We are walking through several benefits to the household approach to discipleship listed by Eric Wallace in his book “Uniting Church and Home.” My goal in these blog posts is to help us consider the urgent need for families to live out the biblical mandate of home discipleship.
Benefit 6: A household approach provides the means for guiding new and young Christians through the struggles of Christian growth. The apostle Peter describes new Christians as spiritual babes. A household approach allows for the continuous and consistent nurture of young Christians.
Benefit 7: A household approach helps us draw upon the wisdom of those who have gone before us. Titus 2 instructs the older in the church to teach the younger in spiritual and practical ways. The church is best able to live Titus 2 when families are integrated in worship, fellowship, discipleship, and ministry.
Benefit 8: A household approach builds upon relationships that are long lasting and involve bearing with people through the seasons and trials of life. Families that exercise hospitality and discipleship in the home will build deep spiritual relationships with others. These relationships will be stronger to stand in the trials of life. People are more open to correction, reproof, and training in righteousness when it comes from someone who has a history of loving and serving them. No level of involvement in a church program can replace this.
So brothers and sisters, let’s be busy discipling our families. Let’s have hearts to reach out to our community by opening our homes to them and living the gospel before our neighbors and co-workers. Always being ready to share the good news of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.
