No Special Tool Needed
There was a time in my marriage when I had professional cleaners come every few weeks. I remember the manager coming over to walk through our condo so I could show her what I'd like as part of the routine cleaning.
I showed her the gap between our stove and kitchen cabinet. I mentioned it always catches dust and dirt and wanted it to be cleaned as part of the regular service since I had difficulty cleaning in between. She said, "We can do that for you. We have a special tool for that." I was delighted with her response, and we continued surveying the remaining rooms.
Now, when I sweep between the cabinet and stove with my broom, I always chuckle.
A special tool?! What would that even be?!
She HAD to be referring to a broom. That doesn't seem special at all.
And so it goes with family discipleship, too. Maybe I shouldn't be saying it too loudly because — after all — we run a business making and selling discipleship tools, but… there's no special tool for discipleship. There's no secret program that is being withheld from the masses. There's no "As Seen On TV" kit that you need to start sharing eternal truths about Jesus Christ with your kids.
There is only Christ in you. The Holy Spirit in you will minister to your children. He will help you communicate the gospel to your kids in ways they understand. BUT you do need to create regular space and time with your kids to do this, even if it's tagging along with a rhythm you already have. The Israelites knew this well.
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” — Deuteronomy 6:4-9, ESV
While Thrive Family Life conversation cards and mealtime devotionals won't change your kids' hearts, we hope they will encourage you to talk about Jesus with your kids during the rhythms you already have: during dinner, after family movie night, and during car rides to soccer practice…
We hope to help you make the space and time alongside your standing rhythms, trusting that the Holy Spirit will move in your kids' hearts as you boldly proclaim the risen Christ to them.
Not only do we hope you’ll make memories while you make disciples, we also hope you’ll make disciples while you’re making memories.
