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.)

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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

The Sun Valley congregation, in California, US, held a special service to honor their children when they graduated. They were blessed and celebrated by the entire congregation. It was a wonderful way to show the children that they are valued and held as a high priority in the church family.

Now it’s back-to-school season for our congregations in the Northern Hemisphere. So, these rising first graders, rising sixth graders (middle school), and rising freshman (high school) in Sun Valley are headed back into the classroom, with all its joys and challenges.

See the portraits of the graduates below. Thank you, Brenda Benitez, for your devoted service to the Kids Ministry and for sharing this story so our Update readers can celebrate with Sun Valley.

Join us in praying for the children in Sun Valley and for all the children in our lives, as they go back to school. Do you have an intentional prayer practice for the children in your life? How will you demonstrate your love for them as they return to school?

(In Southern Hemisphere countries, the school year typically runs from February or March to November or December.)

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Leya
Kindergarten Graduation

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Mia
Kindergarten Graduation

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Ariana
Primary School Graduation

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Ashlin
Primary School Graduation

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Jimena
Primary School Graduation

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Matteo
Primary School Graduation

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Grayvin
Middle School Graduation

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Sergio
Middle School Graduation

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The kingdom of God is the only reality out of which the Blessed Trinity has summoned us to live. Jesus has called us to join him in experiencing his life of love with the Father and the Spirit. He has redeemed humanity specifically for his kingdom life.

As we learn the rhythms of his kingdom, our lives naturally begin to take on its flavor, aroma, and culture. In what we might call “Kingdom Culture,” the foundation is always love. Love toward neighbor, brother, and sister is the guiding principle.

[Jesus] answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27 NRSVUE

Admittedly it is sometimes easy to become distracted by all the stuff we need or want. The busyness of life may tempt us to lay aside the ways of the kingdom for the sake of expedience. At times, we lose our patience with others when we’re in a hurry. We may argue with a friend over politics. We may hold back our generosity to buy something we want or ignore Kingdom Culture in other ways.

However, we need not worry about those things. Jesus said, in Matthew 6:33, that his desire for us was to seek the kingdom (with all its right-relationships), and then all that other stuff would be added to us.

Here’s an exercise for our daily devotions as we seek first the kingdom. In your prayer journal, prayerfully make a list of all the things that you think do have a place in the kingdom of God. Then make a list of all the things that you think don’t have a place in the kingdom of God. Once you have made the two lists, ask God to enliven you to focus on the first one.

Prayer:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, please show me someone to love today. Amen.

By Bill Winn, Pastor
Mechanicsville, VA, US