Sermon Series Prompt for “Joining Jesus as a Family”

5 WEEKS | Title, scriptures, chapter(s) from book

Week #1: "Raising Our Children on Purpose"

Mark 1:14-18/1 Corinthians 11:1, chapters 1-4

  • Raising our children = Discipling our children

  • “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

  • Why every member of the congregation has a stake in raising the children of the congregation.

  • "What they see is what they'll be."

  • Be the kind of Jesus-follower you want children to see and imitate.

Week #2: "How to Join Jesus in Discipling a Family"

Mark 10:13-16/Proverbs 24:3, chapter 5 (and 6-13)

  • Review the content in the illustration on page 45 of the book.

  • Our goal is not just teaching the facts and figures of the faith to children, but helping children experience the abundance of living out the faith for the good of others. That's how they become convinced. (Illustration: reading the pamphlet SO THAT we then can get in the raft and actually take the ride.)

  • Emphasize the core priority of helping our children become convinced of their true identity, value, and purpose in Christ.

Week #3: "How to Train Our Children to Use Their Superpower"

John 13:34-35/1 John 4:7-12, chapter 14

  • Unpack how God's love is our superpower. But it only works if we use it.

  • Review the 5 mission practices, and how (with practice) we become better in using these skills.

  • Emphasize that the goal of using the 5 practices is to position us to live a life of love as we join Jesus on His mission,

Week #4: "A Simple Discipleship Rhythm for Families"

Luke 15:1-7/Philippians 3:17, chapter 15-16

  • How to weave Jesus' discipleship rhythm into the daily life of our family: teach them, show them, send them, circle up and share the stories with them.

  • To what end? That we join Jesus in looking for our family's "one lost sheep."

Week #5: "It Takes a Village to Raise Children to be Jesus-Followers"

Matthew 12:46-50/Hebrews 13:7, chapter 17

  • Unpack the importance for children to have Jesus-following peers, as well as at least five non-parent mentors, and church professionals/volunteers in their village of relationships.

  • The village helps children verify, reinforce, and expand upon the foundation the parents are laying.

  • Emphasize that when it comes to raising our children to be follower of Jesus, we “team up” with congregation staff/volunteers vs. “turn over” the responsibility to them (40 vs. 3000 hours or 40 + 3000 hours).