1. Guiding Families Through a Child’s Conversion Experience and More
Dr. Karen Kennemur
2017

2. “When a baby is born, people immediately spring into action to clean, check, bathe, and warm the infant. All this is done in order to ensure that this new creation is well on his or her way to a life of growth, health, and maturity. But when someone is born into Christ, we usually just congratulate them and send them into the world. As a result, churches are full of baby Christians who never fully developed spiritually, even if they were born decades earlier.” (Writers from LifeWay—unnamed)

3. The Great Commission
“Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

4. The Typical Church --a child’s conversion experience
Decision
Counseling with CM and/or Pastor
Baptismal Class
Baptism
New Christians Class

5. What is missing?
THE NEXT STEP

6. What is the next step?
Teaching a child how to follow Jesus in his/her daily life.

7. Becoming a Disciple or a Follower of Christ

8. Is Discipleship a Program?No
But the foundations or components of Discipleship must be taught.

9. The Next Step The decision to become a Christian Teach Knowledge
Give the Tools of Discipleship
Model/Discuss Relationships—Relating to God and others
The Life of a Disciple Begins

10. The Decision To Become a Christian
Parent/Child counseling with Children’s Minister
Baptism
New Christians Class with the involvement of the parents
Discipleship Class/Weekend/intentional teaching with involvement of the parents (Suggested to wait 3 to 6 months following Baptism)

11. Teach Knowledge
Who God Is
Who Jesus Is
God’s Word—Truth?

12. Give the Tools of Discipleship
The Bible
Spiritual Disciplines
Worship
Prayer
Scripture Memory
Stewardship
Tithing
Bible Study/Quiet Time/Family devotionals
Evangelism

13. Model and Discuss Relationships with God and Others
Intentionally Teach and Model how to relate to God and how to relate to Christ through prayer and meditation.
Intentionally Teach and Model how to relate to others.

14. The Life of a Disciple Begins

15. Three Effective Ways of Teaching Children Are:
Intentional Teaching
Modeling
Through building/maintaining relationships

16. Intentional Teaching (The Intentional Teacher, by Dr. Ann Epstein)
Intentional teaching does not happen by chance. It is:
Planful
Thoughtful
Purposeful

17. It is important children are always watching.
Modeling
Adults model behavior and actions whether intentional or unintentional.
It is important children are always watching.

18. Relationships
How? How do children learn through relationships?
Without a strong, nurturing relationship intentional teaching and modeling will not be as effective and can possibly have adverse effects.

19. Teaching Children to become a follower of Christ
What does this look like in your church?
What should happen in your church?

20. Resources for Children
I am a Christian, Now
I am a Christian, Now What
Foundations for Kids
Team Kid—Catching Air