By Lisa Davis 

Over 300 people gathered at Mount Carmel this past Friday night for our Family Worship Night. Our goal? To help our families to be able to take a ‘7th Inning Stretch’ from their busy lives, to worship with their church family and to receive a challenge to take steps toward discipling their children at home as shared in Deut. 6:4-7 (NIRV):

“Israel, listen to me. The Lord is our God. The Lord is the one and only God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength. The commandments I give you today must be in your hearts. Make sure your children learn them. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up.”

Using baseball themed videos from our very own MC families, we shared several analogies between baseball and parenting! Did you know that such a thing exists? Becoming a good baseball player takes practice. Swinging the bat over and over again; throwing the ball over and over again. The habit of practice holds true to discipling your children. It’s something that takes practice; some days are easier than others. A habit is something that takes time to develop; over and over again. The easiest way to disciple is what we call habit stacking; stack discipleship with something you’re already doing! Eating breakfast? Share a Bible story or a verse to memorize as a family. Driving to practice? Everyone share 3 things they’re thankful for. Leaving for work or school? Stop to pray a blessing over your family. Eating dinner? Share a family devotion.

Practicing with your team is invaluable to players. Discipling your children with like-minded parents is life giving. Psalm 78:4 (NIRV) says this: “We won’t hide them from our children. We will tell them to those who live after us. We will tell them what the Lord has done that is worthy of praise. We will talk about His power and the wonderful things He has done.”  We don’t want to hide the goodness of God from our children! We want to share His goodness over and over again. We want our kids to know the power of knowing Jesus in their lives. Strategically placing 5 people who can spiritually influence your child is so important. When our children are small, we can’t imagine them not wanting to talk to us about something crucial in their lives. Parents, it will happen. Your child will need the Christian influence of other trusted adults. Other parents who have earned the role of spiritual influencer because you share the same trusted love of God’s Word.  I pray that you will reach out to join a small group and find your tribe; your people; others who will pray for you and for your children. Others who will be there to pick you up when you’re tired or need encouragement.

Mom and Dad, grown-ups, caregivers: the Church of 2050 needs you to not hide the goodness of God from them. Make Jesus normal, not novel.  An everyday thing; not a Sunday thing.

Finally, Rick Lowry is offering a brand new small group just for parents! Join him for a 5-week study entitled “Habits of the Household”. It starts next Tuesday evening and includes childcare! Don’t miss this: https://mountcarmel.cc/event/habits-of-the-household-a-class-for-young-parents-starting-may-7th/

Cheering you on,

Lisa Davis