Discipleship...what will happen to our kids?

I love my church.  I am so thankful for our leadership and for the family I have there.  With every church though, there are areas that need bolstering. 

Every year our youth director puts out a plea for Sunday school teachers, helpers for the teachers and nursery workers.  Bless her heart, she's not one to beg and plead from the front of the church for people to be involved, nor should she have to. 

I think the message has been sent out to participate in where you're gifted or where your passions lay...yet, not many are feeling that passion for our youth?  Oh. My. 

Hubby and I felt quite convicted last year about our lack of involvement in this department.  Our children matter to us.  Their spiritual growth matters to us.  So why don't we participate in this portion of a Sunday morning? Finally, we've stepped up to do so.

I am going to be bold enough to say that I think hubby's involvement is even more important than mine because he's a man.  Our men have stepped out of this roll in our children's lives for several years and we so desperately need them to spiritually influence our boys and girls.  God has a great and wonderful charge for men to lead, and us women need to lovingly encourage them to do so.  

Older youth are teaching our younger youth because of the lack of involvement from adults.  If that were regular academics, we'd be furious if we found that out.   We'd wonder how the younger children would receive the proper education and instruction, yet when it comes to spiritual matters it's ok? 

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that the older youth are involved with our younger youth.   And thankfully we do have the older youth that are willing (and a handful of adults too) or we wouldn't have Sunday school. 

The question is...where are our adults?

As parents, do we expect our kids to be spiritual giants if we never tell them about God and all he's done for us?  Teach biblical principals? Train them how to live like Jesus?  Act like it ourselves? 

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 says:  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates. 

Get involved in your children's spiritual wellness at home and at church.  Help out in Sunday school.  It matters.  Not just for your kids, but others too. For some, Sunday morning is the only chance they get to hear about God. Talk about pleasing our Lord with investing that talent he entrusted to you (Matthew 25:14-30).

What will happen to our kids if we don't?