Citizens of God’s kingdom take very seriously their call to disciple and share their lives with children. It’s a high priority for us as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, coaches, mentors, and friends.
Below we share a book review and recommendation. It’s a book for adults hoping to develop intentional rhythms of discipling young people.
(Please note that this is not an endorsement from GCI of the book or the author’s views.)
Recently, I attended a gathering with a group of church leaders. One person described her experience growing up in the Church. Her parents had a strong impact on her life because they regularly talked to her about Jesus, church life, and their relationship with God.
It reminded me of how important parenting is in the disciple making life of a Christian. I recently read a book by David Sunde, Homegrown Disciple: Parenting Rhythms for Drawing Your Kids into Life with God, which I found instructive on this aspect.
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on you 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. Deuteronomy 6:6-7
At the conclusion of each chapter, the author gives very practical ideas on how a parent can enact the principles found in the above passage. These times are “teachable moments — or windows of time — woven into each day: dinnertime, travel time, bedtime, and morning time” (p. 9).
The author points to the relational way Jesus discipled a few to reach the many. “Most of Jesus’ recorded ministry was not in a classroom or even indoors. It was outside and part of daily life” (p. 11).
Sunde compares disciple making with sharing:
If you’ve been in a Christian context for a while, you likely already know that disciplemaking involves learning to share what you already have with the people around you. It’s learning to talk about the difference Christ is making in you, animating the life of Christ. To animate is to incarnate. Just as God took on flesh and blood to live among us in sending His Son, we also can become the tangible presence of Christ in how we influence others. We tend to think about disciplemaking as helping other adult believers grow in their faith, which is one accurate definition of the term. But we can also apply the disciplemaking paradigm to the role of a parent or guardian. In fact, parenting is the quintessential relationship for spiritually reproducing a living faith. (p. 2)
As parents and grandparents, we are to be living and sharing the gospel of Jesus. We can have such a positive influence on those closest to us. The author discusses the rhythms of disciple making with one chapter on each of the following rhythms: apprenticing, renewal, hospitality, community, compassion, generosity, and gratitude.
The book highlights various aspects of our Christian life and how we can live and share this life in a positive way — not only with family members, but within our communities. There are lots of practical ideas that can stimulate our thinking of how we can apply those principles in our unique situations. Perhaps you too will find it helpful and inspiring as you disciple the young people in your life.
Bob Regazzoli
Brisbane, Australia
