The Sh’ma: Family & Church
Many people still need to hear the gospel tell them they have a Savior. The Great Commission speaks to the whole “body of Christ.” Our participation in the spreading of that message unifies us. (See Romans 7:4.)
This mandate is for every man, woman, and child who belongs to the community of the church.
It speaks to our children and grandchildren, binding believers of all ages together in the mission of bringing Jesus to the nations.
The Sh’ma is a part of that evangelism effort, but it takes a different tack. While the primary objective remains the same (saving souls), the Sh’ma tells God’s people about a ministry role that he specifically designed for fathers and mothers. Moreover, the Sh’ma lays out an ideal approach—a model or a strategy—for carrying out that ministry role. Christ’s Great Commission focuses on the outreach work of God’s community of believers.
The Sh’ma focuses on the harvest field of the family. Its emphasis is on generational evangelism.
The Great Commission emphasizes ethnic, regional, and cultural evangelism. It is an extension of the Sh’ma’s harvest field. In practical terms, mission work that is done in the home prepares men, women, and children for the mission work that is done on a global scale. The Christian home is where many of Christ’s disciples acquire the heart and the skills for missionizing the world.
Many of us will function in both harvest fields. During certain phases of life, we become more actively engaged in the family side of God’s business, training disciples at home. During other phases of our lives, we act more like evangelists, carrying out Christ’s Commission through the communal ministry of the church. Both approaches require spiritual growing. Parents grow as they teach. They acquire new skills and attitudes necessary for the broader mission. And children grow as they listen and learn to obey. Both ministry modes require courage for sharing the gospel. Both take comfort in God’s promise to be with his people as they carry out their assigned tasks. Both promise a high yield of blessings for all who strive to carry out their labors of love (James 1:25). And, both glorify God’s name by loving others.
GROUP DISCUSSION
- How does God’s model for moral living prepare God’s people for carrying out the Great Commission?
- What do you think the expression generational evangelism means?
- Why are both kinds of discipling ministries important?
Michael Zarling
For the first 8 years of my ministry, I served at Faith Lutheran Church, an exploratory congregation in Radcliff, KY. I presently serve at Epiphany Lutheran Church and Wisconsin Lutheran School (WLS) in Racine, WI. I am also very involved with our youth as the WLS head soccer coach and the head counselor for WELS Training Camp, a youth camp for 3rd – 9th graders. I have been married to Shelley for 20 years. Together we have 4 beautiful daughters – Abigail, Miriam, Lydia and Gabrielle. We also have 2 dogs – Messi and Mia – named after Lionel Messi and Mia Hamm (the Zarling family really likes soccer!)
One Comment
Noel
Last night I was so tired as I made the 30 minute drive to drop my son off at Catechism class. I was not considering skipping class, but I certainly wasn’t joyful about it on that particular night. While I did snap at my son for something else (not my finest moment but one that is easily induced by a lack of sufficient sleep), I do remember having a gentle reminder run through my head that said, “Don’t ruin this for him. Don’t make him despise this night because YOU’RE tired and cranky.” And while I still want to correct the behavior that I snapped at, I pray that it in no way dampered his desire to go to class and learn.
Just a rambling thought about when it’s hard to want to carry out the generational evangelism…
And in case you were wondering, he walked out of class excited to tell me what he learned and I was refreshed from my hour and a half break (at the grocery store, but still) and I was eager to listen. Guess he’s also learning how to give grace to his momma.