As a parent, you want to make the Gospel irresistible and disciple your family. But how? By using the Word of God. Below are 5 ways to disciple your family, making the Gospel irresistible to those closest to you.
The Word of God
John 1 tells us that the Word was with God, was God, and was there in the beginning. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. You can trust the Word of God to be your guide when you disciple your family because it is trustworthy and timeless.
These attributes are part of who God is. By His very nature, God cannot be distrusted or temporary. Therefore, take Him at His Word. Apply His Word when you disciple your family and live by His Word in your everyday life.
When you do this, His promises are evident in your life…
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self-control
… and you make the Gospel irresistible to those closest to you.
When you disciple your family using the Word of God, the fruits of the Spirit are enjoyed by you and those in your home—your spouse, children, and other family members.
Why You Can Use God’s Word to Disciple Your Family
Times have changed in the last 20-30 years. The culture has tried to change the definition of family, identity, and purpose. However, the Word of God remains. God’s Word can change your life, but the Word itself will never change.
You can disciple your family using the Word of God because it is trustworthy!
- “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”—Matthew 24:35
- “For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.”—Malachi 3:6
- “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”—Numbers 23:19
- “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”—Isaiah 40:8
You can disciple your family using the Word of God because it is applicable today!
- “…living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”—Hebrews 4:12
- “…profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”—2 Timothy 3:16-17
5 Ways to Disciple Your Family
- It’s not just about what you say; it’s more about what they see.
Kids tend to replicate and repeat what their parents do more than what they say. They take note of how mom handles stress or dad handles pressure. They see how parents love each other, spend their time, and care for others.
This doesn’t mean you can never get stressed or overwhelmed. Instead, when you do, you can reveal to your kids what it looks like to glorify God and make the Gospel irresistible through trials and tough times.
- Do you get down on your knees in prayer?
- Do you open the Word?
- Do you speak words of life or words of death?
- Do we complain or praise?
When your kids see how you trade our anxieties for the peace of God in the day-to-day trials, you disciple your family in a powerful way. You become living proof of a loving God to watching children.
“But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God [a]is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”—1 John 2:5-6
- It’s about being moved with compassion.
Jesus was moved with compassion. Our kids and families are moved by compassion.
“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”—Matthew 9:36
The word “compassion” in Matthew 9:36 means “pity” in Greek. Jesus felt pity for them, not because they were sick or needy, but because they were “weary and scattered”—because they were like sheep without a shepherd. In other words, they had no leader to show them the irresistible good news of Jesus’ coming Kingdom.
They had poor leadership for far too long that didn’t point them to God but to rituals and traditions. So then, they didn’t recognize Him when God was standing before them.
As you disciple your family, show them Jesus. When they are troubled, discouraged, weary, or scattered, shepherd them, pointing them to Jesus and His promises. This is how you lead with compassion.
- Remind them that this life is passing.
- Empathize and pray with and for them.
- Tell them about how Jesus transformed your weary and scattered life.
- Resist the urge to judge.
- It’s about being a city set on a hill.
Disciple your family by pouring into them. Listen to and give them your undivided attention. Speak of God’s glory as you do “good works.”
Jesus said we are to be the “light of the world.” The world is a dark place. When you do “good work,” it is to glorify God. Hypocrites can do good works, which Jesus pointed out. However, as a Christ-follower with the heart to disciple your family, your good works demonstrate a spiritual change and are light to the world.
Do what hypocrites can’t… be humble, merciful, and peaceful.
- Do you display humility?
- Are you meek and merciful?
- Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness?
- Do you seek peace?
The qualities in the Beatitudes (mentioned just before Jesus talks about being a city on a hill) shine forth from you, and you become that city on a hill.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”—Matthew 5:14-16
The light will multiply and pour into your kids, who will also be in a position to disciple others.
- It’s about focusing on the basic things.
The next generation is getting lost because of what the Church is putting its focus on in today’s culture. When you disciple your family and kids, get back to the basics. Focus on the life of Jesus and tell stories that teach your family and a watching world to respect Him.
When you read about the early church, what do you see them doing (see Acts 2:40-47)? They…
- Met whenever and wherever they could
- Studied God’s Word together
- Fellowshipped and prayed
- Remembered Jesus’ death and resurrection
Everything they did came from these basic things. Many of us understand the basics, yet we get distracted by other things and don’t live them out. As a result, our kids and families see inconsistencies and not Jesus.
“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”—1 Corinthians 2:2
- It’s about grace and truth, not grace or truth.
You have a sphere of influence that no one else in the world has—your family. As you disciple your family, think about and pray for God to use you to equip them to impact their spheres of influence. You have an opportunity to help people navigate difficult tensions in society today, and in turn, those you share the Gospel with can share it with others.
Share the irresistible Gospel as Jesus did with the woman at the well. He didn’t agree with the lie, “I have no husband.” Instead, He was filled with compassion for her, pointed out the sin, and didn’t distort the situation. But He didn’t leave her there. The Spirit moved in her heart, and Jesus told her the good news of what was to come. And what did she do?
- She went into the city.
- She testified of who Jesus was.
- She encouraged others to “come and see a Man who told me all the things that I ever did.”
As a result of Jesus speaking grace and truth, she became a light to others—those in her sphere of influence. He didn’t choose grace or truth; He was full of grace and truth.
“And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified… So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word.”—John 4:39-40
Summary…
As you disciple your family, seek the Word of God for yourself, pray, focus on Jesus, and use every opportunity you can to testify of who He is… making the Gospel irresistible.
