Share Your Storry:

Last time we discussed parental discipleship from the natural view of it being a God-ordained mandate giving families dominion over the world for the purpose of self-provision and preservation. (See Genesis 1:26-30)

“Children’s children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers.”

(Proverbs 17:6 KJV)

Today, I would like to discuss discipleship of children using the Scriptural model that the Apostle John describes in his first epistle.

OK, so based on last month’s article, we get it, spend lots of time with our children –especially when we are working! So now, while I’m spending all that time with them, what do we talk about? That’s a good question! Let’s look together at 1 John for an apostolic example of what and how to talk to those you are discipling.

The Apostle John wrote his first epistle to believers who had never seen Jesus personally, so he had to rely on his own eyewitness account in speaking to them. He had to tell what he had personally experienced so that the faith of his hearers would be nurtured from his testimony. Parents have the same responsibility. We’re called to witness personally to our children in order to make disciples of them.

How do you share your testimony with your children? Is it personal and transformational? Is it visible and easily seen by your children?

The Epistle of 1 John is an apostolic model of key focus areas for Story Telling as a mentoring- discipleship tool for your children.

The Mentoring-Discipleship of Parenting is sharing about your relationship with The Heavenly Father with your children. (1 John 1:1-2)

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life;

(for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us).”

Parent mentoring/discipleship begins with you “bearing witness” about your personal relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. Remember that sharing your personal relationship to Christ with your children is discipleship!

Discipleship is sharing is about your relationship with the One and only eternal God through the living Word of Life, Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is imperative to note that the manifestation of eternal life must first be received by you before you can bear witness to it.

The Mentoring-Discipleship of Parenting is not only sharing from your personal experience, but is also an invitation to your children to fellowship with the Father, and His Son, and to fellowship with you as well! (I John 1:3)

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

Fellowship! Probably the most important bridge to cross in order to share fellowship with your children is that it first requires you to have authentic fellowship with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ! What does that look like?

Fellowship requires intentionality. Cultivate fellowship with your children in everyday life experiences. The Scripture teaches that fellowship is based on a common bond. It is easy to have fellowship with anyone with whom you share a common bond.

Sharing life’s experiences is the most common bond possible. The more you share, the more you bond with each other. Sharing your life with your children, including your personal convictions and practices, will create a legacy of common bonds.

(Practically, this is why it is my preferred practice in church and school events to include children in the adult fellowship activities rather than to segregate them off under the desire to have something provided for them at their own age level.)

Finally, fellowship is relationship and relationship is enthusiastic and joyful. Invite your children to come alongside you and enjoy your walk with God in a personal way.

The Mentoring-Discipleship of Parenting requires sharing from your personal experience in writing. (I John 1:4)

“And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”

Writing is a part of authentic discipleship. It was commanded by Moses. “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” (Deut 6:6-9)

Sharing Scripture and your personal meditations and reflections are valuable messages that extend the mentoring-discipleship process beyond the present. There is no more of an inviting motive than to seek another’s joy, and just as John did in his epistle, you can seek your children’s joy by writing them notes of Scriptural encouragement.

The Mentoring-Discipleship of Parenting centers around the core message about God’s holiness. (I John 1:5)

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

Darkness is the first great obstacle to discipleship: turn the light on to reveal the darkness. Remember what Jesus said:

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

(John 3:19-21 KJV)

Disciple-making requires that we turn the light on! It’s hard because it can be a quick way to break parent-child fellowship. –“But Daaad, everybody is doing it, even the Pastor’s kids!”

The most delicate element of disciple-making with your children is sharing and establishing your joy-filled obedience to walk in the light when the world swirling around you is filled with the temptations of this world. You cannot establish the boundaries of light and darkness by the letter of the law, but by the life-giving Spirit. This is why discipleship is sharing the life and light that God has given to us. We disciple by our living, joy-filled example.

The Mentoring-Discipleship of Parenting is intentional with the objective of walking in and remaining in fellowship with God, i.e. walking in the light! (I John 1:6-2:2)

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

The front and center point of connection in Christian fellowship is our common sin nature and the only means of victory over our sin, the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. John lays out this path of fellowship with God in I John 1:8 to 2:2.

The 3 “ifs” of Sin

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

The Fellowship of Overcoming Sin Together

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.

And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

In Conclusion, the Mentoring-Discipleship of Parenting is a Fellowship of overcoming sin.

Sin is our common adversary. We don’t deny it! However, we are not defined by it. We are defined by the love of God in the redemption of Christ. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.