training children

The Difference Between Parenting and Making Disciples

By AlanMelton

The idea of parenting has created a multi-zillion dollar industry. A Google search reveals that the term “parenting” was first used in 1959. Since then scores of books have been written about techniques and approaches to successfully navigate the choppy waters of raising children. From Dr. Spock to Dr. Phil, these “experts” share their personal approaches to parenting.

Book Review: Disciple Like Jesus For Parents

By AlanMelton

The authors use Christ’s model of personal evangelism and discipleship amongst the peoples and His disciples and convey that model to the parent-child discipleship process. What greater teacher can one have in training up their children than Christ Himself?

A Picture of Parents Making Disciples like Jesus Did

By AlanMelton

Discipleship is not something that should wait or is limited to a few hours per week. It’s not something you should leave to others or even the church. It’s a lifestyle as we’ve said. It’s what God has called you to do with your children, from the moment He gives them to you. And, the good news is that if He’s called you to it, He’s equipped your for it.

Do You Expect Me to Forgive You?

By AlanMelton

Do you want to promote God’s ways in the world? Then put His power on display; be quick to forgive others. That’s a real virtue. And yes, God does expect His people to forgive.

Four Opportunity Phases of Family Discipleship

By AlanMelton

No matter how old your children may be, seize the opportunities that the Lord provides to make disciples of them! The good news is that the command to make disciples is for our entire lives, and Deuteronomy 6 was given to parents and grandparents. Begin now.

Fear of the Lord: The Fundamental for the Family

By AlanMelton

If someone were to ask me: “what do you think is the most important ingredient to a healthy family,” what would I say in response? I would suppose that my response would be for the family, especially the parent(s) to display a reverent and healthy dose of respect and fear of the almighty God. A child or wife may not remember what was preached last week from the local pastor, but if they see and know that you as a father, or you as a mother truly have a reverent fear of the Lord they’ll take that to heart.

Why Moms Are So Important to the Church

By AlanMelton

I don’t think that Christians really grasp the immense value of moms to the church and to society at large. More than anyone else in our lifetime, during the first few weeks of our life, moms do for us what Jesus did for His disciples. Our lives are profoundly impacted by this Christ-like care that we receive. For most of us, these weeks or months or years were a special time in our lives when we experienced something very akin to the way Jesus made disciples. God designed disciple-making into every mother’s DNA.

Ten Practical Tips for Dads in Discipling Your Children for Christ

By AlanMelton

We who are dads have some unique challenges with making disciples. Moms have a built in “disciple-maker gene” that is given by God, but we dads tend to be more focused on providing income than on nurturing children.