Where Disciple-Making Begins (part I)

Go . . . make disciples. - Mathew 28:19

They walked in, anonymously mixing with the Temple crowd.  What was so special about one more couple bringing their baby for the commanded visit?  Mary and Joseph were probably just as nervous as you were your first time out in public with a newborn.  Still learning about the cries and the needs of the baby who had changed every routine of their lives, they were no doubt more focused on the baby than anything else.

They had been taught about the importance of this visit.  They had witnessed other parents making their first family trip to God's house.  Now it was their turn.  Pride tumbled with wonder.  Joy wrestled with fear.  They were to raise this child for God.  The only way to begin was with obedience.

The timeless truth about this visit is that it would have been the same no matter who the baby or parents were.  It reminds us that God believes in families.  It tells us that if Jesus' parents needed to keep this appointment with God's command, we can do no less.

For Christians, parenting is about more than just raising good kids.  It's about raising God's children God's way.  It's about keeping trust with God and His Word.  From the beginning of time, God demonstrated His belief that the family is the best place to learn about Him and how to live in His world.

While good parenting skills and church involvement are critical, they are not a substitute for godly nurture and teaching at home.  Christian parents need to do more than raise good kids who go to church.  They need to raise disciples who want to follow Jesus as long as they live.

Discipleship isn't something you can add to life like a special trip. Discipleship becomes the life of any follower of Jesus.  To raise a generation of disciples who will continue to change their world with the transforming message of the gospel requires parents and others who themselves are making this same commitment.

The story of Legion in the New Testament demonstrates the importance Jesus places on home and family.  Legion was the lunatic who lived in the caves.  The transforming call of Jesus sent his demons packing and gave Legion his right mind back.  Legion understood this as nothing short of a miracle.  Of course, he wanted to follow the Miracle Worker.  He was ready to get in the boat and leave everything, just as the Twelve who traveled with Jesus had done. "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you" (Mark 5:19).

Parents don't have to guess where their disciple-making mission takes place.  It's at home with their children.  Home should be where children expect to hear the salvation stories of their parents.  It should be the place where words about God and the actions and attitudes of our lives deliver the same message.  Home is where we learn how to be disciple-makers.

However, God doesn't dump this discipleship responsibility into the lap of parents without support.   Nor does He want a child without Christian parents to be like the seed that dies for lack of a nurturing context.  He expects the faith community to be an integral part of discipling His children.  God knows that it will take more than parents and extended family to raise a lifelong follower of Christ.  It will take every pastor, every teacher, and every volunteer who intersects a child's  life.  It will take a focused, consistent, and ongoing approach from every Christian who has influence with children.  No one is exempt in the discipling process.

When Jesus delivered His last verbal instructions before His ascension, He said, "Make disciples" (Matthew 28:19).  It wasn't a suggestion for us to vote on or an idea to consider.  Jesus had already given His life for this one-on-one approach.  He empowered the Eleven with His plan for making disciples"  "Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you" (Matthew 28:20, NLT).

Think about children as fledgling followers.  Think about their eagerness for adventure, their innocent trust, their boundless energy.  Think about channeling everything that childhood offers with the goal of growing disciples.  What would happen if innocent trust keeps growing?  What would happen if energy fuels mission?  What would happen if the adventure of following Jesus never waned?  They would not only change their world-they would change ours as well.

All followers of Jesus receive the same instructions-parents, friends, family, ministry volunteers, and pastoral staff.  Anyone who touches a child's life is on call for Jesus to use as a disciple-maker.

However, it takes a disciple to make a disciple.  It takes those who have made following Jesus a daily commitment to lead someone else along the same road.  That's where it gets up-close and personal.  That's where those who work with children must examine their own lives as disciples and ask some serious questions.

• What happens if children follow Jesus in the same way I do?
• Am I willing to be transparent about my own journey as a disciple of Jesus?
• Where do I substitute knowledge for relationship?

Taken from Raising Kids to Extraordinary Faith, by Debbie Salter Goodwin © 2008 by Debbie Salter Goodwin and Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, Kansas City, MO.  Used by permission of Publisher.  All rights reserved.  Visit our website at www.beaconhillbooks.com to purchase this title.