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3 Reasons To Involve Children In Missional Community

A Brief Theology of Family

With respect to missional community life, I think there are three critical points of theology that must be emphasized.

First, children are a blessing from God:

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5, ESV)

Second, parents are primarily responsible for the discipleship of their children:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (Deuteronomy 6:4-7, ESV)

Third, we must make disciples of our children who obey the commandments of God:

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV)

Although I could probably spend several posts focusing on these three points, I’m going to assume that most people would agree with me, and focus more on how this plays out in the life of missional community.

We Become What We Behold

My greatest desire for my children is that they would be saved – that they would bow to King Jesus, seek to be conformed to His image by the word of God and the power of the Spirit, and that God would ultimately glorify them for all eternity.  I want my children to worship Jesus, and I want them to be conformed to His character in all of life.

(continued…)