Family disciple-making is where parents, as the primary spiritual leaders, devote themselves to modeling and guiding their children toward loving and following Jesus. It’s parents longing to see the Gospel take root and flourish in the lives of their children. There are countless things vying for your time and attention – your jobs, friends, social media, sports, gaming, recreation, your stuff and even ministry. But the Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 that the value and importance of parenting goes to the heart of what God has designed every human being to know and to be.
We at Grace Church are committed to partnering with you: parents, caregivers, and guardians as you make disciples in your home – as you spiritually lead your families to faith in Jesus. We have provided this Family Disciple-Making online resource to help you establish faith formation routines at home, and incorporating simple practices and rhythms into the fabric of family life.
For more information, email us HERE.
“We Are Fully Committed to Kids and Students”
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
WHERE DO I START?
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Our hope is for parents and children to have a deep and abiding love relationship with Jesus leading to a growing, resilient, and lasting faith.
The Word: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16
- Purchase Study Bibles: ESV or NIV are two good options.
- You Version App: Choose a daily reading plan.
- Children/Student Bibles
Read the word together everyday.
The Gospel: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” 1 Peter 3:15
- Parents are to impress the truths about God by modeling and showing how He relates to daily living. This is a call to be wise and thoughtful about how the Gospel distinctively influences our decisions and priorities. Take advantage of normal, everyday occurrences to bring the things of God, the Gospel, to life in your home and in your children. Blow your kids away with the incredible love, mercy and grace of God alive in you.
Pray and Worship
It is in the context of a loving faith community that we can collaboratively disciple kids to know, believe and love Jesus as we collectively follow Him. In these relationships we model and express the “one another’s” of scripture. Life groups resemble families (Acts 2:42) – the Bible uses family language such as brothers and sisters in Christ and God as our Father to describe our relationships.
We aren’t meant to parent alone. We belong to the family of God! He has provided the body of Christ as an expression of his grace toward us as we parent. Ask a couple in your group who is ahead of you in family stage to mentor you. It’s also a great place for your children to develop biblical friendships to follow Jesus together. If you’re not in a life group, we can help you connect to one here!
Begin with Parent Commissioning:
As parents, many things are vying for your attention, but the most important thing you could do for your child is to introduce them to Jesus and teach them to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Parent Commissioning is a way to make this commitment public, while asking your family, friends, and church family to come alongside as you do. LEARN MORE HERE
Take an Equipping Division Course:
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- What Is the Bible?
- What Do Christians Believe?
- Discipleship and Disciple-Making: Following Jesus in the 21st Century (Family Emphasis)
RESOURCES
With all the resources available to us today, it’s confusing as a parent to know where to start or what is reliable. We offer a few suggestions below to get started and every couple of months we will add new ones. So, be sure to check back to this page soon!
BOOKS
Gospel by JD Greear
Could the Gospel be lost in evangelical churches? In this book, J.D. Greear shows how moralism and legalism have often eclipsed the Gospel, even in conservative churches. Gospel cuts through the superficiality of religion and reacquaints you with the revolutionary truth of God’s gracious acceptance of us in Christ. The Gospel is the power of God, and the only true source of joy, freedom, radical generosity, and audacious faith. The Gospel produces in us what religion never could: a heart that desires God.
The book’s core is a “Gospel Prayer” by which you can saturate yourself in the Gospel daily. Dwelling on the Gospel will release in you new depths of passion for God and take you to new heights of obedience to Him.
Parenting by Paul David Tripp
In Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family, author Paul David Tripp explores 14 practical and Gospel-centered principles that will help parents see their role through the lens of God’s Word and change the way they interact with their children. Principles include grace, identity, lies, authority, foolishness, and character.
Faith for Exiles: 5 Ways for a New Generation to Follow Jesus in Digital Babylon by Kinnaman & Matlock
Faith for Exiles reveals findings from a groundbreaking three-year research study of young Christians whose faith remains resilient even in exile. Barna president David Kinnaman teams up with former executive director of Youth Specialties Mark Matlock to help you:
- Make sense of chaotic cultural changes and respond with compassion to the next generation of believers
- Recognize the biblical concept of exile as an essential framework for following Christ today
- Discover five research-based practices that cultivate faithfulness in digital Babylon
- Prepare young Christians to be on mission with Jesus in the world
- Empower Jesus followers of all ages to thrive in our current exile
Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms by Earley & Simons
In Habits of the Household, Earley gives you the tools you need to create structure–from mealtimes to bedtimes–that free you to parent toddlers, kids, and teens with purpose. Learn how to:
- Develop a bedtime liturgy to settle your little ones and ground them in God’s love
- Discover a new framework for discipline as discipleship
- Acquire simple practices for more regular and meaningful family mealtimes
- Open your eyes to the spirituality of parenting, seeing small moments as big opportunities for spiritual formation
- Develop a custom age chart for your family to more intentionally plan your shared years under the same roof
Each chapter in Habits of the Household ends with practical patterns, prayers, or liturgies that your family can put into practice right away.
