say and not what I do,” is a formula for parental disaster. Our children should see a life committed to the study of God in His Word and a life consecrated to the love of God in our walk. Adults are meant to shine the light of God’s truth on children and be the salt that makes them thirsty for a personal love relationship with Him.

Third, we are to seek A CONSISTENT WITNESS FOR GOD. “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (v.7-9‬). Children need more doctrine and devotion than a couple of hours on a Sunday morning at the church house. They need a consistent witness throughout the day, every day. From the moment they rise in the morning until they are tucked in at night, their heart needs to be shepherded. Obviously, the pastor cannot be around to do that.  It is the task of parents.

Are we trying to raise nice boys and girls for our family reputation or believing disciples for God’s glory?