Jesus In Your Home: Missional Motherhood

  Missional living begins within the walls of our own homes.  Our family is our first mission field.

 Motherhood is missional.  Parenting is missional.  Your marriage may even be your primary mission field.

I always give a fist bump when I hear that particular scripture passage.  …and by “always,” I mean that I usually do a mental fist bump to avoid causing disturbances mid-sermons and such.  As a parent, there is something so empowering and encouraging to read those words from the heart of God.  

Let’s look closely at practical ways we can teach the love of Jesus within the walls of our own homes.  I’m not a parenting expert.  My children are all very young, after all. I am, however, very passionate about teaching them the true, real love of Jesus.  I want them to know what it means to really live for Jesus by learning from my example, serving alongside me, worshipping together, and family discussions about God.  It is my biggest priority.

We have a wonderful church family, but church is very secondary to the lessons we are teaching in our home about Jesus.  My goal is not to raise children who love church, behave in church, dress appropriately for church, or act “churchy.”  My goal is to raise children who know Jesus and have growing relationships with Him.  I certainly hope my children will enjoy the fellowship and joy of a church family as they begin their own families one day, but (again) that is very secondary to the meaningful relationship and surrendered life that I pray they will have with their Savior.

If we teach our children to seek church, they may give it all up one day or they may seek a church that doesn’t follow Jesus.  I must teach them to seek Jesus and to glorify God above all else.

Fellow parents, our home is a mission field.  I’m so driven by this quote from Pastor Andy Stanley,

Your greatest contribution to the Kingdom of God may not be something you do but someone you raise.”

Someone I raise.  

How do we, fellow mothers {and fathers}, teach our children about Jesus?  

Disclaimer: I’m in this season with you.  You won’t find expert advice here.  However, I bring some stuff to the table in this department.  I have a passion for Jesus and for sharing Him and discipling others.  I’m raising three little ones, so I’m writing this from the trenches.  It’s all still fresh and real and messy and raw.  {I’ll let you know more about the finished result in about 20 years.  They’re all still “in the process,” you know.} I’m not an expert on child-rearing but I am an expert on educating children, actually.  I’m an elementary school teacher and I was raised by Mother Goose herself. My mom is a genius in the “happy childhood” department. Does any of this add to my expertise?  Not exactly.  I do think that my passions meet my knowledge meet my experiences in this topic of teaching children about Jesus.  It’s sort of a figurative recipe to “stir” up a few ideas!  

After brainstorming ideas, I realized I have too many thoughts and words to squeeze the kind of quality I’m hoping to share into this one little blog post.  Therefore, you’ve just completed Part 1: Jesus In Your Home.  I hope you’ll join me tomorrow for practical ideas on sharing the love of Jesus with our very own children in our very own homes.  

Sweet friends, God has called us to take the Gospel to a lost and dying world.  May the teaching of the Gospel and the sharing of His love begin in our own homes, and beneath our own roofs first.  We’ve been entrusted with those in our homes. 

We must be faithful with what we Have been given and our children are a gift.  May we steward our gifts well. 

From my heart to yours,          ~Courtney