Jason Houser - Dedicated: Training Your Children to Trust and Follow Jesus

During my interactions with Bobby I have found him to be very passionate about the churchs mission for disciple-making. He is not just concerned that this happen in our gatherings. He is committed to seeing this happen in all of life. Im grateful that he is applying his passion and experience to better equip the church to grow in discipleship in the home. Im especially thankful to see a book coming out of his own experiences with his son. What a gift to have a father and son contribute out of their learning to further ours!

Jeff Vanderstelt, visionary leader, Soma Family of Churches

It has been my joy to know Dr. Bobby and to experience firsthand his passion for discipleship in this generation. Dedicated brings that passion into the home.

Dr. K. P. Yohannan, founder and international director, Gospel for Asia

A pesky question that is asked of most teachers is, How do you help families do discipleship? There are many answers. Frankly, however, most are disorganized and subjective. I like this book Dedicated because it is an organized answer based in experience. I like it because a father and son are involved and because I know that Bobby Harrington is the real deal as a man, husband, father, and pastor.

Bill Hull, author, Jesus Christ Disciple Maker, The Disciple Making Pastor, and The Disciple Making Church

For years, parents have told us that the spiritual development of their children is their number one parenting priority. This book gives them a road map for how to make that priority a reality. Essential reading for every mom and dad.

Bob Lepine, cohost, FamilyLife Today

Dedicated takes discipleship principles from the life of Jesus and from the Bible and shows parents how to apply them in the home. This book tells how every family can live with the blessing of God. It is a beautiful, down-to-earth story.

Dr. Robert Coleman, seminary professor; author, The Master Plan of Discipleship

Bobby Harrington is a man who understands that the mission of the church is to make disciples. He has spent the last several years helping leaders develop processes and strategies to do just that. He also is a man who has raised his kids to love and serve Jesus at the same time. His heart is to see every Christian become mature, and while the church plays a large part in that, he believes that every Christian parents role is to disciple their own kids. Bobby and Chad have put together a book that will help parents invest in their children. I am excited about what this book can do for you and your family.

Jim Putman, senior pastor, Real Life Ministries

Passing on the faith within normal family structures has become the fastest growing omission in the contemporary church. This book is a practical guide to reintroduce this basic, relationally based, life-oriented catechesis into the life stream of the church. This is not just one of many important initiatives; the very future of the church depends on it!

Dr. Timothy C. Tennent, president, Asbury Theological Seminary

ZONDERVAN

Dedicated

Copyright 2015 by Dr. Bobby Harrington, Jason Houser, and Chad Harrington

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

ePub Edition January 2015: ISBN 978-0-310-51832-7

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois. All rights reserved.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover design: Micah Kandros

Interior design: Matthew Van Zomeren

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 /DCI/ 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Bobbys Dedication:

To the Lord and my familyCindy, Ashley, Chad, Mom, and Dad

Jasons Dedication:

To Housermania: Heidi, Ben, Brandon, and Abby. I love you guys.

Chads Dedication:

To Mom and Dad, who loved my sister and me into the kingdom. Thank you for letting us choose God. I am eternally grateful.

CONTENTS

THE LORD HAS SURROUNDED US with so many incredible people, and every victory in our lives would not be possible without these brothers and sisters in Christ.

Thank you, Ryan Pazdur, for your vision for this book and for your depth of insight throughout the editing process. It made this book so much better. And thanks to the rest of the team: Josh Blunt, Brian Phipps, and Robin Schmitt for flexing your editing skills as well.

From Bobby: special thanks to Jason for his partnership so grateful that my words were big in your ears when you came to the church and you overlooked all of the shortcomings and tension in the writing process. Thank you, Chad, for overlooking my weaknesses and focusing on my strengths. I am grateful to Cindy, Ashley, and the faithful leaders (like Kathy Cawley) and the elders (David, Mike, Tony, and Ed) at Harpeth Community Church for supporting us. Special thanks for feedback on early material especially to Jen Taylor and those in the Dedicated Class John and Gina Williams, Cam McLaughin, Jason Henderson, Karen Jackson, and Lyneve Fulton.

From Chad: special thanks to George Ezell, John Harmon, Shivraj Mahendra, Joe Hwang, Randy, Lyneve, and my family for support and input through the process. Thanks to Dad and Jason for putting up with a young buck like me and for the opportunity to join the project, not just help out. Your love and mercy made it possible for a father and a son to work together. Thanks to God for all the good.

From Jason: special thanks to Heidi, Ben, Brandon, and Abby for your sacrifices of time and attention as we worked through the creation and editing of this book. Thanks to both of you, Bobby and Chad. It takes courage to create a work like this as a father and son. I have admired your honesty and tenacity as we have climbed this mountain together. Thank you to my younger brother, Joshua Houser, and my brother in Christ Michael Martin for your partnership and constant encouragement. Thank you to the pastors at Lighthouse: Greg Fadness, Kevin Newbry, Ron Heath, and the amazing in-house editing Pastor Bryan Devore (for all the extra hours reading through this manuscript). And thanks to my partners in ministry and their families at Seeds Family Worship: Philip and Jessica Morlan, Joshua and Linda Houser, Darin and Joey Blood, Bryan and Stephanie Vignery, and Matthew and Jane Rowland.

SHE WEPT BITTERLY.

Hannah wanted a boy, but God had not granted her the gift of motherhood. For years and years she asked God for a son, but year after year she heard nothing. The silence was unbearable. She couldnt eat; she only wept. Tears flowed like a river.