Jesus directed His followers to make disciples wherever they went. In every setting, God was going to give them opportunities to tell others about Him if they would just trust Him and follow His leading. As dads, God has given us an incredible opportunity to answer that call and disciple our own kids at home.

The Bible is pretty clear that parents, especially fathers, are the primary spiritual leaders of their families. That means that the discipleship process for our kids really begins with us. We are responsible for the spiritual growth of our children. The Great Commission and the drive to make disciples starts under our roof.

Discipleship Starts with You

Actually, we probably need to take the disciple-making process one step back from our kids. Discipleship at home begins with your own relationship with God. As a dad, you exert a lot of influence, but that influence depends on sincerity and genuineness. In other words, you can’t teach your kids how to be disciples if you aren’t walking the walk yourself. 

And, as we’ll see below, that begins with a personal relationship with Jesus. You may have made that decision already. If so, that’s awesome! I never want to talk you out of your relationship with Christ. But, if for some reason, you realize that you’ve been going through the motions of faith without a real relationship with Jesus, now is a great time for a spiritual course correction.

Truth is, we are all sinners who need a Savior. And Jesus is the Savior who accepts all sinners who are faithful to Him. If you will believe that He died for your sins and are willing to accept His offer of salvation, you can start your own discipleship journey with Jesus today. If you have questions, talk with a trusted friend or a minister at church who can walk with you through this decision.

It’s the best (and most important) choice you’ll ever make. And it’s the first step toward learning how to make disciples at home.

6 Ways to Build Disciples at Home

In his second letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul provided a great outline for discipleship (2 Timothy 2:2). He challenged Timothy to take the things he had learned from Paul and share those truths with younger generations. Those generations would then be equipped to make disciples in the future.

That formula reflects an unbroken chain that has grounded the church for more than 2,000 years. But this same disciple-making principle can also work in your home. As you continue to grow as a disciple, learning from those who invest in your life, you can pass those truths to your children. Then, as they mature, they can begin making disciples in their world. 

As you consider ways to raise your kids to become disciple-making disciples, here are six practical steps you can take. 

1. Lead your child to a personal relationship with Jesus.

As we mentioned earlier, discipleship begins with a personal relationship with Jesus. When Jesus told His disciples to make more disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), he was talking about pointing them toward Him first and foremost. The biblical word for “disciple” literally refers to a student or a follower. For Christians, our Teacher is Jesus. It all begins with Him. 

2. Embrace your role as a teacher.

While Jesus is the ultimate Teacher for Christians, God has placed you in a great place to be His hands and feet in the lives of your kids. Making disciples is about guiding them toward Jesus through your words and actions. That includes teachable moments and intentional times of instruction. 

It also means investing time. Again, people have taken time to pour into your spiritual life over the years. You can return the favor by investing your time and knowledge into the lives of those closest to you.

3. Stay focused on God’s Word.

The key to making disciples is getting to know Jesus better. And there is no way to know Him better than to dig into His Word. While other resources can be helpful, the Bible must be the foundation you build on as you make disciples at home. 

A great place to start is working through one of the Gospels together—maybe Matthew or John. Both have been used to jumpstart the discipling process for centuries. You also might identify a short-term Bible study that you and your child can go through—or complete a Bible study as a family. The important thing is to dig into God’s Word and see what He says about being a follower of Jesus.

4. Connect with a solid local church.

Making disciples—and raising your kids to make disciples—is a challenging task. But you don’t have to do it alone. While you have the primary responsibility, the classes and outreach opportunities of a Bible-based, Christ-centered local church can provide a tremendous support system. It can reinforce what you’re teaching at home and offer additional chances for your kids to put their faith into action. 

5. Read books about following Jesus.

As mentioned, the Bible is your foundational resource for making disciples who will then answer the call to make new disciples. But, through the centuries, God has used great writers and thinkers to explain both why and how it’s done. Their works can be valuable tools. 

You should personally read some books that will strengthen you as a disciple-maker, along with finding books that will challenge and inspire your kids. For example, you could dig into something a little deeper like Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, while your child can read a more age-appropriate work like The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. You could also share biographies of strong Christians who have made a difference in God’s kingdom over time.

6. Trust God.

When Jesus commissioned His followers to make disciples, He assured them that His presence would be with them every step of the way. That promise still stands today. Despite the challenges you may face or the questions you may have, you can be confident because He is with you. 

Making disciples is something we know God wants us to do. What’s more, we know that He blesses our efforts to obey His directions. So, we can rest in the fact that He will give us everything we need to make disciples at home. 

Build a Kingdom, Not a Castle

One of my favorite authors is a guy named Bob Goff. In one of his books, he talks about the difference between building a castle and building a kingdom. He explains that castles insulate and isolate. They are self-centered and self-serving. Meanwhile, kingdoms create community and extend influence. They are outward-focused.

Making disciples is about building a kingdom, not a castle. When we make disciples, we invite people into a life-changing, transformational experience with the world’s Savior. We are also equipping them to be “ambassadors” of the kingdom, commissioning them to invite others to join us.

As a dad, your greatest responsibility—and greatest joy—involves making sure your kids are growing as disciples and growing in their passion for extending the influence of the kingdom. It’s an incredible challenge and an incredible opportunity. But, with God’s help, you can do it!


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