Make Your Children Disciples - Zac Poonen
Visit our website for more information: www.cfcindia.com
Summary
The central message is that parents must actively raise their children to be true disciples of Jesus Christ, emphasizing that this commitment must be more valued than worldly achievements like education or wealth. The speaker stresses that children learn far more from what they *see* their parents doing—such as reading the Bible daily—than from what they are merely taught. True discipleship requires a deep, visible longing for one's children to follow Christ, not just to go through rituals.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Do you value being a disciple?People invest heavily to have children, but raising them requires tremendous wisdom. Many Christians have an arranged-marriage relationship with Jesus rather than a true love for Him, which impacts how they raise their children.
What do we truly long for our children?Parents encourage education and college degrees because they see the value of them, yet many Christian parents fail to make their children disciples because they are not fully convinced that following Jesus is the greatest thing in life.
Children imitate what they see dailyMany parents neglect Bible reading in favor of television and internet, and their children notice. The speaker shares how his children remember seeing him sitting with the Bible every single morning.
The power of sight over hearingWhat goes in through the eyes makes a much deeper impression than what is heard, just as television leaves a stronger memory than radio. Sunday school is helpful, but it cannot replace godly parents training their children at home.
Will there be a gap in the circle?Parents should not be satisfied with external rituals like baptism or church approval if their children are not true disciples. The goal is to guide children from being under the law to genuinely loving God and His people on their own.
The danger of criticizing the church at homeYoung parents often damage their children's love for the church by gossiping and criticizing imperfect believers at the dining table. By refusing to criticize others at home, children learn to value God's people over worldly friends.
