Why start training children as young as toddlers? The Bible has made it clear that parents are responsible for training their children young so that they will be better equipped later in life (Proverbs 22:6). Jesus calls Simon and Andrew to ministry while there were in the middle of fishing. They are told to drop their nets and follow Him, which they do immediately (Mark, 1:16-20). The significance here is the urgency at which they left their normal lives to be with Jesus. There is no time to waste when it comes to following Jesus and this is the kind of urgency that parents and the Church should have regarding the training children. Discipleship should start as soon as possible to offer children the best chance at building a personal relationship with Jesus.
EXAMPLES OF DISCIPLESHIP
Adam and Eve – The first discipleship relationship in the Bible is Adam and Eve in the Garden. God created them to be in community with Him so that they could receive loving rebuke and live the most meaningful life they could. We know that this was ruined because of sin, but how beautiful is it to know that God’s intention for humanity was always to be a family. With a loving Father, rebuke and learning are accepted as a way of improving life’s quality. While Adam and Eve were not children being trained, we can still look to them as an example of life was meant to be lived with the Father.
Eli and Samuel – When Samuel was born, he was dedicated to the Lord by his mother. Hannah later took him to the temple, “She said to her husband, ‘After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always.’” (1 Samuel 1:22). Samuel’s discipleship began very early in his life and led to him being able to audibly hear the Lord calling him to a life of prophecy. From this young age, Samuel was dedicated to serving the Lord and had a strong relationship with his teacher, Eli. Even though this relationship was not a familial one, it was still a relationship built on trust which lead to a firm foundation of faith.
Jesus and His Parents – In the New Testament, Luke depicts the early years of Jesus’ life as He grew and was filled with wisdom (2:40). While Jesus is fully God, He is also fully human and would have been taught by His parents like any other little boy being trained in the Scriptures. His earthly parents raised Him based on the laws of Moses and spent time taking Him to the temple and participating in family traditions such as traveling to Jerusalem for Passover every year (2:41). These foundational practices put into place by Mary and Joseph gave Jesus a wonderful foundation to understand His Father before receiving the Holy Spirit.
So, if we are to be training our young children right from the beginning, how do we do that effectively?
Montessori Learning – Dr. Maria Montessori spent years studying how toddlers and young children learn best, finding that they are taught more effectively with their hands. When children learn with their hands, they are not only learning valuable fine motor and life skills, but will also be able to better retain lessons being taught. Giving children a sense of ownership over the activities will also help to establish self-esteem and a joy for learning. Independence is another key factor of Montessori learning, which is why it is so important to give kids freedom to learn at their own pace.
Discipleship in the Home – Discipleship needs to start within the home. Parents are the first examples of Christ that children will see and need to take that job seriously. If you are relying on your children being discipled at church once a week or at school, you will be crippling their long-term faith foundation without even realizing it. With modern society forcing parents to be away from children longer than they ever have, it is so important to make the little moments you have at home together count. Discipleship and learning happen when children feel safe and loved.
For more ideas on creating a healthy home, check out our other blog, Healthy Habits for Every Home.
Little Disciple – Using our book, Little Disciples, we have laid out 12 activities to teach hands-on skills and Bible lessons at the same time. Using common Christmas ideas and objects, children will create an association with things such as a star and be able to remember that a star helped guide the Wise Men to Jesus. This object connection with reinforce ideas and help children remember themes when they are out in the real world. Who knows, it may even lead to your little disciple becoming a little evangelist in their community outside the home.