DiscipleshipCurriculum RaisingDisciples - Flipbook - Page 3
NOTE TO MINISTRY LEADERS
Something fascinating is happening in the church right now. While much of the news about
Christianity in the United States speaks about the decline in church attendance, there’s
another story underneath the surface. More and more people are actually returning to
church—because they are young parents and discover that they want their children to
encounter some of the principles of faith that they themselves were raised with.
The fact that people are leaving the church in the first place means that we need to take a
close look at the discipleship of those who come through our doors. And, as I talk about it in
Raising Disciples: Guiding Your Kids into a Faith of Their Own, the most crucial time for that
discipleship to take root is from ages 0-13.
Raising Disciples is written for parents, children’s ministry leaders and volunteers,
grandparents, and anyone passionate about guiding kids to follow Jesus. While the book
can be read individually, it is especially beneficial to read it within a community. Just as
children thrive in a community of faith while being raised as disciples, adults also benefit
from the thoughts, perspectives, and experiences of others.
What would it look like for us to meet these men and women, parents of children in that
important age range, with tools and perspective that would not only root their faith more
deeply, but help them raise children who are better equipped to encounter God and develop
a lifelong faith?
That’s what this 8-week course will help you do. I have created this 8-week Parenting
Discipleship Curriculum as a companion to Raising Disciples. By guiding them along the
discipleship map introduced in the book, you can equip parents to introduce children to a
relationship with God and help them discover their identity in Christ. Each week of this
curriculum guides the group through a review of a chapter of the book and discusses
concrete ways to disciple children along a pathway toward an identity in Christ. Additionally,
each week also includes a study of scripture to help parents recognize their important role in
the discipleship of their children while also growing in their own knowledge of God’s Word
and relationship in Christ.
Raising Disciples has the following features, making it ideal for group use:
Each chapter concludes with an example from the life of Jesus for further study and
engagement.
Questions and activities for reflection are included for group participation and
discussion.
Every participant can consider their own journey of faith as they engage with the content
from each chapter alongside its application in the life of children.
This parenting discipleship guide, a variety of graphics for promoting your group read,
memes to share, and downloads are available here [navpress.org/parenting-discipleshipcurriculum].
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