RiverLife Weekly #47: Inter-Gen Disciple Making

The Bible in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 points to parents and grandparents as the primary disciple makers of their children, not the children’s church or youth ministry. In fact, Scripture views the multiple generations of God’s family as interdependent and necessary for disciple making (Psalm 71:8).

That means the church will partner with the home in our disciple making model (Acts 16:31). We are currently working on a lifespan approach to support our Disciple Making Road Map (rlc.sg/wb2020) which looks at the developmental needs from birth through adulthood; with ongoing support and training (Galatians 6:2).

 

• RECOGNISE THE NEED FOR INTER-GEN DISCIPLE MAKING

An inter-generational community sets the foundation where children are spiritually formed through relationships that span the generations. In such a congregation, the young receive spiritual guidance from adults, who in turn receive spiritual renewal from the young. When the generations also engage recreationally, they are building bonds that create a relational foundation for discipleship. Inter-generational ministry can naturally flow from this community which involves relationships between two or more generations.

God places joint responsibility on the whole church for the care and nurture of one another. Hence, we don’t say things like: “I am only accountable to God” or “I am not responsible for them”. We need to both model and have models of inspiring spiritual maturity. You and I need spiritual fathers, spiritual mothers and spiritual siblings who disciple the next generation – so they can experience acceptance and love even in times of conflict, correction and challenges.

 

• HOW MIGHT INTER-GEN DISCIPLE MAKING LOOK LIKE PRACTICALLY?

  • Members having deep spiritual friendships with another family, another couple or someone in a different life phase.
  • The worship gathering becomes a shared experience. With loving and humble inter-generational relationship as the fuel, younger generations honour the traditions and heritage of older generations in style and worship, while older generations get excited about fresh and reverential worship and ministry expressions.
  • Younger generations feel like they are welcome to communicate ideas and feedback to older ones and leadership figures. But they are humble and honouring of older generations while doing so.
  • Older generations have a posture to learn relationally from younger generations.
  • People not having one spiritual parent, but two or three.

Our young benefit spiritually from parents, grandparents as well as non-familial mentors who reach out and build meaningful personal relationships with them. Often, children remember the stories or lives of people they have known in their faith communities more than Bible facts they have learnt.

My prayer is that our church would be a congregation of extended families with the home as the focal point of disciple-making. I believe God is calling each one of us to be part of the extended family to another. Will you join me?

 

Pastor Ben KC Lee

The Bible in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 points to parents and grandparents as the primary disciple makers of their children, not the children’s church or youth ministry. In fact, Scripture views the multiple generations of God’s family as interdependent and necessary for disciple making (Psalm 71:8).

That means the church will partner with the home in our disciple making model (Acts 16:31). We are currently working on a lifespan approach to support our Disciple Making Road Map (rlc.sg/wb2020) which looks at the developmental needs from birth through adulthood; with ongoing support and training (Galatians 6:2).

 

• RECOGNISE THE NEED FOR INTER-GEN DISCIPLE MAKING

An inter-generational community sets the foundation where children are spiritually formed through relationships that span the generations. In such a congregation, the young receive spiritual guidance from adults, who in turn receive spiritual renewal from the young. When the generations also engage recreationally, they are building bonds that create a relational foundation for discipleship. Inter-generational ministry can naturally flow from this community which involves relationships between two or more generations.

God places joint responsibility on the whole church for the care and nurture of one another. Hence, we don’t say things like: “I am only accountable to God” or “I am not responsible for them”. We need to both model and have models of inspiring spiritual maturity. You and I need spiritual fathers, spiritual mothers and spiritual siblings who disciple the next generation – so they can experience acceptance and love even in times of conflict, correction and challenges.

 

• HOW MIGHT INTER-GEN DISCIPLE MAKING LOOK LIKE PRACTICALLY?

  • Members having deep spiritual friendships with another family, another couple or someone in a different life phase.
  • The worship gathering becomes a shared experience. With loving and humble inter-generational relationship as the fuel, younger generations honour the traditions and heritage of older generations in style and worship, while older generations get excited about fresh and reverential worship and ministry expressions.
  • Younger generations feel like they are welcome to communicate ideas and feedback to older ones and leadership figures. But they are humble and honouring of older generations while doing so.
  • Older generations have a posture to learn relationally from younger generations.
  • People not having one spiritual parent, but two or three.

Our young benefit spiritually from parents, grandparents as well as non-familial mentors who reach out and build meaningful personal relationships with them. Often, children remember the stories or lives of people they have known in their faith communities more than Bible facts they have learnt.

My prayer is that our church would be a congregation of extended families with the home as the focal point of disciple-making. I believe God is calling each one of us to be part of the extended family to another. Will you join me?

 

Pastor Ben KC Lee

Posted On

March 16, 2021

Posted By

Pastor Ben KC Lee
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