Raising Spiritual Champions Book Discussion (2 of 3)

The Journey: PCA Parent Podcast

Guests: Holly Hamilton, Sandy Leydig, and Joel Gordon

For video of this podcast, check out PCA’s YouTube page.

Raising Spiritual Champions: Nurturing Your Child’s Heart, Mind, and Soul

By George Barna

Section ONE - The Importance of Children

Section TWO - The Four Principles of a Disciple

Section THREE - Families and Churches in Partnership

Section Two - The Four Practices of a Disciple

1. Making a life-defining commitment to be a disciple of Jesus
2. Accepting the biblical principles and commands that lead to becoming a disciple
3. Adopting the lifestyle of a disciple - obedience through application of beliefs
4. Inviting personal accountability and stability - through assessing what matters, reinforcing growth, and celebrating disciplehood

Chapter 4 - Disciple-Making Practice #1

• Being a genuine disciple starts with obedience.
• Why obey His teachings? Because He has provided them so that we may flourish in life.
• Obedience therefore demands knowledge of Scripture
• A different way of describing a disciple is someone who thinks like Jesus, which enables them to act like Jesus, producing someone who therefore lives like Jesus.
• Spiritual Commitments:
  • Serving Christ
  • Building a solid relationship
  • Investing personal resources
  • Implementing a solid plan
  • Using proven practices

Chapter 5 - Disciple-Making Practice #2

• Biblically speaking, discipling a child is meant to be done by the child’s parents

• How WORLDVIEW develops
  • Experimental process
  • Imitating their parents

• List of DIFFERENT/COMPETING worldviews…
  • 94% of adults have a syncretistic worldview - a blending of views from two or more of the comprehensive worldview systems

Chapter 6 - Disciple-Making Practice #3

• An equally important undertaking is to promote the fledgling disciple fully, and passionately integrating those beliefs into a Christlike lifestyle.
  • The expansive impact of those attributes is an example of why discipling someone is not a quick process.

• Spiritual fruit begins with evidence of personal transformation

Chapter 7 - Disciple-Making Practice #4

• Accountability system
• Find a spiritual mentor
• Must be taught the importance of consistent SELF-EVALUATION
• Introduce young followers to the still, small voice of the Lord…
• Measurement tools
  • Worldview Assessments Spiritual Gifts
  • Personal Strengths Personality Attributes
  • Spiritual Growth and Maturity

Special shout out to Jared Wood for allowing us to use his music - check him out at JaredWoodMusic!