Spiritual Parenting - 6

REVIVING SPIRITUAL PARENTING (1)

Just a reminder: When I say 'spiritual parenting', I am talking about grassroots discipleship - caring for new converts, teaching and nurturing developing saints, and training and equipping spiritual leaders (making disciples). Re-learning and revitalizing this all-important work is why this blog exists.

Reviving spiritual parenting - Pt 1

Last week I felt that the Lord laid on me a process for a team of spiritual leaders to follow in revitalizing this all-important work in and among their church families! I can't thank the Lord enough - something simple, practical and organic. Over the next several posts, I hope to outline this coaching process step by step - and maybe make some personal real-life observations along the way. May the Lord grant your church family a revival of spiritual parenting.

Step 1: Understand the metaphor

Wise and healthy parents in the physical world have a difficult, yet important job in the development of the children in their household. They must A) Observe and pinpoint where each of their children are in the process of human development, and then B) take proper parenting steps in helping each child successfully reach the next level of growth. In other words, where are each of my children in their separate stages of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual growth, and how can I teach, nurture, and equip them for that next level of development?

For example, my two-year-old daughter Gracie is at a post-toddler stage - she is physically healthy (but a somewhat lactose intolerant from what we can tell), potty trained (but still needs a pull-up during sleep times), knows how to use a fork to feed herself, knows her numbers up to 15 or so (as well as her basic colors), and is comfortable being left at preschool for a couple of hours twice a week. My job as a parent is to help Gracie learn and develop into the next stage of growth - this might include taking steps to manage her lactose intolerance, help her graduate from pull-ups, teach her to use a spoon and a normal cup while drinking, work with her on her numbers up to 50 and learning the alphabet, and on staying with a sitter or at school for longer periods of time.

As parents, we have pinpointed where she is at in her development and are thinking about what comes next so that we can help her get there. The same with our 9-year-old boy and our twelve-year-old pre-teen (going on 18) - they each have next steps in their human development as they grow to adults. With our 9-year-old that might be improving his reading, brushing and flossing his teeth better, and getting his chores done without being asked. With our twelve year old, it is starting to learn basic money management, learning the value and importance of hard work, and boundaries with girls and how to be a gentleman.

This same process just may apply to good spiritual parenting.

We must look at all of the members of our spiritual household, pinpoint where they are at in their individual spiritual formation, and start thinking and praying about next steps.

Getting Practical- List all of the brothers and sisters in your church family on a sheet of paper - next to each, label where they might be at in their individual spiritual formation. Various terms could be used to describe the process of spiritual growth and maturity of course - but here is my set (in order): Pre-believer, baby in Christ, young saint, developing saint, mature believer, spiritual parent. Start thinking and praying about what the next spiritual steps might be for each of these individuals.

Key Bible passage - John 21:15-17 - Jesus charges Peter to "Feed His lambs", "Take care of His sheep", and "Feed His sheep" - although some english versions of the Bible read the same phrase all three time ("Feed my sheep") each one of these charges actually carries with it a different combination of Greek words. Caring for younger lambs, and feeding for mature sheep, etc - quite possibly a picture of nurturing, teaching, and equipping spiritual children and families in their various stages of growth and receptiveness.

PASS IT ON - If this post was a blessing to you, please take a moment to recommend it to someone else - link to it on facebook or twitter perhaps - especially anyone you know in any kind of position of spiritual leadership. Thanks so much!