Ministry Theory

"Our kids come from a family system that is more influential than our Bible studies."- Jim Burns

This statement should be our lightning rod, our starting point, our catalyst. It should be our battle-cry, our rallying point. It should be the point from which we do ministry.

In Deuteronomy 6:4-9, God gives Moses the key to the younger generations remaining in the faith. Check it:

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 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 upon your hearts"

This is what we must believe, it's our starting point. It's what we are to do.

"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."

Notice what it does not say. It does not say, "Take them to church and let them do the heavy lifting."

God is making the assumption that, as parents, as CHRISTIAN parents, we will love God with all our heart, soul and strength. A natural outflow of this will be the training (discipleship) of our children.

When we are at home, watching tv, playing cards, or HALO. When we are driving them to school, the park, a sporting event. When they go to bed at night, we are to pray with them. When they get up in the morning, we are to pray before our meals. God-talk should permeate our conversations and activities. My question is this: does it?

This is such a struggle in our home. There, I said it. We do not do this as often as we should.

Go back to the beginning.

"Our kids come from a family system that is more influential than our Bible studies."- Jim Burns

What if...

...we spent time as a ministry discipling and equipping parents for ministry?

...we gave parents the tools to disciple their own children?

...weekly we had conversations, sometimes encouraging, sometimes uncomfortable, about how we were doing in the discipleship?

I wonder...do we have the courage to try?