What are the Benefits and Costs of Making Disciples?

Recently I found a discussion about the pluses and minuses of Public versus Private Schooling versus Home Schooling. I realized that they missed one more option; Disciple Like Jesus.

There are at least four Components of what Jesus did:  See Implications Here

1. Jesus told His disciples to follow Him, rather than unbelieving teachers.
2. Jesus was with His disciples all day long.
3. Jesus constantly taught His disciples scripture and showed them how to minister to others.
4. Jesus protected His disciples from the wolves He sent them out in twos

Here are the benefits of parents making disciples like Jesus did.

+is obedience to the Great Commission.
+will make you and your children more like Jesus.
+will grow you in the faith more than anything you have ever done.
+will do something for your children that will otherwise never happen in their lives.
+will leave you with no regrets, because you will have spent much time with your children.
+will create deep, lifetime relationships with your children.
+will enable parents to guide their children in God’s call on their lives.
+will unite your family.
+will bring scripture to life in your family.
+will equip you and your children to live for Christ.
+will bring godly fruit early in life for your children.
+will teach you and your children to glorify the Lord, and prepare you to do this in heaven.
+will lead your family into the abundant life that Jesus promised.
+will help you avoid the “wolves” that threaten your family; virtually all threats will be reduced or eliminated.
+will make the teen years of your children more blessed for you and for them.
+will prepare your child’s heart in way that you will be an influence in their life in the future.
+will produce an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God.

What are the costs related to the Disciple Like Jesus approach?

-will cause you to personally assume the task of making disciples; this is hard work.
-will cause you to repent often for failing to “walk the talk.”
-will show you how inadequate you are without God’s help.
-will cause you to ask for forgiveness of your family often as your actions are not biblical.
-will cause you discomfort as you reject some choices that most other parents are making.
-may cause you to critically evaluate and give up some activities that you now enjoy.
-will cost you a great amount of personal time.
-may cause you to give up some hobbies that take time away from your family.
-may cause you to quit your job or change it so that you can be with your children.
-may cause you to lose your status in the community as you quit or change your job.
-may cause you to sell cars, homes, boats, etc. so that you can make disciples.
-may leave you with less in the bank.
-may place you at odds with extended family who will encourage you to keep status quo.
-will cause you to stand out since you will be together as a family.
-will place your family under scrutiny since you will be doing things differently.
-will cause you to be vigilant in protecting your family, and that will lead to inconvenience.

You can take a Self Assessment here.

Blessings, Alan

Tagged as: Christian Parenting, Disciple Like Jesus, Family Discipleship