Natalie Frisk - Raising Disciples: How to Make Faith Matter for Our Kids

The most significant spiritual responsibility of any generation is the spiritual well-being of the generation that follows. In Raising Disciples , Natalie Frisk outlines how intentionality is the key to this task. May God find us faithful in living out and reproducing a form of discipleship that accurately reflects the likeness of Jesus.

Marv Penner , executive director of the Coalition for Youth Ministry Excellence, from foreword

In Raising Disciples , Natalie Frisk offers incredibly thoughtful, practical, and personal ways to not only help kids become disciples of Jesus but also examine our own lives as the adults responsible for helping those kids experience Jesus in a true and lasting way.

Tim Penner , coauthor and illustrator of The Tiny Truths Illustrated Bible

Parenting is one of those journeys where there are so many more questions than answers. Whether its faith, school, sports, or friends, there are an endless number of circumstances that parents navigate and dont always win. Raising Disciples will help you navigate the most important challenge you will face as a parent: the challenge of leading your child to their Savior.

Carey Nieuwhof , founding pastor of Connexus Church and author of Didnt See It Coming

The great commission starts at home! Thank you, Natalie, for writing this important book! Christian parents and the village that supports them now have a theologically rich and practical guide to helping their children become apprentices of Jesus.

Bruxy Cavey , senior pastor at The Meeting House and author of Reunion and The End of Religion

Whether you are a parent, a childrens pastor, a volunteer, or just someone who cares deeply about the future of the church, Raising Disciples is a book youre going to want to read, thoroughly digest, and most importantly, put into practice.

Gregory Boyd , founder and senior pastor of Woodland Hills Church and author of Cross Vision

Raising Disciples is a breath of fresh air for parents. I love Natalies practical approach to living an authentic faith that values the Bible, honors kids, and equips parents to boldly love Jesus. She helps parents understand the developmental stages of childhood and how Jesus is understood at each level. Ill be sharing this as a resource!

Brenda L. Yoder , speaker, licensed mental health counselor, educator, and author of Fledge: Launching Your Kids without Losing Your Mind

This book offers a strategically impactful tactic to change the world. Shaping the next generation is not only what makes Natalie Frisks heart beat fasterits what will make real differences in the lives of our kids, inside and out. As a Christian leader and parent, I cant recommend this book more!

Danielle Strickland , author of The Ultimate Exodus and The Zombie Gospel

Help! Thats usually what I find myself sayingokay, maybe yellingwhen it comes to figuring out ways I can bring faith alive in my childrens hearts and minds. Raising Disciples is that answer to my SOS cry. Natalie Frisk creates a lifeline with helpful tips on how to parent in a Jesus-centered manner.

Maggie John , host and senior executive producer of 100 Huntley Street

Natalie Frisks book is so encouraging and equipping. I love the nonjudgmental tone of realizing that as parents, were all humans doing the best we can, and of realizing our strengths and weaknesses are an important part of the journey. This book will not only guide; it will encourage and walk alongside your own journey.

Christy Wimber , author, pastor, teacher, church planter, and television host

Herald Press
PO Box 866, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22803
www.HeraldPress.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Frisk, Natalie, author.
Title: Raising disciples : how to make faith matter for our kids / Natalie
Frisk.
Description: Harrisonburg, Virginia : Herald Press, [2019] | Includes
bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019009872| ISBN 9781513802596 (hardcover : alk. paper) |
ISBN 9781513802589 (pbk. : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781513802602 (ebk.)
Subjects: LCSH: Christian education of children.
Classification: LCC BV1475.3 .F76 2019 | DDC 268/.432--dc23 LC record
available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019009872

RAISING DISCIPLES
2019 by Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22803. 800-245-7894.
All rights reserved.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019009872
International Standard Book Number: 978-1-5138-0258-9 (paperback);
978-1-5138-0259-6 (hardcover); 978-1-5138-0260-2 (ebook)
Printed in United States of America
Cover and interior design by Reuben Graham

All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in whole or in part, in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the copyright owners.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation , copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version , NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

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To my mom: thank you for raising this disciple.
To Sam: I am so glad we are in this together.
To Erin: Ill love you forever. Ill like you for always.
As long as Im living my baby youll be.

Foreword

T he most significant spiritual responsibility of any generation is the spiritual well-being of the generation that follows. Gods plan A for raising disciples is both taught and modeled throughout the pages of Scripture. In Psalm 78, the psalmist declares, We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord... . He commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds (vv. 4-7 NIV). Clearly, there is both a sense of responsibility and joy in ensuring the next generations understanding of who God is and how he interacts with his people. Near the end of his storied life, David passionately pleads, Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come (Psalm 71:18 NIV).

The thing that strikes me about these passages is the purposeful intentionality with which generation-to-generation faith formation is embraced, and as you will read in the pages to follow, intentionality is the key to raising disciples.

What happens when that sense of spiritual purpose is lost? The answer to that question is found in one of the saddest verses in the Bible. It is a declaration that must break the heart of God and must motivate us as contemporary parents to pay close attention. A short reminder of the narrative leading up to this saddest of conclusions will reveal a pattern that cant be ignored.

After being freed from generations of Egyptian slavery, Gods people wandered for forty years en route to the Promised Land God had prepared for them. When the time for them to enter the land of promise was imminent, Moses passionately reminded them of how important it would be for them to live with spiritual intentionality, and of the commitment to passing the faith to the next generation. The Jordan River miraculously opened, and Gods people walked through on a dry riverbed to receive their inheritance.