Before moving forward in our study of men’s gender-based roles, we should not skip the most basic role every born-again child of God has while here on the earth – being a disciple!
Jesus said:
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
Being a disciple means we follow Christ in order to learn more about him and become more like him.
I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! Philippians 3:10–11 (NLT)
He is a real person who can be known in the Spirit. We also follow his teachings (the Scripture) and embrace his mission (the Great Commission). The role of being a disciple springs from our eternal core identity as children of God, but it is a temporary role. ln heaven we will know as we are known. At the present, we are learners (disciples).
Jesus’ method of discipleship was a combination of teaching and doing. He modeled the behaviors and ministry skills he wanted his followers to develop and gave them opportunities to learn who to use them. True discipleship must include active ministry, or we only have a Greek-style school that merely provides information.
Being a disciple is not so much about filling our heads with knowledge as it is about developing our relationship with God and putting our faith into practice in ways that will glorify God and impact the people around us.
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NASB)
We shine as lights in the world by living out our faith in a loving way, performing love-motivated good deeds in Christ’s name, and by sharing the Good News about our Savior and Lord. Disciples model God’s love in order to help people get past their objections to the message of love, the gospel. Disciples learn to share the gospel effectively, minister in the power of God’s Spirit, and generally love on people. Disciples make a point of going to where the lost and unchurched are, instead of expecting them to come to us at our church m meetings. Disciples value and model Christian hospitality as a means to extend God’s kingdom. Disciples see their neighborhoods as their mission field and invest in the people who live, work, and play around them. Fishers of men develop friends outside the church. How else will we reach them?
When Dads wholeheartedly devote themselves to the pursuit of God’s kingdom, they model for their children what it means to be a Christ follower. When Dad’s include their children in reaching out (fishing for men), it teaches them what is most most important.
I have observed that children of parents who are devoted to Christ in word and deed are more likely to adopt kingdom values and commitments than the children of nominal believers.
This is not rocket science. Kids notice what their parents love and serve, and, if there is love and respect, they will imitate them. What we do is more important than what we say, because kids see through shallowness and hypocrisy in adults who only pay God lip service. They will likely reject our words, if our lifestyle does not back them up.
We Dads cannot afford to be passive or lukewarm with regard to Christ, the gospel, discipleship, and mission.
There is much more at stake than our own eternal reward. We must think generationally and realize that how we live will impact generations to come.
Most parents feel the tension between being on mission and raising a family. The solution is to include the family when we are doing missional activities We can include them when you have friends and neighbors over. We can take them when we go on any kind of outreach, including visiting neighbors. Children have a way of disarming people and opening hearts in ways that adults cannot.
We can model what we hope to see develop in our children.
It is possible to figure out ways to include unreached people in our family meals, events, and celebrations. It is wonderful for our children to watch us share the gospel and pray for people. We can include them when we do acts of kindness for neighbors and friends.
Our children are our most important disciples. If we fail with them, our other successes will be rather hollow.
We can only give away what we have. If we give ourselves to being a disciple, we can hope to see the same develop in our children. I encourage us all to prioritize being a disciple, or we sabotage everything else.
