A practical handbook for equipping families in the church. Scripture calls parents to train and nurture their children's faith. How can churches best equip families to disciple their children? Family ministry expert Dr. Timothy Paul Jones gives church leaders a practical plan to equip parents to be the primary faith trainers in their children's lives, moving beyond mere programming into genuine spiritual transformation. This resource is for leaders in the trenches -- those who: see parents disengaging from their children's spiritual development; see too many students leave for college and drop out of church; are frustrated with programmed ministries that fail to produce results. Based on solid research, this field guide unpacks how real-life churches can narrow the gap between present reality and the biblical ideal of faith-nurturing families. - Back cover.

Family ministry field guide : how the church can equip parents to make disciples

Jones, Timothy P. (Timothy Paul)

Indianapolis, Ind.: Wesleyan Pub. House

Wesley Press

United States, United States of America

5/16/11, 2011-05-25

5/16/11, PT, 2011

Foreword / Mark DeVries
Introduction : The gap in your church
Foundation 1 : Map the gap.
1. What families in your church are doing, and not doing, when you're not looking
2. What family ministry is and why it's worth it
Foundation 2 : Rethink your goal.
3. Why not to do family ministry
4. How to find the right motivation
Foundation 3 : Frame your ministry in God's story line.
5. Discover who your children really are
6. The split in God's story line
Foundation 4 : Give parents the guidance they need.
7. We're supposed to do that at home?
8. A matter of training and a matter of time
9. Providing what parents really need
Foundation 5 : Transition to family-equipping.
10. Killing the one-eared Mickey Mouse
11. Family-equipping transition 1 : Be
12. Family-equipping transition 2a : Equip families for faith talks
13. Family-equipping transition 2b : Equip families for faith walks and faith processes
14. Family-equipping transition 3 : Acknowledge
15. Family-equipping transition 4 : Synchronize (with W. Ryan Steenburg)
Afterword
Twelve tools to equip families
Worksheets.
A. Family discipleship perceptions and practices survey
B. Motives matter
C. Living in God's story line
D. What message are we sending?
E. TIE your ministry together
Appendix : Survey methodology and results
About the author

"Scripture calls parents to train their children in the faith and to nurture their children's souls. Yet few parents actively engage in their children's spiritual development. How can churches best equip families to engage in their divine calling to disciple their children? Family ministry expert Dr. Timothy Paul Jones guides church leaders to develop a ministry system that equips parents to be the primary faith-trainers in their children's lives, moving beyond mere programming into a deeper spiritual life at home, within the church, and beyond. This resource is for leaders in the trenches--those who: see parents disengaging from their children's spiritual development; see too many students leave for college and drop out of church; have heard of 'family ministry, ' and just want to know more; or are frustrated with programmed ministries that fail to produce results. Based on solid research, this field guide unpacks how real-life churches can narrow the gap between present reality and the biblical ideal of faith-nurturing families"--Publisher description

224 p. : 23 cm
Includes bibliographical references (p. [219]-222)

2024-08-23