The Need For A Home-Church Partnership

Depending on the research, anywhere from 60 – 80% of young people who grow up in the church, are walking away from their faith by the time they are in their mid-20’s.

 We would like to blame culture— the media, the schools, the neighbors, the government.  The things of this world will always be a concern. We live in a broken, fallen world.  But the church has always grown and thrived in all kinds of cultures. For decades, American churches have invested in children and youth ministries without the expected result Why?

One of the primary reasons young people give for their exodus from the church and the Christian faith, is hypocrisy. One of the most often cited points of hypocrisy is Christians who do not live the Christ-life consistently in every day life at home. Young people grow up in homes where Christ is not honored, prayers are not said, worship does not happen. These young people are rejecting a Christianity that is not as real at home as it is in Church on Sunday.

Sadly, many Christian families do not seem to know HOW to live the Christ life at home. They have surrendered their God-given responsibility for Christian living in favor of Sunday morning church attendance. The next generation is looking for something that is real and life changing.

The Scriptures are clear that the home is where faith is nurtured and passed from generation to generation. Just as a church needs to take responsibility to teach what the Bible says about the Gospel, the church must take responsibility to help families understand what the Bible says about families! What is God’s plan for a family?  The truth is, God planned for children and teens to be guided by faithful parents and grandparents – generation by generation. There is no adequate substitute for this. 

The simple process of adding prayer to the family’s daily routine is a good way for families to begin. What happens when the family stops everything and looks to Jesus?

The family acknowledges the reality of God.

They recognize the reality of God’s presence in their home.

The family is drawn together to repent, acknowledge weaknesses, and make needs known.

Jesus responds!

The Holy Spirit moves.

Prayers are answered.

Conviction becomes real.

If this responsibility for the discipleship of the next generation is with parents, how does the church get involved?  The next generation is best discipled by a partnership between the church and the home, and the home is key! The Church must intentionally help parents reclaim their authority and responsibility as the primary faith teachers of their children? It is vital for us to draw the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents, Malachi 4:6.

The church needs to move the responsibility back into the home as they challenge, train, equip and encourage parents and grandparents to disciple the next generation.

First, the church must intentionally challenge families to understand their responsibility and accept that responsibility. They need to hear the statistics, and they need to know the significance of their role.

Once the vision is caught and the inspiration is there, the church can train parents and grandparents and help them understand how to fulfill their God-given responsibility by instruction in the basic principles of an active faith life in the home.

 Then the church needs to equip families with the tools they need to fulfill their responsibility, including Bible study resources, worship and pray guides, and some of the amazing resources available for families.

Once parents and grandparents have begun the process of practicing their faith at home in an intentional discipleship process, the church must constantly encourage and support them as they face the challenges they are sure to encounter.

We know that life is challenging for parents today. Church leaders must be patient and grace-filled as they offer support and encouragement to families. The church must be focused and intentional as we retrace our steps back to the plan God intended, as we challenge, train, equip and encourage – Family Discipleship.