As a parent, the most important "tools" in your bag as you seek to raise your children to be followers of Christ are example and instruction. 

When it comes to the discipleship of the next generation, parents are primary, but the local church also has a crucial role to play. Training the next generation to trust and treasure the Savior really is a partnership between church and home.

Discipleship is bringing all of life into conformity with Jesus' authority. It's constantly relying on His presence and power and doing everything for His glory. So, while discipleship in the home isn't less than Bible time, prayer, singing, and church engagement, it is so much more.

Oftentimes the biggest obstacle to our parenting is...ourselves! But God gives grace to help in time of need through a variety of channels.

In Genesis 1, we learn of God's authority in the context of God's goodness, and that should shape the way we represent God in our use of parental authority.

In order to faithfully represent the God of mercy to our children, we ourselves are in desperate need of His mercy. Good thing He is "rich in mercy!"

The aim of parenting is disciple-making, and we can only pursue that goal with joy and patience as we rest in God's abiding presence and power.

Real change happens when our kids come to face-to-face with the depths of their sin, and learn to cast themselves on God's rich mercy in Jesus.

Control is not the goal! God's intention is for us to be tools in His hand to produce heart and life change in our kids' lives.

Helping our children see and treasure the worth of God is the key to real and lasting change in their lives (and don't forget that the false gods we give our hearts to don't have to be made of wood and stone!).