Eternity-Minded Mothering: A Beginner’s Guide to Discipling Your Children Toward Christ

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When we put our focus on discipling our children to know Jesus, we invest something in them that will last beyond this life.

by Katie Bennett, Contributing Writer

The best thing we could invest into our children’s lives is not a love for sports, or reading, or the outdoors. No, the best thing we could invest in our children is a love for God, a knowledge of His word and guidance for what it looks like live accordingly. It’s eternity-minded mothering.

Every single thing that is contained solely within this physical world will pass away and be forgotten, and yet there are also many pursuits and inclinations of the heart that strike a chord in eternity. We have the opportunity to foster either or both of these things in the lives of our children.

The temporary is not bad, it’s just temporary.

Those great manners, straight-A report cards and advanced athletic and fine arts accomplishments will one day cease to hold meaning in and of themselves. What will hold enduring value is the way we and our children loved God and loved others sacrificially, along with the way we walked in faithful, trusting obedience to God.

It’s really that simple.

The most humble, faithful of lives will be elevated above the most glorified on this earth. God’s economy is completely other than ours, and as parents, we would be wise to pay attention to this eternal equation.

So how do we foster lasting value in our children’s lives?

I believe this happens best through the simple, yet profound process of discipleship.

What is Discipleship?

Jesus’ Example

Jesus’ parting words before ascending to heaven were “Go and make disciples!” and yet in our 21st Century world, it is difficult to comprehend the depth of this concept.

Jesus used the discipleship model Himself to bring about change and growth in the lives of the group of 12 men He selected to be His followers. They went with Him everywhere, watching and learning for three years! This process didn’t change the hearts of the disciples (like Judas Iscariot), but for those who were sincere in faith it was an extremely effective model for training and developing.

In this way, the teacher demonstrated God’s ways and applied His truth in many situations and contexts. Discipleship is the ultimate method for equipping others for life with God.

Jesus did it, and He commissioned us to do likewise.

The Amazing Parenting Parallel

As mothers (and fathers), God has uniquely positioned us to disciple our children. 

Think about it for a second: our children naturally live their lives alongside us. God has given us the privilege of fulfilling His command to make disciples right in our own homes. Therefore, we must, over all else, make it our parenting goal to lead our children to know God, to follow His ways, and to view their lives in light of eternity.

We nurture and train our children to follow Christ. 

Neither the wise, nor the strong, nor the rich will have anything to boast about in the presence of God. So let us strive to instill in our children the things that will matter: knowing God and exercising kindness, justice and righteousness.

A Beginner’s Guide to Discipling Your Children

Be a disciple

I would be remiss if I didn’t start here.

We can’t lead our children on paths we haven’t first trodden ourselves. That truth challenges me to continue pursuing Christ myself through Bible reading, prayer, rest, meeting with other believers and obedience to what God has said.

Discipleship isn’t about “arriving” at spiritual maturity and then mentoring others from the station of “expert.”

Rather, discipleship says, “Come with me as I go deeper.”

Key verse:

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)

If you need a place to start your own discipleship journey, start here.

Talk about God’s activity

This is a simple discipleship principle, yet it is incredibly important and often neglected.

Every moment that we are with our children is an opportunity to help them see God’s activity and apply His word to their lives in real time.

It is easy to live at the surface-level, willing away our days perceiving nothing more than the sheet of glass that is the world right in front of our face. Yet, there is always a spiritual reality in every situation. Through walking, sitting, eating and talking with our children, we have the opportunity to model and guide them into a God-soaked and eternity-minded way of thinking, being and living.

This conversation can be as simple as sharing what God is doing in our own lives, what we’re reading in the Bible, and how we’re applying it practically. When we share openly and authentically, we bring down the barriers that divide us and allow our children to see inside our hearts.

Discipleship says: “Let’s walk together. Let me show you how I apply God’s word along the way.”

Key verse:

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV)

Pray for (& with) your children

We cannot change our children’s hearts, and only God can draw them to Himself.

We must rely on His power and trust His plan, yet by His grace we have the privilege of partnering in this process. One of the best ways we can do this is by praying for our children’s hearts.

And then, we disciple our children in prayer as we model it. When we bring our children with us before to thrown of God, we sow valuable seeds. When we connect the normal happenings of our daily lives with prayer, we set a pattern for our children to follow.

Discipleship says: “Everything I know about doing life with God, I will show you.”

Key verse:

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42 (NIV)

Minister alongside your children

Jesus’ disciples went with Him as He ministered.

They watched and learned and ingested His way of interacting with the world. They learned to see people as He saw them, through eyes of compassion and love. Each of them learned to understand truth by experience.

Just last week, I was in Guatemala drilling a clean water well with Living Water International. I have felt moved by the work this ministry for years. Yet it wasn’t until I saw the need firsthand and had the opportunity to meet and love the people they serve for myself that it became personal. 

Until it became personal, I now know that I didn’t truly “get what it was all about” … not deeply.

In the same way, our children may understand that serving is good, but when we take them into gritty, hard places and let them get their hands dirty to meet the needs of real, hurting people alongside us, we open the door to understanding, love and spiritual truth in their lives.

Discipleship says: “Do what I do, as I do what Christ does.”

Key verse:

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:14-15

Looking for more?

Maybe you need help seeing life and parenting from an eternal perspective?

As God has opened my eyes to His broader truth, He has also given me a passion for helping moms cultivate this reality-shifting perspective. That is why I’ve created a four-part online course, which comes complete with four video lessons and a companion Bible study journal, to help you as you pursue eternity-minded mothering.

Enroll now here: Heavenly Minded Mom Online Course

What does discipling children toward Christ look like in your home?

How will you work to create a sense of sanctuary in your home this week? In which of these areas do you most need to grow?

Hi! I’m Katie. I’m a stay-at-home mom of four, and I live a life devoted to Jesus. I love to write, and I focus my energy on living simply and well. You may enjoy my devotional, Heavenly-Minded Mom: A 90-Day Journey to Embrace What Matters Most. I’m fairly new to the blogging world, recently launching a blog called Embracing a Simpler Life where I write about eternal perspective, being a wife and mama for the glory of God, and simple, intentional living. Come check it out!