(Part 1 of 2)
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.”-Proverbs 11:30 (NKJV)
As believers in Jesus Christ, our responsibility is to wins souls for Christ. As a parent, I believe that our minimum responsibility is to make every effort to win our own kids to Christ. Recently we had a missionary at our church that made a statement that really got me thinking. He said, “The reason that many churches are dying is that they are failing to win their kids to Christ.” In other words, one of the greatest ways to perpetuate the church is to simply win our own kids to the Lord.
The church’s mission, like Jesus, is to seek and save the lost. However, in our efforts to reach our communities and build bigger ministries, many of our own kids are slipping through the cracks; pulled away by a variety of other interests, influences, sports and hobbies.
I hear a lot of parents say, “I want to see my kids back in church.” However, is that really the objective? Are you satisfied with your child being or becoming an avid church goer or is your objective to raise up a disciple? Will you be happy if they are faithful to church, but have no real relationship with Jesus?
We’ve been called to make disciples of all nations, not church attendees. The goal is not to lead our kids to church but to lead them to Christ. Someone who is taught simply to attend church will soon lose interest in attending the moment they discover other activities they find more entertaining, pleasurable, or fulfilling, however, a person who is discipled will biblically understand it’s value and make every effort to gather with fellow believers.
So, although attending church is a natural component of our faith, what have we actually won? Proverbs 11:30 says that we are to win souls. What does that mean? What does a soul that’s been won look like? To win a soul means: to successfully lead someone into their own personal relationship with Jesus and then disciple them to maturity. This is best done through modeling and training.
Leading a child to Christ begins with modeling. It has been said that you cannot lead where you have not been. To model means to serve as a standard or example. As parents we are to model faith to our kids. The Apostle Paul, a spiritual father to the church, said in Corinthians 11:1: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” Paul’s preaching would have been nullified in the hearts of those who heard it, if they had not first seen it displayed in his life.
Before we can ever lead others we must first take heed ourselves the teachings of Christ and the Word of God:
“Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all they days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren.”-Deuteronomy 4:9
Modeling always precedes teaching. It is imperative that we make application and live by these principles ourselves. We can’t teach our kids to forgive, if they never see us walk out forgiveness. We can’t teach our kids the importance of giving, if they never see us give. If attending church is optional for you, it will likely become optional for them. If you prioritize things ahead of devotions, worship, and church; so will they.
What areas should you be modeling in?
“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.”-1 Timothy 4:12
You should be leading by example in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith and purity. Are you modeling faithfulness in each of these areas? Or are your modeling compromise? The dangerous tendency is to excuse our compromises. When we do, we lay the groundwork for continued compromise in our kid’s lives; meaning they will further build upon the compromises that we’ve allowed.
It’s hard to correct bad behavior by simply telling someone to stop. Good behavior and Godly practices must be modeled before we can expect others to accept any training in righteousness that we may offer.
Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church
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