Tag: Father

“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.22.6.NKJV

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Brothers, today I pray we pass the faith on to our children. I pray for the wisdom to disciple and train our children, not just make them converts (Ps. 22:6). I pray I make training them in love, joy, obedience, and the holy conduct of new life a priority in the short time we have, teaching them all God has commanded (Matt. 28:18-20). I pray our children would be born again to a new life to be obedient, holy, and conducting their lives in the reverential fear of the Lord (I Peter 1:3, 13-19). I pray I do not in any way limit the power and influence of the Gospel as I disciple my children!

I have a lot of notes and a lot of article quotes on discipleship in this post. Discipleship is top of mind with a 17 year old and dwindling direct discipleship time, so these are not for criticism or condemnation, but for my edification, and I hope they can help others as well. May revival start in our homes!

Fathers bring your children up in the training and admonition of the Lord! (eph. 6:4)

Fathers must disciple their children. When fathers disciple in all of life for all of life, it isn’t just instruction from a hired hand, it is a way of life, a way of being, and the children see the glory of God in it!

I pray I do not in any way limit the power and influence of the Gospel as I disciple my children!

“A relationship with Christ cannot be reduced to the moment of initial salvation any more than a marriage can be reduced to the vow exchange at the wedding. By replacing our gospel-centrism with Christocentrism we give due weight to the ongoing covenant relationship of Christ to his elect people, and the nature of their regular worship as covenant renewal. To know Christ is not only to receive justification and adoption from him, but it is also a daily renewal consummating in resurrected glory.” https://founders.org/2019/03/18/be-christ-centered-not-just-gospel-centered/

“Christian buzzwords rapidly depreciate in meaning as soon as they are inducted into the religious vernacular. This is especially true of one more popular term: gospel-centered… Certainly we must be gospel-centered… the gospel does deserve our foremost attention and affection, period. The difficulty is that whenever we, as limited humans, reduce biblical theology down to a single theme or emphasis, we inevitably deemphasize some other important component of divine revelation… Rather than settling for what’s popularly dubbed “gospel-centrality”, consider three reasons why Christ-centeredness provides a firmer foundation. 1. Gospel-centrism can abstract salvation from the Savior; Christocentrism delivers Christ and his benefits together… 2. Gospel-centrism can neglect the graciousness of the law; Christocentrism elevates Christ as both Savior and Lord, Redeemer and Lawgiver… 3. Gospel-centrism can devolve into a focus on conversion only; Christocentrism involves the whole of the Christian life.” Be Christ-Centered, Not Just Gospel-Centered https://founders.org/2019/03/18/be-christ-centered-not-just-gospel-centered/

“Although the problems we now face are multicausal and multifaceted, who can deny that fundamentally they stem from a failure of discipleship? … This reflects the skewed way that the gospel is preached in the West: when you reduce the gospel to justification, you naturally see sanctification—being trained in righteousness—as legalism. When you reduce the gospel to justification, you naturally see political work as “of this world.” But the gospel is about salvation through the kingship of Christ—and so Christian life is about discipleship and dominion. It is about being fitted to represent God and act on his behalf, and training others to do the same—even the nations themselves…” https://notes.itsgoodtobeaman.com/frank-talk-about-the-instrumental-role-of-boomers-in-our-civilizational-collapse/

We are commanded to disciple all the nations. “The Great Commission is a directive for the church to train the nations in the word of God, which is why Paul describes the gospel as being “unto obedience of faith among all the nations” in his summary of it in Romans 1:5; 16:26.” https://notes.itsgoodtobeaman.com/frank-talk-about-the-instrumental-role-of-boomers-in-our-civilizational-collapse/

“Our time dislikes strong men – even though I think we’re waking up to the fact that we could use a few. Our time dislikes men with convictions, who speak up, who confront society, who disturb the status quo, men who know what they believe and why they believe it and are not intimidated about saying it. Such men today are branded as troublemakers. They’re branded as controversial. —John MacArthur” https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/2250/stop-criticizing#:~:text=Our%20time%20dislikes,branded%20as%20controversial

“Our forefathers who founded this nation stood on the foundation of Christian thinking and Christian living… Those foundations have been intentionally destroyed by purveyors of wickedness. And the people of God have stood idly by as it happened… The church of Jesus Christ has been commissioned by our Head to make disciples of all nations. The way that we do that is by teaching and preaching the Word of Christ—all of it, including both law and gospel. It is time that God’s people humble ourselves in the face of the undeniable reality that we have not fulfilled this commission very well in the last few generations of these United States. May God grant us the grace to repent, to seek His favor and the power of His Spirit, and to give ourselves wholeheartedly to proclaim the lordship of our Christ throughout this nation once again.” https://founders.org/2022/11/18/a-requiem-for-my-nation/

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… Therefore… as obedient children… you also be holy in all your conduct… conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” I Peter 1:3, 13-19 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1pe.1.3-19.NKJV

“Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,” Romans 1:5 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.1.5.NKJV

“but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— Romans 16:26 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.16.26.NKJV

THE GOOD NEWS

There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.

We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV

Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV

But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation. 

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV

““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV

We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV

There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV 

It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV