It was a heart-breaking conversation. The mother and father sat in my office. They were at their wits end. Their son was in jail, now for the third time for drug possession and now he had stolen a car. They wanted me to visit him in jail. I made my way to the local police department where he was being kept and introduced myself as a local pastor. I asked to see the young man. I sat, waiting, looking through the glass as the police escorted a young man to sit down in front of me. He was angry, defiant, and belligerent. He cursed me and his parents and refused to take any ownership for his circumstance. I tried to turn the conversation to God and his need for Christ in his life. He had no interest. That meeting made an impact on my heart. How could a person be raised by a Christian family end up making these kinds of decisions? How could a kid who attended church each Sunday find himself in jail for drug possession and auto theft?We know that God gives each of us free will.  All of us are responsible for our own souls. Whether we had a Christian family, or were raised in church, each of us must have to have our own encounter with Jesus Christ. For those of you listening who have children who are away from God, be encouraged by this truth: No one is to far away for God to reach them. Keep praying. Keep trusting. Never give up.I left my meeting at the jail, thinking of how critical it is for us to disciple our own families. In fact, family discipleship is my most important discipleship. I don’t believe it’s God’s will for us to reach the world and lose our own families.Psalms 145:4-7 -“One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.  They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.  They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.  They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”I see families today who seem to take such a casual approach to the things of God. It seems like church attendance is something they do if they don’t have anything else to do. I say this with sincerity and without criticism, but are we teaching our children to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness? He’s saying we must be intentional about the next generation. We cannot say, “I’m going to let my children decide what they want to believe or if they want to come to church.” We cannot afford to take a hands off approach. You don’t do this with their physical health, their school work, or their family responsibilities…but when it comes to faith we often take a carefree approach.We are to be diligent with the spiritual development of our children. We are to be intentional. We look for every opportunity to teach them about God. We make it a part of our daily life.So, how can we be more intentional about family discipleship?Tell your story - what has God done in your life?Be honest about struggles and how God has seen you through.Let prayer and scripture be a daily part of the family routine.When God answers prayer, celebrate as a family.Let your kids ask the hard questions. Be there as they wrestle with faith. Let God do his work and remember you are not the Holy Spirit.Look for teachable moments where you share the why behind your beliefs and values.Today’s Challenge: If you have children, pray today and commit to discipling your own family. We are in this for the long-term, even after the are adults. If you don’t have children, consider how you can pray for and support another family.

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