“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Family Discipleship Plan
Our families are part of God’s perfect design for creation. As parents, we are to impress the commands of God on our children in everyday life as we walk along the road, as we sit at home, when we lie down, and when we get up. (Deuteronomy 11:19.) While this primary responsibility is in our hands as parents, God’s intention is not that we go it alone. The church is meant to partner with parents, serving as “another voice” in the life of our children.
Berean has created a strategy to partner with parents providing for maximum spiritual impact in the life of a child. The Family Ministry Discipleship Plan provides a map for parents to follow in the discipleship process of their child and an avenue for the church to partner with parents.
Child Dedication is the first step in discipling your child. During one of our FaithFamily Celebrations, typically within your child’s first 18 months of life, you publicly commit your child to the Lord and devote yourself to being the spiritual leader in your child’s life.
In turn, the church body promises to partner with you in guiding your child’s faith development. At Berean, we provide training and resources to prepare you as your child’s primary faith trainer.
Core Competencies:Parent as a spiritual leader, trainer, evangelist
Family Celebration:Child Dedication Celebration | Berean performs Child Dedications during our quarterly FaithFamily Celebrations.
Your child’s response to the gospel for salvation is the “Central Station” on our Family Discipleship map. We partner with and equip you to lead your child toward a personal relationship with Jesus Christ – to help your child understand repentance, receive God’s gift of grace, and to follow through with obedience in baptism.
Core Competencies:Jesus, faith/belief, sin, repentance/confession, forgiveness, salvation, eternity, and baptism
Family Celebration:Faith Commitment Family Meal
Transit Lines: Berean Kids, Preteen, Junior High, Senior High Faith Commitment Celebration:
Now your child will learn how to put faith into action. A genuine faith commitment should influence every aspect of life – and we provide you with training and resources to help your child learn to live out this newfound faith and join the mission of the local church. We challenge families to regularly serve God and others together.
Core Competencies:Spiritual gifts, service, the Great Commission, humility/selflessness, the church, missions, prayer, Bible study, and evangelism
Family Celebration:Family Journal
Transit Lines: Berean Kids, Preteen, Junior High, Senior High Faith in Practice Celebration:
Between the ages of 10 and 12, kids undergo a lot of physical, emotional, and cognitive changes. As a parent, your task is to prepare your child spiritually, emotionally, and physically for those changes. You’ll teach your child to navigate new realities and thought processes in the context of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We will equip you to discuss topics related to physical changes, current culture, personal identity, and a prevailing faith as you prepare your child for life as a teenager.
Core Competencies:Identity in Christ, spiritual growth, spiritual disciplines, theology, and navigating culture
Today’s culture influences teens to view sex, gender, and relationships in ways that are increasingly counter-biblical. Sexual purity is among the biggest battlefronts in the spiritual growth and maturity of our young people. At Berean, we equip you and provide resources to help you teach your child about accountability, healthy friendships, and biblical standards for purity. We are committed to supporting you in the all-important task of engaging in intentional conversations about these topics and maintaining ongoing dialog.
Core Competencies:Biblical purity, healthy relationships, identity in Christ, biblical sex, dating/marriage, and accountability
Family Celebration:Commitment to Purity Dessert
Transit Lines:Junior High, Senior High Commitment to Purity Celebration:
The Bible commands us to disciple our children to become men and women of God. At Berean, we equip you to prepare your freshman and sophomore students for adulthood through conversation and instruction on issues such as the roles of men and women, Christian ethics and philosophy, and so much more. Berean supports and reinforces the process through our educational ministry. Through this milestone, students will mentally and practically transition from being a child to a maturing young adult within the home.
Core Competencies:Roles of men and women, Christian ethics and philosophy, being a person of influence, life skills, and spiritual leadership
Family Celebration:Rite of Passage Weekend
Transit Line:Senior High Transition to Adulthood Celebration:
Following Jesus is a lifelong journey. Between the ages of 16 and 18, students must develop the practical and spiritual skills to prepare them to live on their own. As a parent, one of your tasks is to keep the lines of communication open – basic apologetics, determining the will of God, dating, and marriage, life skills, and other biblical issues become the fodder for discussion and instruction. These critical years of discipleship are a chance for parents to shape the faith of their students and set the tone for offering valuable spiritual advice on into adulthood.
Core Competencies:Authentic faith, apologetics, being an obedient follower, being a disciple maker, generous living, community, and autonomy
Family Celebration:Grad Banquet
Transit Line: Senior High Life in Christ Celebration:
Books, blog posts, articles, and other resources to help equip you as you disciple your child.
In conjunction with our physical resource center at each of Berean's campuses, this online resource center features a greater list of suggested reading from our Family Ministry team and insight to help you, no matter what milestone you may be working toward with your child.
