Discipleship Starts At Home

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” – Matthew 28:19 (ESV)

We often hear this call and immediately think about the world, our communities, our workplaces, strangers we may encounter. But before we ever step outside to disciple others, we have to look inside our homes.

Because the truth is this: our first ministry is our children.

They are the ones watching us every single day. They see the old version of us, and they witness the transformation when we give our lives to Christ. And for them, that change can be confusing. One day, mom or dad lived one way… and now everything is different.

But here’s where we often miss it….

we don’t always take the time to explain that transformation to them.

Our Children Need to Know Jesus Too

Our children don’t just need rules.

They don’t just need correction.

They need relationship with Jesus.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6

We are not their creators.

We are not their gods.

There is only one God, and our children must come to know Him for themselves.

The Bible reminds us:

“Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:3

That tells us something powerful….

children matter deeply to God.

Their hearts are open, receptive, and ready.

They Are Watching More Than We Think

Every moment is an opportunity to disciple.

When your child walks in and sees you reading your Bible…

When they hear you praying…

When they notice how you respond in difficult situations…

They are learning.

And instead of brushing them off, we can invite them in.

“Hey Mom, what are you reading?”

That’s not an interruption, that’s an invitation.

A Personal Moment: Leading My Daughter to Christ

Recently, my daughter Alexandria sat with me while I was watching a podcast. As we listened, I paused to explain what was being said, testimonies, repentance, and what it truly means to follow Jesus.

At the end, there was a prayer of repentance and salvation.

And she said she wanted to pray it.

So we did, together.

I explained to her what it means to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. I explained sin, repentance, and the difference between living by the flesh and living by the Spirit.

“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” – Galatians 5:16

We talked about what it means to die to our flesh daily:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23

And she understood, on her level, but truly understood.

The Next Step: Baptism

A couple of weeks later, she came to me and said:

“Mommy, I want to be baptized.”

That wasn’t something I pushed.

That was the Holy Spirit working in her.

So I explained baptism to her:

“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death… in order that… we too may live a new life.” – Romans 6:4

Baptism is a declaration.

It’s saying:

• I’m leaving my old self behind

• I’m choosing Jesus

• I’m walking in new life

  
  

And in that moment, something else hit me.

I started thinking about where she would be baptized… and who would do it.

But the Holy Spirit reminded me:

You can baptize your child (mic drop moment)

The same Spirit, the same power, the same authority given to believers lives in us.

This isn’t about titles.

It’s about obedience.

It Starts With Us!

Here’s the hard truth:

We cannot teach what we don’t understand.

We cannot disciple our children if we are not being discipled ourselves.

That means:

• Repenting daily

• Surrendering fully

• Spending time in the Word

• Allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us

  
  

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” – Psalm 51:10

Because before we go out trying to lead others…

We have children in our homes who need to be led.

Discipleship Is Not Just Taught, It’s Lived

Your children are your first assignment.

Before the platform…

Before the ministry…

Before the audience…

There is your home.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15

Discipleship starts at home.

Closing Prayer

Father God,

We thank You for the gift of family and the responsibility of raising our children in Your truth. Help us to be intentional in our walk so that we can lead by example. Give us wisdom, patience, and understanding as we teach our children who You are. Holy Spirit, guide our conversations, open their hearts, and draw them closer to You. Teach us how to disciple with love, truth, and consistency. Let our homes be filled with Your presence, and may our children grow to know You deeply and personally.

In the mighty name above all names! Jesus Christ, we pray,

Amen. 🤍

Before you go…

If this message spoke to you in any way, I’d truly love to hear from you. Your voice matters here.

Please take a moment to:

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I don’t just write to be heard, I write to build a space where we can grow together in truth, understanding, and relationship with God.

If there’s something you’ve been wrestling with, curious about, or want me to write on, don’t hesitate to say it in the comments. Your questions may be exactly what someone else needs answered too.

Thank you for being here and walking this journey with me. 🤍

— The Surrendered Walk