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Your children are going to formulate their ideas about the
Bible, God, man, and salvation from
somewhere. If you do
not teach your children biblical doctrine, they will be forced
to synthesize key ideas (about who God is and who they are) from
random bits of truth and falsehood they collect from church,
peers, teachers, and the media. [40]
Training involves discipline. The plain truth is that many
parents teach children to be disciplined students and
disciplined athletes, but when it comes to
spiritual disciplines,
the expectations are far lower and the emphasis greatly reduced.
[44]
Family discipleship is ultimately a commitment to be a disciple
yourself. You can’t teach your children what you don’t know. You
can’t model for your children what you are unwilling to do. You
have to count the cost and commit to equip yourself. [48]
You cannot disciple your
children beyond your own level of discipleship.
If you are not faithful to meditate on
the Scripture daily, you will not be able to train your children
to do so. If you do not model a life of intimate prayer, you
will not be able to teach your children how to pray. If you
never share the gospel outside the home, you will not be able to
teach your children how to share the gospel with their friends.
[56]
Your children will mirror your love for Christ, but they will
take it to the next level. If you demonstrate passion and
genuine commitment for Jesus, they will most likely follow after
Him harder and faster than you have. On the other hand, if they
sense an empty, religious, Sunday-only commitment to Christ,
they will chase after the things of this world with great zeal.
[92]
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