As a dad who also follows Christ, you have a huge responsibility. God has established you as the spiritual leader in your home. You are the light that leads your kids to Jesus. You’re not just called to be a father raising children. You’re also called to be a mentor committed to disciple making. 

Of course, you can’t really make a disciple of Jesus. Only He can do that. But you can point your sons and daughters in the right direction. God expects you to create a culture in your home that makes it easy for your kids to know God and to pursue Jesus with a passion. 

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

The Command to Make Disciples

The best place to learn more about making disciples is the Bible, and the best Bible passage about disciple-making is Matthew 28:18-20. That’s a passage we might know better as the Great Commission. And the commission we’re given is to make disciples.

Often, we get caught up in other words from those verses. We emphasize things like going and baptizing and teaching. And don’t get me wrong . . . those are really important. But the way the Greek language is set up, each of those words are descriptors. They simply define the ways we should accomplish the major task Jesus gave: disciple making

So, our primary responsibility as believers is to lead people toward a personal relationship with Jesus. Our job as His disciples is to help others become His disciples. We do that by going where they are, baptizing them as Christ followers, and teaching them how to live the Christian life in a meaningful way.

But, again, the emphasis is on making disciples. 

Disciple Making as a Dad

Now that we’ve establishing that disciple making is what we’re all about, we need to understand what that means to our roles as dads. Simply put, our primary duty as Christians is also our primary duty as fathers. As the spiritual leaders in our homes, we’re called to be disciple makers. 

For each of us, the Great Commission starts under our roof. 

Now, I realize that can feel pretty overwhelming. But you need to remember something really important: You’re not alone. If God calls you to something, He’s also going to equip you to succeed. Making disciples at home is no different. He will guide you each step of the way.

With that in mind, I’ve listed five key things you can do to be a dad who makes disciples. If you’re wondering where to start, these principles can be a great springboard. 

1. Be a disciple yourself.

I have a phrase that I use a lot. In fact, if you’ve read many of my posts, it’s going to sound familiar: You can’t lead your kids where you haven’t already gone spiritually. That means you have to have a good understanding of the salvation that is offered to you. You need a personal relationship with Jesus. 

Plus, you need to be doing the things that true disciples do: studying Scripture, praying, fellowshipping with other believers, and so much more. Since more is caught than taught when it comes to discipleship, your life will speak volumes. So, set the example as you seek to become a disciple-making dad.

2. Lead your kids toward God.

You need to make it easy for your kids to trust Christ. And you can do that by putting them in situations where they will hear about His love and His goodness. Talk about spiritual things whenever you get the chance. Share your own spiritual victories—and, when appropriate, defeats—with them. 

You also need to take them to church instead of sending them to church. Research suggests that kids whose fathers bring them to church are more likely to develop a faith that sticks. So, if you want to fulfill your role of making disciples at home, you need to be with your children in church!

3. Be consistent.

You don’t have to be perfect. That should take a load off your mind because none of us are ever going to reach perfection this side of heaven. We’re always going to fall short. It’s called being human.

But you do need to be consistent. Whether it’s your personal lifestyle or your ongoing efforts to be a disciple-maker, you’ve got to avoid the integrity gaps that can diminish your influence. Compromise kills disciple-making. In contrast, consistency builds spiritual legacies.

4. Look for opportunities to teach.

Basically, you’ve got two great ways you can teach your kids. First, you can set aside intentional times to dig into God’s Word and pray with them. This might look like family devotions or possibly some one-on-one time with each child. How it’s done is not nearly as important as making sure it gets done.

Second, become sensitive to “teachable moments.” These are those unplanned opportunities that God provides for meaningful spiritual conversations. For example, teaching my kids how to drive created some great teachable moments. They were focused on the road, so their guard was down. We talked about a lot of things that never would have seen the light of day otherwise. Watch for those moments as you spend time with your kids.

5. Expose your kid to godly mentors.

I had a high school teacher who liked to say, “Repetition is the key to learning.” I guess he was right because he said that a lot and I still remember it almost 40 years later. 

When it comes to disciple-making as a father, “repetition” includes the voices of other godly men and women speaking into your kids’ lives. They will listen to you, even though it might not seem like it’s registering. But when other adults they respect drive home the same principles, values, and faith grow deeper.

Lift up Jesus

In John 12, a group of skeptics confronted Jesus because He claimed to be the Messiah. As you might expect, the Lord didn’t back down. Instead, He said that as He was lifted up, He would draw even more people to Himself (John 12:32). Now, to be clear, He was talking about His sacrificial death, which would take place a few days later. But His words are a good reminder of another truth. 

When we lift up Jesus—when we let people see Him as He really is—He still draws people to Himself. That’s what you need to focus on as a disciple-making dad. You need to lift up Jesus every chance you get.

When you exalt Jesus, your kids will be attracted to Him. They will recognize their need for Him, both for salvation and for navigating the storms of life. Honestly, pointing your kids to Jesus is the best tool in your disciple-making toolbox. So, let Him shine through you each day.

Not sure where you’re headed as a dad? Take the Godly Father Assessment to see now.