As a high school pastor, I am constantly thinking, praying, and
talking with others about how we can teach young people the Bible and
encourage them to be disciples of Jesus Christ. I look back with
thankfulness on my high school years and the men who contributed in
significant ways to my spiritual growth through discipleship, coaching,
and pastoring. There is a place for a well-run youth ministry
in the context of the local church, as I will seek to articulate in part
two of this article, coming soon. But there is a primary sphere
where evangelism and discipleship of young people must occur. It is the
context of the family, the Christian home. Christian parents—not youth pastors—have the primary role, responsibility, and calling to evangelize and disciple their children.
The Biblical Pattern
Throughout biblical history, the family unit is the primary mechanism
used by God to spread the saving knowledge of him. God’s servant Moses,
after instructing God’s people concerning the God’s identity and the
people’s call to love him and keep his Word, turned immediately to
instruct the parents of the community regarding their responsibility to
their children:
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 (Deut. 6:6-7). Keep Reading...
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