Discussion Thread Replies: Four Approaches to Discipleship
Hi,
I enjoyed reading your post. It was very insightful. I was especially taken by your
comment on the transformation that family, in general, has experienced throughout the years.
You said, “As work and school have transitioned away from being entirely family-centric, so
have the actions within the church.” I would go further and say that the family core has changed
because life has gotten too busy. It reminded me of my grandparents. I am 64 years old, and I
remember very well the Christ-center education and example I received from them at home. One
thing they had in their favor was that a man's salary was enough to take care of a family, and my
grandmother was at home and could constantly pour biblical principles into us. Times have
changed, but the principles remain. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever”
(Hebrews 13:8, New King James Version).
I also agree that although there is not one perfect approach, the family-equipping method
is the best. Ephesians 4:11-16 talks about the church leaders equipping the saints for ministry
work. And it goes on to say “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried
about with every wind of doctrine” (v. 14). This confirms Timothy Paul Jones’s words, “The
church equips parents to disciple their children, and the parents recognize the church as an active
partner in this process.”1
Hi,
Thank you for your post this week; I really enjoyed reading it. I agree that with so many
methods, it can be very difficult for a family to choose. However, you said something in your
post that would make anyone attempting to find a solution to their dilemma, a little easier to
choose. You wrote, “the overall goal of the church is to equip families to raise up disciples for
Christ.” I believe that the key word in this dilemma is “equip.” Equip is the root word for
equipment and anyone knows that having the right equipment can either make or break you. For
example, if a diver goes into the sea but forgets his oxygen tank, he is not going to get too far in
the water. Or no one would jump off a plane without a parachute. Dr. Burrell emphasizes that
“our responsibility, as parents before the Lord, is to take the time to disciple them.”2 But a parent
cannot teach or guide his/her children without being equipped with the word of God. Pastors and
teachers in the church are not responsible to teach our children, but they have been given a
command from God to equip the parents (Eph, 4:11-16, New King James Version), just like God
had given parents a command to teach their children (Deut. 6:4-9; Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4).
1 Timothy Paul Jones, et al., Perspectives on Family Ministry: Three Views (Nashville, TN: B&H
Academic, 2009), 44.
2 Dan Burrell, “Why Family Discipleship is Important” (DSMN 610 Course Video Presentation) Liberty
University Online, Lynchburg, VA, September 17, 2013, 8:01,
https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/2167581/uiconf_id/39959791/entry_id/1_zwv
m0up2/embed/dynamic
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
