We Give Thanks, Make Me Glad, Wonder of Your Love, Heart of Our Home, Christ Be Magnified, Go and Follow

What three words would you use to describe the kind of family you grew up in?

And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

When Jesus is in the center of your family, everything changes. How do you know if He is the center of your family? Jesus gives us an invitation to follow Him, and He will make us into “fishers” of people (Matthew 4:19). The word “make” in Greek means to “make, build, create or produce”. Jesus is saying, if “You follow Me, I will build (create) you into fishers of men”. The inevitable result of following Jesus or having Him as the center of our family is that you are going to share the gospel. So, if you think you’re following Jesus fully, but you never share your faith, then you’re not following Jesus fully! In a Christ-centered family, if we want our children to follow Jesus fully, we must equip them to share Jesus boldly.

Bible content and theology is so important, but in and of itself, it’s not action. It’s like having a sponge (our children or family members) absorb so much milk (God’s Word), and the milk is not wrung out, it spoils! We have to pour God’s Word into our children and families, but we must also equip them to pour out God’s Word into their classmates, friends, teammates. When that happens, our family members will come back thirsty for more of God’s Word. This is what Jesus did with His disciples — He modeled, mobilized and multiplied the sharing of God’s Word.

MODEL IT PERSONALLY (Luke 8:1)

Jesus traveled to different places with His disciples, dropping gospel “breadcrumbs” everywhere He goes. He turned a conversation with a woman at the well about water into a conversation about Living Water (Jesus). With the Jews, He turned a conversation about bread into a conversation about the Bread of Life (Jesus). He heals the blind and helps them see spiritually as well. He talks to a spiritual leader, Nicodemus and a rich young ruler, constantly preaching the gospel and the disciples saw Him do this and caught what He had. Parents, do your children see you sharing the gospel? It’s so easy to get busy, even with church ministry. In the midst of that busyness, it’s easy to forget people out there who need to hear about Jesus, and we forget to share Christ with those around us. Moms and dads, will you model gospel sharing personally? The number one impact you have on your children in training them is when you model it to them personally. How did Jesus model it? Jesus modeled it for His disciples by praying (He was always escaping somewhere to pray), caring (He healed others, caring for needs) and sharing (He shared the gospel out loud) as a lifestyle. We model by praying, caring and sharing — you can pray for your neighbors, classmates, etc. around the dinner table, care for the people at your workplace, at school. Have gospel conversations with people you prayed for and cared for. Who will you list down under your “Pray” list, your “Care” list, and your “Share” list? How do you model?

One tool you can use to share the gospel as a family in a very simple but clear way is to use G.O.S.P.E.L. acrostic:

God created us to be in a relationship with Him

Our sins separated us from God

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again

Everyone who trusts in Him alone has eternal life

Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever

The eternal life that we receive through Jesus when we accept Him as our Savior and Lord is not just a “ticket to heaven” but also involves giving us identity (as children of God), belonging (to His family) and purpose (bringing others to Jesus). Have you trusted in Jesus alone to save you, or are you still trying to climb the ladder of religion, good deeds, etc. to heaven? That ladder is not the way to God’s heaven; only Jesus is God’s Way to heaven. Trust in Jesus alone as your Savior and Lord!

MOBILIZE STRATEGICALLY (Luke 9:1-2)

Jesus mobilized His disciples by sending them out to preach the Gospel. Are you mobilizing your children as you send them off to school to share the gospel? Asking them what opportunities they had to share Jesus to others when they come home from school? Even with their own struggles and challenges, young people can be mobilized to share their faith with others, and that will teach them to trust in God for their own difficulties. God will teach them what it means to depend on Him!

MULTIPLY DISCIPLES RELENTLESSLY (Luke 10:1)

Jesus sent His disciples in teams of two, this time His disciples have multiplied from 12 to 72! Huge things happen when we mobilize our families and disciples to evangelize. Often, we limit our people to a “come and see” strategy, inviting people to come to church with us only. This is good, but not enough — we must “go and rescue”. Send our families and Dgroups out as “missionaries” to have those gospel conversations with people outside the church building. Here’s three action steps we can take starting today to multiply disciples relentlessly:

1-Master the G.O.S.P.E.L. acrostic as a family (and Dgroup).

2- Use the “Cause Circle” (Pray, Care, Share strategy) to hold each other accountable as to who you are praying for, caring for, and sharing the gospel to.

3- Participate in the Day of Global Youth Evangelism as a family/Dgroup (dgye.org).

Will you pray for, care for and share the gospel out loud with words to the person God is placing in your heart to share Jesus with, in the next 48 hours? Study show that if you don’t do what you’ve learned within 48 hours, you’ll never do it! We are to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only.  Let us be reminded that …” It’s time to preach the Gospel!

Pray for your children’s (and/or Dgroup members’) friends, classmates, teammates at work, etc. to come to know Jesus as your family prays, cares and shares the gospel to them.

Think of that one person that God puts in your heart to reach out to.

Pray for that person and take the first step to show care and share the gospel to them in the next 48 hours

• Worship God for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do in our lives.

• Upright and moral governance of public servants; repentance and salvation for government leaders and citizens for a Christ-centered Philippines.

• For legislators to promote and support bills and laws aligned with God’s Word.

• War in Ukraine to end, loss of lives prevented.

• For the rest of the Israeli hostages to be restored to their families safely. For Israel’s war with terrorists to end according to God’s purpose and for His glory.

• Pray for Jewish people worldwide who are experiencing a surge of antisemitism; may this lead them to the Messiah, Jesus as they turn to God for help and comfort.

• For protection of Iranian, Syrian and Lebanese Christians and other minorities, and freedom from oppression. Pray for the gospel to spread rapidly throughout their region.

• Pray for Sudanese and Nigerian persecuted Christians; earnestly seek God’s intervention to stop the bloodshed. Pray for freedom from oppression, that God’s word and His people bring them comfort and hope.

• That CCF Members would honor and love God and make disciples.

• Elders, pastors, dleaders, and families (holy, humble, harmonious, happy, heart-working).

• Ministries and churches expand worldwide.

• Worship and Training Center

• Prayer Mountain

• Deeper intimate relationship with God.

• Righteous living.

• Salvation of family and friends.

And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”