Talking with Your Kids About Jesus: 30 Conversations Every Christian Parent Must Have by Natasha Crain
You already know the world is becoming an increasingly secular place that will undoubtedly challenge your child’s faith in Jesus. But do you know specifically what those faith challenges are, how to effectively talk with your child about them, and what that means for you as a Christian parent on a day-to-day basis?
If your answer is “no,” you’re not alone. Many Christian parents feel the same.
But here’s the good news: Talking with Your Kids About Jesus will give you the confidence you need to have the conversations that matter most in today’s skeptical world. In a friendly, parent-to-parent voice, Natasha Crain will walk you through essential topics on Jesus’s identity, teachings, death, and resurrection. Each chapter clearly explains what skeptics are saying and provides a concise, easy-to-understand response you can discuss with your child (one that can be tailored for any age).
The New City Catechism book & devotional by Kathy Leller
“A beautifully written, gospel-focused guide to Christian life and doctrine.” ―Russell Moore, President, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Throughout the history of the church, Christians have used catechisms―collections of questions and answers designed for memorization and recitation―to teach others the core doctrines of the faith. The New City Catechism is a modern-day resource aimed at reintroducing this ancient method of teaching to Christians today.
This short book lays out 52 questions and answers related to God, human nature, sin, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and more. Whether used devotionally, recited orally, or memorized over the course of a year, families, churches, small groups, and Christian schools will treasure this as a valuable tool for teaching the core doctrines of the Christian faith to children and adults alike.
Published in partnership with the Gospel Coalition.
The Intentional Father by Jon Tyson
Self-initiation is killing our young men. Without strong mentors, boys are walking alone into a wilderness of conflicting messages about who they should be as men. It’s no wonder that our sons are confused about what the world expects from them and what they should expect of themselves.
The Intentional Father is the antidote. This concise book is filled with practical steps to help men raise sons of consequence–young men who know what they believe, know who they are, and will stand up against the negative cultural trends of our day. Jon Tyson lays out a clear path for fathers and sons that includes specific activities, rites of passage, and significant “marking moments” that can be customized to fit any family.
It’s not enough to hope our sons will become good men. We need them to be good at being men. This book shows how fathers, grandfathers, and other male mentors can lead the way.
BIBLES & DEVOTIONALS
The Jesus Storybook Bible Ages 2-8
The Adventure Bible, NIrV Ages 8-12
Tyndale NLT or NIV Teen Life Application Study Bible
God’s Wonders Devotional Kit
(Note: this is available to be picked up in the PK check in area)
Jesus Storybook Reading Plan
(Note: this is available to be picked up in the PK check in area)
The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions by Tim Shoemaker
In Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family, author Paul David Tripp explores 14 practical and Gospel-centered principles that will help parents see their role through the lens of God’s Word and change the way they interact with their children. Principles include grace, identity, lies, authority, foolishness, and character.
One Year Devotions for Preschoolers by Crystal Bowman
A full year of easy-to-understand devotions, paired with adorable Little Blessings illustrations, will help your preschooler know and love Jesus each day of the year.
- 365 easy-to-understand devotions
- Adorable illustrations on every page
- Each reading includes a Bible verse and a rhyming prayer
- Perfect for bedtime reading
- Makes a great gift for toddlers and children ages 3-6!
Your preschooler will join Kaitlyn, Zoe, Parker, and Jack―and together they will learn to walk with God in everything they do.
Watch your young children grow in their understanding of God as you meet with Him together using this One Year devotional. Each reading includes a Little Blessings illustration with a short Bible verse and devotional thought that gets you and your child talking about the simple truths of Scripture. A fun, rhyming prayer completes each devotional.
A great way to get young children interacting with Scripture daily.
