“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:19–20, NASB95)
The Christ-follower’s sacred duty is to make disciples with a moral compass. But how can we do that? Below are three actions you can start implementing with your family today to begin living out your sacred duty.
Firstly, we know that if Christians do not sow, we will reap whatever the world is sowing – depravity and destruction. Stewardship is cultivating and keeping our culture centered on a Biblical moral compass – and that starts within each family unit. Fathers, we encourage you to lead your family in the following steps to raise your children in light of their sacred duty, and commit yourself to living it out as well.
Stewardship Action #1: Prepare your family to “go” into the public square.
Before we can go into the public square to live out our sacred duty, we must be equipped with the whole counsel of God’s word: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15, ESV)
From a young age, teach your children about the scriptures. Bring them to church. Disciple them in apologetics. Dig into the Word of God and prepare them to enter an ungodly world. Be good examples of mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, and godly men and women. Show them what it looks like to evangelize in the streets, to provide for widows and orphans, and channel God’s love to lost individuals. We lead by example, and we will prepare our children to go into the public square by example.
Stewardship Action #2: Equip your family to enter into the cultural war.
While there is merit to sheltering children from worldly concepts before they are ready, parents would be remiss if they wholly shielded their kids from the knowledge that we live in an evil, depraved world. Part of preparing your children to live out their sacred duty is teaching them about what they will encounter in the real world – suffering.
Then, you will have the opportunity to teach your kids about what true repentance means and the importance of obedience to God in everything – listening and cultivating that still, small voice within us. This is essential when we are entering a world full of lies and deceit, that is hell-bent on pulling us away from Christ. Before they can enter the culture war, they must be prepared for what they will face.
Stewardship Action #3: Prepare your family to be leaders.
Third, it is essential that apart from just reading the Bible with your kids, you teach them the practical applications and the worldview beyond the verses. Teach them about real world political and social issues, like same sex marriage, abortion, parental rights, and how we can use the scriptures to inform our views about modern topics that may not be explicitly mentioned in the Bible. Teach them not just who to vote for, but how to research candidates and make informed decisions – a skill which will last them a lifetime. Teach them about what it means to be a Christ-centered leader, able to make a difference in our communities.
If you’re interested in learning more steps about how to steward your family in their sacred duty, click here to download your free booklet for an in-depth guide:
“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote . . . that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.” – Samuel Adams, “The Writings of Samuel Adams: 1778–1802”
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