DiscipleshipCurriculum RaisingDisciples - Flipbook - Page 5
NOTE TO PARTICIPANTS
Did you know that the first thirteen years of life are the most important
years for discipleship?
Many of the choices we make, passions we pursue, and perspectives we articulate as
adults can be traced back to what we learned and believed in childhood. These early years
are the most active in our development as humans.
The process of biological, cognitive, social, and moral maturation is commonly labeled
“childhood development.” However, this process can also be described as “discipleship.”
Discipleship is a lifelong process, and each stage of that process is important. However, no
other time between birth and death provides as many opportunities to shape how an
individual perceives themselves, others, and the world as the first thirteen years of life—
which means no other time in life is as crucial to a child’s experience of God.
The discipleship of children centers around the home: moms, dads, stepparents, foster
parents and other caregivers are the primary influencers in raising a child to be a disciple.
But God has not left parents to do this work alone. He has created us for community and
places us in the family of God. That means every other person who interacts with a child—
children’s ministers, grandparents, small group leaders and volunteers, aunts and uncles,
family friends, and other ministry-staff members—has a part to play in raising disciples.
Christians often associate the term discipleship with the process of becoming more like
Jesus. At its most basic definition, discipleship is the process by which a student becomes
more like the person or subject he or she is following.
Every child—from infancy to adolescence—is being discipled by someone or something. If
you are a parent, grandparent, or other invested adult in a child’s life, what is discipling the
child you love? Are you willing to disciple them for Jesus’ sake?
Each week of this course you will be guided through a review of a chapter of the book
Raising Disciples: Guiding Your Kids into a Faith of Their Own and discuss concrete ways to
guide children along a discipleship pathway toward an identity in Christ. Additionally, each
week will include a study of scripture to help you recognize your important role in the
discipleship of your child while also growing in your own knowledge of God’s Word and
relationship with Christ. By joining with others in this study you will also be encouraged by
others who are committed to this important working of raising disciples!
Teresa Roberts
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