FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP
It is both the privilege and responsibility of parents to bring up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). One of the clearest pictures of this in the Bible is found in Deuteronomy 6:5–7
[5] You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. [6] And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. [7] You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Notice that the kind of teaching here is holistic: Verse 5 and 6 exhort parents to love God with everything. Verse 7 tells us that such a love for God and his commandments lead us to teach our children in both formal and informal settings. God’s word paints the picture of parents discipling kids in the everyday rhythms of life in hopes of seeing them grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Once we’re convinced of this as parents, another question arises: How do we do this? Every family has different dynamics, schedules, responsibilities, and ages of children. There is no cookie-cutter way of doing family discipleship, but there is a mountain of helpful resources that will help you disciple your children.
Whether you’re just getting started with intentional family discipleship, or you’ve been at it for a while and looking for new ways to grow in this area, you will find help here as you seek to diligently train up your kids.
Recommended Resources
Family Discipleship Guides (PDFs)
Family Discipleship: Helping Your Household Establish a Sustainable Rhythm of Time, Moments and Milestones from The Village Church
A Guide for Family Worship by Reid S. Monaghan
Bibles
The Gospel Story Bible by Marty Machowski
The Jesus Story Book Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones
Kids Books About The Gospel & Theology
Don’t Blame The Mud: Only Jesus Makes us Clean by Marty Machowski
Exploring The Bible: A Bible Reading Plan for Kids by David Murray
The Ology: Ancient Truths, Ever New by Marty Machowski
The Biggest Story: How The Snake Crusher Brings us Back to The Garden by Kevin DeYoung and Ryan Clark
Emblems of the Infinite King: Enter the Knowledge of the Living God by J. Ryan Lister and Anthony M. Benedetto
Catechisms
My First Book of Questions & Answers by Carine MacKenzie
Books For Parents
Family Worship by Donald Whitney
Parenting by Paul David Tripp
Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp
Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens by Paul David Tripp
Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick
The Disciple-Making Parent: A Comprehensive Guidebook for Raising Your Children to Love and Follow Jesus Christ by Chap Bettis
Podcasts for Kids
Bedtime Bible Stories in Bostonian! By Seven Mile Road Church - Melrose, MA
God’s Big Story Website by The Village Church
Podcasts For Parents
The Disciple-Making Parent with Chap Bettis
The Family Discipleship Podcast with Adam and Chelsea Griffin, and Cassie Bryant
Risen Motherhood with Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler