With a full day planned, Dr. Serven began the second day of the conference with a detailed look at what discipleship in the home looks like.
Having instructed us in Jesus’ methodology of intentional discipleship, Dr. Marcus Serven illustrated how we, as followers of Christ, are to implement intentional discipleship in the family context.
Dr. Serven explained that God designed the father and mother to be the primary mentors of their children. This is clearly shown in passages like Genesis 18:19, Deuteronomy 6:7, Proverbs 22:6, and Ephesians 6:4. This duty to train up their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord is unmistakeably covenantal in nature. When a father and mother embrace their covenantal responsibilities to be faithful to God in raising up godly descendents, the enemies of Christ tremble in fear.
Dr. Serven laid down three key pillars of covenantal family discipleship:
Covenantal Leadership – The husband is the head of his family. He is called to set the vision, lead by example, and serve his family self-sacrificially, just as Christ does for the Church.
Covenantal Evangelism – Christian parents are to be purposefully bringing their children the Gospel at an early age. We want to begin the education of our children with the Scriptures. The example of Timothy’s upbringing should serve as an example to every Christian father and mother.
“For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well…and that from childhood you have knownthe sacred writings which are able togive you the wisdom that leads tosalvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (II Timothy 1:5; 3:15)
Covenantal Succession – It is not enough to train up your children in the ways that they should go. The father is called, along with his wife, to cast a multi-generation vision for where the family is going and how they are serving the Lord God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Our model should be to imitate Abraham, who passed on to his son, Isaac, who passed on to his son, Jacob, the vision and mission which they had received from God.
Dr. Serven closed with six practical applications of intentional discipleship in the home:
1) A commitment to family worship
2) Singing the hymns and Psalms with joy
3) Church membership
4) Striving to keep the Lord’s Day holy
5) Implementing Scripture memorization
6) Establishing a distinctively Christian culture
As he finished his message, Dr. Serven encouraged his audience to have hope! God intended for the Christian family to produce a godly heritage and, in the words of Psalm 112:1-2,
“Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.
His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed.“