DiscipleBlog.com

Once upon a time, Christian parents asked their children after church, “What did you learn about God?” Today, the question is often, “Did you have fun?” Not too long ago, wanting to fully equip children to serve Christ, churches offered extensive Bible training for all ages. Today, wanting to keep kids happy and to make recruiting easy, many churches offer high-energy, entertainment-based programs. Children rarely use their Bibles.

What’s needed is a comprehensive children’s discipleship system that helps equip kids to reach their peak potential as Jesus’ disciples, a children’s church curriculum that partners with teachers and parents to transform children into dynamic disciples of Jesus Christ. Kids need to learn to Know God intimately, love God passionately, and to serve God selflessly.

Each Christmas, many pastors try to view the incarnation from a fresh perspective. The shepherds, the angels, the innkeeper, Mary, and Joseph all had unique vantage points from which to consider this amazing event. This year I have been thinking about the Heavenly Father’s perspective. When His Son was delivered from Mary’s womb, was He as excited as a human Dad? Did He eagerly hand out cigars to the heavenly host?

As a four-time father, I marveled at the birth of each child. When Meredith, our firstborn arrived (26 years ago), I was struck by an overwhelming sense of joy. I had never experienced such a profound upwelling in my soul.

Luke 2:14 hints that God felt incomparable joy when His Son came into the world. He was truly ecstatic! May we also reflect the Lord’s joy throughout this holiday season.

Warmest Christmas greetings to you-from the entire DiscipleLand team.

Mark Steiner

Just curious what you think – I hear a lot about “Spiritual Life Coaching” in the Church today.

How is that different from discipleship? Jesus said to “Go and make disciples” not “go and coach people spiritually.” I’m not saying spiritual coaching is ‘bad’ – just wondering where it fits in with discipleship?

Is spiritual coaching just a new “hip” word for disciple-making? In other words, are they actually the same thing, just a word our sports-crazy culture can understand? or…

Is spiritual coaching something that is a PART of disciple-making? Is it just that part where the discipler is giving tips or advice or a pep talk or teaching some life ‘plays’ from the ‘Play Book,’ the Bible? or…

Is spiritual coaching something completely separate from disciple-making?

Did Jesus coach?

What do YOU think?

Discipleship is often labeled a “spiritual” activity. Nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus Christ showed His followers that discipleship encompasses every aspect of life. This article emphasizes the importance of balancing kids’ growth in three essential areas.

First Century Parenting

Just for fun, put yourself in the sandals of Joseph or Mary, Jesus’ earthly parents. While raising a child who never lied, never talked back, never undermined their authority, and always obeyed—what unique challenges did they face? A solitary verse summarizes Joseph and Mary’s parenting efforts: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). However easy or difficult raising Jesus may have been, His parents achieved a remarkable balance with their remarkable Son. His formation progressed intellectually (wisdom), physically (stature), spiritually (favor with God), and relationally (favor with men). Read the rest of this entry »

In early August I attended the Association of Marriage and Family Ministries conference in Phoenix, AZ. I came away encouraged that there seemed to be the genesis of an awakening. More people appear to be aware of the need to help parents take responsibility for the discipling of their children. As I reflected on the things I had learned and the people I met, I realized that I met just a few Sr Pastors and fewer children’s pastors at the conference. The people who could be the most influential had other things to do.

About twenty weekends a year I do a parenting seminar in local churches. The same thing happens at every meeting; about 5%-10% of the parents in the church attend. Invariably those who attended have the same comment, “I sure wish all of our parents had been here. Do you have a  CD or DVD with this information?” And then, the person who worked diligently to encourage the parents to attend apologies for the small number of parents who made the meeting a priority. I can’t help but wonder if the parents in our churches see the spiritual nurturing of their children of any long-term value. Read the rest of this entry »

The Situation: Adults wonder, “Why are many children spoiled?” Children are selfish by nature. They enjoy the limelight. They like to receive gifts. They have learned to expect much from others. Children become so accustomed to having their needs met that they rarely think about serving others.

The Solution: Becoming a Christian is a selfish act. We need forgiveness-and Jesus Christ is the only source. Christian conduct, however, ought to reflect selflessness. Christians live as Christ lived-for others. We can freely give because Jesus has promised to meet our every need. In addition, the Holy Spirit empowers us and distributes spiritual gifts for us to serve others. Read the rest of this entry »

DiscipleBlog.com welcomes guest blogger Tony Kummer from www.ministry-to-children.com

Bible reading is one of the most important activities you can do with children. I believe that every Sunday school session, family devotion and children’s church meeting should include a time of Bible reading.

Since the Bible is God’s Word, we should do our best to listen to it.

The Big Problem: Can Kids Understand?

Children become discouraged when they don’t understand. Most kids experience a knowledge gap when the Bible is read aloud. Sometimes it’s the vocabulary, sometimes it’s the concepts, and sometimes it’s just the way the text is read.

Let’s be honest – Most children have a hard time comprehending the Bible when it is read aloud. Every week in church, many children are only learning to check out mentally while God’s Word is read.

Don’t give up. I believe that all of this can be overcome, and children can learn to appreciate the public reading of the scriptures. The benefits are much bigger than the challenges. Read the rest of this entry »

We just had KidzTurn here at McArthur for 4 days and while they were here I hung out at Starbucks with Sam Lussier a couple days. Same and I got to talking about the great technology stuff out there which lead us to talking about iPhones. Here is a piece of technology along with many other types of Smart Phones where the technology has grown super fast but it tends to be handicapped.

Why? Because of battery technology.

Yes, see while people have developed the smart phones by making them more powerful, smaller, more tricks, fancier designs and the list goes on and on, the batteries that power these wonderful tools, gadgets, toys, life lines, electronic leashes whatever you may call them have not kept up with the same pace. Actually in many ways battery technology has not developed a lot in comparison to the smart phones they power since they hit the market powering the first cell phone.

This made me start thinking, how many of us in ministry, in our careers etc. have added some great external tools, skills, schooling, paychecks, homes, cars and so forth but our “Battery” (our inner life, our walk with God) has not kept up. We are walking iPhones with the looks and abilities of a 1000 people but we are only able to truly last for a few hours a day or a year or two where we are in our job because our battery keeps given out. Families falling apart, divorces taking place, infidelity, unfaithfulness, confusion, sicknesses, and I am sure you can fill the blank with even more ways than what i have mentioned here. Read the rest of this entry »

Last week (Aug 3-7) I attended the Association of Marriage and Family Ministries conference in very hot Phoenix. I came away with renewed hope for today’s parents. There are several key people in the association who are champions for kids and parents. Each one has a ministry that provides resources as well as encouragement for churches and parents. I was also delighted to meet a few senior pastors who are catching a vision for helping parents learn how to take responsibility for the spiritual development of their children. I hope this is the beginning of a turn-around in our churches.

This is part 9 in a 12 part Series on D.I.S.C.I.P.L.E.S.H.I.P. – Twelve Tips to help you become a more effective discipler of children.

Discipleship is not an event… it is a process, and in the context of discipling people, it is important to view it in terms of relationship not as a project. Read the rest of this entry »