Discipleship at Home (Part 1 of 3)

Today on “Practical Faith,” we'll introduce a short new series on the topic of “Discipleship at Home.” The way we grow is by practice. Family devotions for us through the years have been full of trial-and-error, starts-and-stops, and starting back over again. It has not been perfect, but we have tried to remain intentional and consistent in practicing some form of family discipleship together throughout those years. The Lord has been gracious to us. Our kids have been patient with us :-) It’s messy and imperfect, but two steps forward and one step back is still forward progress – and practice makes progress!

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Today on “Practical Faith,” I’d like to introduce a short new series on the topic of “Discipleship at Home.”

Dianna and I married straight out of college – literally, 7 days after graduation!  We were 22 and 21 at the time.  Now, she grew up in a Christian home, but I did not.  I came to Christ through the example of my grandparents and them taking me to church with them, which was wonderful, but…

Even so, neither Dianna nor I had experienced anything like family devotions at home…

As a young husband, I had a vague sense of responsibility regarding the spiritual leadership of my home.  I had a general desire to “bring up my children in the Lord,” but really no idea of how to do it.  Dianna and I would pray together – sometimes.  We would read the Bible together – sporadically.

As young adults, we were both devoted followers of Jesus.  We were both trained disciple-makers working in full-time youth ministry.  We just didn’t have a clue how to conduct family discipleship at a practical level with each other and our own small children.

Then, one day, about 10 years into our marriage, I stumbled upon a mentor in family discipleship, and the course of our parenting and disciple-making at home transformed forever.

Dianna and I celebrated 21 years of marriage together in May!  And I would describe the spiritual leadership of our home over these past 21 years by using the word “practice.”

Do you know what doctor’s offices are called?  “Practices.”  These are the most highly-educated and well-trained people in our society, and their work is literally known as “practice!”  This gives me great hope as a follower of Jesus, and as a Christian called to provide spiritual leadership of myself and my home.  The way we grow is by practice.

Family devotions for us through the years have been full of trial-and-error, starts-and-stops, and starting back over again.  We’ve fumbled and stumbled our way through trying to provide meaningful spiritual leadership for our home.  We have adapted our approach to the changing ages of our children and the changing seasons of our family’s life together.  It has not been perfect, but we have tried to remain intentional and consistent in practicing some form of family discipleship together throughout those years.

The Lord has been gracious to us.  Our kids have been patient with us.  And, to date, I’m grateful and happy with the spiritual state of our home and our family’s spiritual life together.  It’s messy and imperfect, but two steps forward and one step back is still forward progress – and practice makes progress!

Small, consistent changes – over time – result in significant growth!

Deuteronomy 4:9 puts it this way: “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.  Make them known to your children and your children's children.”

We’ll pick up next time having this discussion on “Discipleship at Home,” and in the meantime, visit LikeTreesPlanted.com to access tons of free, practical resources for personal, family, or small group discipleship.