Are churches unintentionally taking on a role that should primarily belong to parents?

In this video, Jason Dohm discusses two ways in which churches may be engaging in unhelpful discipleship methods. Firstly, he points out that although local churches play a crucial role in making disciples of Jesus, they should not be seen as the primary disciple makers, especially when it comes to children. The responsibility of a child's discipleship primarily lies with the parents. When a church invests in creating structures for children's discipleship and centers its activities around it, it gives the impression that it has been bestowed the primary role, which is not the case. This could potentially disempower parents.

Secondly, Dohm emphasizes that discipleship programs for children should not be narrowly age-focused. Often, in many churches, adults lead a group of children of the same age, which results in the children becoming the primary disciple makers. This is not the biblical model of discipleship. Biblically speaking, discipleship should involve a mixture of different ages for optimal growth and development.

Deuteronomy 6:7 (NKJV): 'You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.'