How to Disciple your Children

 

• As parents, we need to leave our children with a Spiritual legacy as well – so that they will grow up to have a faith of their own that they can stand on.
• Teaching children about God is a journey that needs to be partnered with the Holy Spirit
• Without the Holy Spirit, spiritual teaching becomes religious and boring – with the Holy Spirit, it becomes adventurous, fun and exciting.
• The Holy Spirit is our helper, comforter and guide in this journey with raising the next generation.
• We need to teach our children how to obey us, otherwise they will never learn how to obey God.
• We need to teach our children how to serve others and let them see how to be a good host.
• We need to let them see how we react to life’s pressures and how we receive people, especially strangers.
• We need to share our life’s ups and downs with them and show them how to express comfort.
• We need to teach them how to pray, and pray in the spirit in front of them so they won’t think its weird.
• We need to teach them how to reach out to the left behind, the lost and the new kids.
• We need to show them how to say sorry and how to forgive others. We need to be vulnerable in front of our kids and not be afraid to cry when we are sad.
• We need to have rules about how to react with anger – find out what helps them to calm down and get back their self-control (scream into a pillow, punch the pillow, music… etc)
• It is the parents’ responsibility to disciple – not the church and definitely not the school.
• The family also has a responsibility in helping to raise your children – Ubuntu movement is where the community gets involved. You are setting an example for other peoples’ children – not just your own.
• Don’t keep your children too busy with extra murals that they have no time to ‘see’ you doing life.
• To teach children life skills and Godly values, we need to show them how and why.
• We need to ask what the school is teaching them and correct and explain from a Godly world view – to give them clear direction and right any wrongs. Don’t let them get confused about their identity or gender – speak the truth from God’s word.
• It is hard work being a parent – we are their teachers, employed by God.
• We need to remember to teach our children that life’s goal and purpose is NOT to be happy and that life is still good when life is bad. Bad times build character.
• Being happy is not a human right – being joyful is a fruit of living a spiritual life well.
• We need to show and be the love of Christ to them – not always perfect, but perfect in love.
• We need to show our children how we worship God, not just at church, but at home as well, in song and dance – freely, and let them know why it is important.
• We need to analyse our priorities and free up time so we can have more time with our children. Change your routine if you have to, but without quality time together, there will be no chance to make any positive impact in their lives.
• Start listening to a new voice in your head – the Holy Spirit, for when you are spiritually minded, you will have life and peace, no matter what your circumstances.
• We need to start talking about what God means to us and share our testimonies with them, so we can stir up their faith.
• We need to let them see the power of the Holy Spirit with healing and miracles and teach them God’s promises, but be natural about it.
• We need to be interceding for our kids to help fight their battles for them, spiritually, so they can stand up strong physically.
• We need to teach them that sin and disobedience have consequences. Disciple and discipline come from the same Latin root word, pupil – the purpose of discipline is to teach them how to change their behaviour.
• We cannot disciple our kids well, if we are not first disciplined ourselves (in control)
• To show a good example, we must first be a good example. 
• IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START…

Reference : Notes taken as per teaching by Alida Bornman - Shofar Church