General Parenting
Parenting Beyond Your Capacityby Reggie Joiner & Carey Nieuwhof
ApParent Privilegeby Steve Wright & Chris Graves
Parenting: 14 Principles That Can Radically Change Your Familyby Paul David Tripp
Gospel-Powered Parentingby William P. Farley
Bringing Up Boysby Dr. James Dobson
Bringing Up Girlsby Dr. James Dobson
Total Family Makeoverby Melissa Spoelstra
Family Devotionals
The Big Picture Interactive Bible Storybook(Lifeway)
The Gospel Story Bibleby Marty Machowski
Long Story Short(Old Testament) by Marty Machowski
Old Story New(New Testament) by Marty Machowski
Child Dedication
Don't Miss It: Parent Every Week Like It Countsby Reggie Joiner and Kristen Ivy
Zero to Oneby Reggie Joiner and Kristen Ivy
One to Twoby Reggie Joiner and Kristen Ivy
The Big Picture Interactive Storybook Bible for Toddlers - Old Testament(Lifeway)
The Big Picture Interactive Storybook Bible for Toddlers - New Testament(Lifeway)
Faith Commitment
BK Line
Teaching Kids About Godby John Trent, Ph.D., Rick Osborne, Kurt Bruner
Show Them Jesus: Teaching the Gospel to Kidsby Jack Klumpenhower
BY Line
New Believer's Guide to Effective Christian Livingby Greg Laurie
All Lines
The Story of God's Love for Youby Sally Lloyd-Jones
Your Child's Profession of Faithby Dennis Gundersen
Total Family Makeoverby Melissa Spoelstra
Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heartby J.D. Greear
Faith in Practice
All Lines
Give Your Child the Wordby Jamie C. Martin
801 Questions Kids Ask About God with Answers From the Bible(Focus on the Family)
Turning Everyday Conversations Into Gospel Conversationsby Jimmy Scroggins and Steve Wright
Sticky Faithby Dr. Kara E. Powell and Dr. Chap Clark
Living By the Bookby Howard G. Hendricks and William D. Hendricks
HS Line
Mere Christianityby C.S. Lewis
Preteen Passage
Big Truths for Young Heartsby Bruce A. Ware
Preparing for Adolescenceby Dr. James Dobson
Raising a Modern Day Knightby Robert Lewis
Raising a Modern Day Princessby Pam Farrel and Doreen Hanna
Commitment to Purity
Straight Talk With Your Kids About Sexby Josh & Dottie McDowell
How to Talk Confidently With Your Child About Sex
Every Young Man's Battleby Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker
Every Young Woman's Battleby Shannon Ethridge and Stephen Arterburn
Transition to Adulthood
Reason If You Willby Tim Albury
Why Trust the Bible?by Greg Gilbert
Don't Check Your Brains At The Doorby Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler
Visual Theologyby Tim Challies and Josh Byers
Life in Christ
For All
The Screwtape Lettersby C.S. Lewis
Ordering Your Private Worldby Gordon MacDonald
Welcome to Collegeby Jonathan Morrow
How to Stay Christian in Collegeby J. Budziszewski
Not a Fanby Kyle Idleman
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney
Imperfect Disciple by Jared C. Wilson
Follow Me by David Platt
Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler
What is the Gospel by Greg Gilbert
For Young Women
Own Your Everyday by Jordan Lee Dooley
Live – Sadie Robertson Huff
Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely – Lysa TerKeurst
Breathe – Priscilla Shirer
He Calls You Beautiful by Dee Brestin
Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin
Live Fearless – Sadie Robertson Huff
Table Life: Savoring the Hospitality of Jesus in Your Home by Joanne Thompson
The College Girl’s Survival Guide: 52 Honest, Faith-Filled Answers to Your Biggest Concerns
Adamant: Finding Truth in a Universe of Options by Lisa Bevere
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver
Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow
Beginner’s Pluck by Liz Forkin Bohannon
Captivating by John and Stasi Eldridge
Finding I Am by Lysa Terkeurst
Hearts of Fire by The Voice of the Martyrs
Marriage
Cherishby Gary Thomas
A Lifelong Loveby Gary Thomas
The Mingling of Soulsby Matt Chandler
For Men Onlyby Shaunti Feldhahn
For Women Onlyby Shaunti Feldhahn
The Meaning of Marriageby Timothy J Keller
Love Like You Mean Itby Bob Lepine
Vertical Marriageby Ann and Dave Wilson
Grandparents
Biblical Grandparentingby Josh Mulvihill
Grandparenting With A Purposeby Lillian Ann Penner
Courageous Grandparentingby Cavin Harper
Great Lessons and Grand Blessingsby Elmer L. & Ruth Towns