LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
Submitted to Dr. Burrell,
in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 610 – B01
by
Rhonda C. Mustafaa
February 17, 2019
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Introduction
Family discipleship could be described as the act of training and enlightening one's
family in the right ways of living in Christ and becoming His follower. God calls for every parent
to serve as the primary spiritual trainer for their children. This is a calling which does not require
training or experience. Being ministers of the Gospel, pastors and priests are tasked with the role
of equipping parents with knowledge and skills to carry out this task. In Deuteronomy 6:5-7,
God commands parents to teach their families and children on ways to love Him and know Him.
Moreover, the effect of families growing spiritually together is undeniable to the church. Healthy
families help in building healthy churches. Parents have been given a privilege by God of having
children, guiding them to the direction of Christ, modeling them and encouraging them with
words of hope and love.1 Hence, Christian parents should not only be about taking their children
to school but also should be the teachers and trainers of their children on how to live by the
commandments of Christ.
Objectives and Outcomes
For a parent to turn their children into Disciples of Christ, Bible literacy is very essential.
It is important for them to explore the Bible together, understanding its concepts from the First
book of Genesis to the last. Every evening or occasionally a family should embark on this
journey by having nightly Bible readings and discussions. As a result of this, their children will
be able to illustrate and tell how the fall of a man greatly impacted the lives of people today.
They can also be able to understand how sin creates a rift between humankind and God. The
child is hence able to explain the origin of sin, why mankind sinned and its effect on the
relationship of him with God.
1 Wright, Steve and Chris Graves. A Parent Privilege. Nashvi lle: In Quest Ministries, Inc. 2008.
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The second objective is for the children to be able to develop a prayer time to connect
with God. This will enable them to create an atmosphere which welcomes the spirit and presence
of God into their lives. They will further have the ability to show and state their gratitude to Him
for blessing them abundantly and guiding them. The outcome of this is the ability to build and
establish strong relationships with God in every aspect of their lives.
Children should be able to understand the individual and family prayer is very necessary.
Moreover, they should be able to learn that God does not need them to pray mechanically as if
they are robots. Their prayers will be heartfelt and thoughtful. They will understand that He
wants to know their desires, darkest fears and hopes. Through prayers, they are able to influence
others to give their lives to Christ and make him the first priority. Developing a prayer time will
enable them to grow spiritually and become a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is more
effective for one to take time to recite a genuine and thoughtful prayer.2 In every prayer, one
could offer thanksgiving while giving praises to the Lord, and still, draw attention for his petition
for grace and attributes.
Children will be able to become witnesses and share the word of God with others.
Through witnessing, they can describe how God has been great to them and His importance in
every aspect of their lives. As a result of this, they can share with their friends the importance of
God in their lives and encourage them to also join them in becoming disciples of Jesus Christ.
Tedd and Margy (2008) emphasize the importance of enlightening our children about the vital
connections between redemption in the scripture and in the daily experiences people go through.3
2 Thompson, Tad. Intentional Parenting: Family Discipleship by Design. Adelphi: Cruciform
Press, 2011
3 Tripp, Tedd and Margy Tripp. Instructing a Child’s Heart. Wapwallopen: Shepherd Press. 2008
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The major desired outcome is to ensure that as a family, they can lead others to
courageously follow Jesus and live according to his command. As a result of becoming a disciple
of Christ, one has the ability to assess their relationship with Him. Each individual has the ability
to support each other while making sure that they prioritize their lives to ensure Christ becomes
first before all other things. Tedd and Margy (2008), it is important to shepherd a child's heart by
instructing them.4 The instruction one gives as a parent enlightens the child’s mind and persuade
for truthfulness to Christ ways.
Every child is created uniquely by God. Hence, parents have to apply different
discipleship plans and strategies for their families. The young children who can barely
comprehend a lot of information require stories and pictorial lessons to understand how God
wants them to live their lives. Moreover, they require more time than grown-up children who can
easily understand what their parents teach them. Each parent has been assigned the task of
guiding their children to follow the Christ’s path. However, if the child fails to heed to these
lessons, the parent can only pray to God for guidance and for the enlightenment of the child.
4 Ibid.
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Bibliography
Thompson, Tad. Intentional Parenting: Family Discipleship by Design. Adelphi: Cruciform
Press, 2011
Tripp, Tedd and Margy Tripp. Instructing a Child’s Heart. Wapwallopen: Shepherd Press. 2008
Wright, Steve and Chris, Graves. A Parent Privilege. Nashvi lle: In Quest Ministries, Inc. 2008.
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