Missional Minded Mommy Pt. 7: A Missionary To My Children?

I saw this on several different blogs recently and found it both helpful and encouraging when thinking about how we invest time in being missionaries to our children. As I contemplate being sent as a missionary to this world, I can't forget the little mission field right in front of me! We are still responsible to train and teach our children. A good friend of mine once said (well, something along these lines, not an exact quote) that we can go out and bring as many people in our community as possible to the Lord and if we neglect to bring our children to Jesus, how truly faithful have we been?

Family Worship is just a little part in our responsibility to teach our children diligently. We can do family worship and neglect to love our children by living out what we speak about to them. We can do family worship and neglect to discipline and instruct consistently. We can do family worship and keep the gospel contained for that special time, or we can have a time of worship as families in the manner that works for our particular situation because it is important to have times where we learn and sing together as a culmination of living and loving the gospel of Jesus all day everyday.

As we go out in our community as people on a mission with God I have to remember that the gospel won't make sense to people when and if I am neglectful of my own household.

I hope this is helpful when considering having a time of family worship, I know that sometimes the task seems overwhelming because we make it something it doesn't have to be:

Mark Driscoll gives a realistic approach to doing family devotions at dinnertime:

Step 1. Eat dinner with your entire family regularly.
Step 2. Mom and Dad sit next to one another to lead the family discussion.
Step 3. Open the meal by asking if there is anyone or anything to pray for.
Step 4. Someone opens in prayer and covers any requests. This task should be rotated among family members so that different people take turns learning to pray aloud.
Step 5. Start eating and discuss how everyone’s day went.
Step 6. Have a Bible in front of the parents in a translation that is age-appropriate for the kids’ reading level. Have someone (parent or child) open the Bible, and assign a portion to read aloud while everyone is eating and listening.
Step 7. Parents should note key words and themes in the passage and explain them to the kids on an age-appropriate level.
Step 8. Ask questions about the passage. You may want to begin with having your children summarize what was read—retelling the story or passage outline. Then, ask the following questions: What does this passage teach us about God? What does it say about us or about how God sees us? What does it teach us about our relationships with others?
Step 9. Let the conversation happen naturally, listen carefully to the kids, let them answer the questions, and fill in whatever they miss or lovingly and gently correct whatever they get wrong so as to help them.
Step 10. If the Scriptures convict you of sin, repent as you need to your family, and share appropriately honest parts of your life story so the kids can see Jesus’ work in your life and your need for him too. This demonstrates gospel humility to them.
Step 11. At the end of dinner, ask the kids if they have any questions for you.
Step 12. If you miss a night, or if conversation gets off track, or if your family occasionally just wants to talk about something else, don’t stress—it’s inevitable.

Adapted from “Family Dinner Bible Studies” by Mark Driscoll in Trial: 8 Witnesses from 1 & 2 Peter, a study guide. (Mars Hill Church, 2009), pages 69-70.

I have also found this book by Lou Priolio very helpful: Teach Them Diligently.

This is a favorite book of mine and Rick's that we refer to often and has heavily influenced the way we approach our task of raising our kids as unto the Lord.