Stuck in a Stalemate ( feat. Shawna Murlin)

The Disciple Maker‘s Podcast

What are your thoughts on family Discipleship..

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Empowering Child Discipleship: Practical Steps for Church Leaders and Parents

In this episode, Shawna Murlin from Awana shares a valuable resource for leaders and parents dedicated to raising children within the Christian faith. She discusses the focus on safety and security, featuring insights from Julie Lowe's book 'Safeguards'. The episode emphasizes the necessity for churches and homes to collaborate in child discipleship. Key resources and conversation guides, like the Friday family email, are showcased. The importance of prayer, meaningful adult relationships, and building a culture of discipleship in both church and home settings are highlighted. We conclude with a heartfelt prayer and a call to action for training and equipping parents and church leaders in the crucial work of child discipleship.

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Key Takeaways

00:00 Introduction and Resources

05:21 The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

09:40 Understanding Stalemates in Ministry

11:37 The Role of Home and Church in Child Discipleship

28:34 Building a Vision for Child Discipleship in the Church

33:41 Challenges in Family Discipleship

39:20 Creating a Formational Home

49:33 The Power of Spiritual Conversations

56:15 Conclusion and Resources

Resources on Family Discipleship

Family Discipleship: The Present and Future State of Family Discipleship

Family Discipleship: Present and Future Trends

Family Discipleship: Jason Houser

Real Life Theology Conversations

See below for a longer description:

This episode of the podcast focuses on a comprehensive overview of valuable resources for child discipleship, both for leaders and parents within church communities. The episode begins with the speaker highlighting the importance of sharing practical resources and introduces the Awana website, childdiscipleship.com, as a hub for such tools, including podcasts, printable materials, and safety and security information for parents.

One of the highlighted resources includes 14 questions to ask potential babysitters, inspired by Julie Lowe's book "Safeguards." The speaker underscores the book's message about the importance of safeguarding children from individuals they know, not just strangers. Another valuable tool mentioned is the Friday Family Email, a resource sent out weekly, featuring biblically-based conversation guides, activities, and memory verses for families to engage with their children.

Videos from the Child Discipleship Forum are also recommended, particularly a powerful message by John Tyson on the importance of prayer and fasting in family discipleship. Various books, including "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt, are suggested for their insightful views on community and faith, despite the author not being a Christian.

The speaker transitions to a discussion on the responsibility of child discipleship, emphasizing the current stalemate between churches and parents. While 95% of children's ministry leaders believe discipleship should occur at home, only 51% of parents agree, highlighting a significant disconnect. This stalemate sees both parties pointing fingers at each other for the lack of effective discipleship.

The episode delves into resolving this issue by advocating for a model where church leaders train and equip parents to disciple their children effectively. This involves casting a compelling vision for child discipleship within church communities, creating dedicated times and places for training parents, and fostering language that emphasizes the integration of faith into daily conversations.

A key strategy discussed is the importance of building meaningful adult relationships within the church community for every child. Research demonstrates that children with such relationships are significantly more engaged and likely to integrate biblical principles into their lives. The speaker suggests surrounding each child with five adult mentors to provide a robust support system.

The speaker shares personal anecdotes to illustrate the transformative power of regular, meaningful conversations and community support, emphasizing the need for intentional planning and vision in both church and home settings. Resources recommended for implementing this approach include "Children’s Ministry in a New Reality," "Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions," "Beautiful Resistance," "Habits of the Household," and "Sticky Faith."

The episode concludes with practical steps for church leaders to create a supportive environment for family discipleship, including establishing clear visions, identifying training times during already existing church activities, promoting language that integrates faith into daily life, and building a community of believers who actively support and engage with the children.

Listeners are encouraged to visit the Awana website and explore the recommended resources further. The episode ends with a prayer for strength and guidance in the mission of disciple-making, urging listeners to persist in this critical and challenging work.

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