Everyday Discipleship
Simple Rhythms at Home
Discipleship: the process of following Jesus and becoming more like Him in our words, thoughts, and actions.
I fear that when many parents hear the call to disciple their kids at home, their minds immediately go to one of two places. They first think, “Of course! I believe this is important, and I want to do it.” But that thought is often followed by the question: “But where do I even begin?”
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One of the main reasons discipleship may not be happening in many Christian homes has nothing to do with a lack of desire. Most parents would agree that it is vitally important to point their kids to Jesus. What many families lack is simply clarity: knowing what to do or wondering if what they are doing is enough.
At the end of the day, we do not have to be Bible scholars to disciple our kids. We do not even need to have all of the answers. What our kids need most are parents who are present and willing to build daily and weekly rhythms that will point their kids to Christ.
Mark and I want to help you get a snapshot of what this could look like for an everyday family. Even as a pastor, my job at home is no different than yours. And I want to clarify up front that our family certainly does not do this perfectly. There are many areas where we could grow.
At the end of 2025, the phrase that kept echoing in my mind was “rhythms over resolutions.” Instead of setting resolutions that would eventually be broken, I chose to focus on building and maintaining practical spiritual rhythms in our home. There is beauty in the change of terminology. While a resolution often leads to guilt when we fail, a rhythm gives us the grace to just get up and begin again. As parents, we are not called to be perfect. We are simply called to be consistent as we help our kids grow deeper in the faith.
So what does this look like in the life of an everyday family? Mark and I would like to give you a snapshot of some of our weekly rhythms.
Matt: Weekly Rhythms in the Brewer Household
Church Attendance – For my kids, this will always be required (not optional), and not just because I am a pastor. We believe that our kids should be present at church on Sundays and Wednesdays, allowing other adults to pour into their lives and teach them God’s Word. As a result, our kids will see that what they learn from us at home aligns with what our church believes.
Sunday Lunch – The after-church lunch is a time for us to review their Sunday School lessons around the lunch table, see what they learned and remember, and reinforce what they were taught at church. It shows that faith does not happen independently at home or church. It is part of every aspect of our lives.
Morning Prayer – My wife is better at this than I am. She takes our daughter to school each morning, and they pray in the car on the way. A rhythm I am trying to get better at is praying together as a family before we all walk out the door each morning.
Meal Time Prayers – As simple and routine as this might sound, it is a foundational rhythm that helps our kids understand the importance of thanking God for His many blessings (including our food). On nights we forget (or do not pray quickly enough), our kids are quick to remind us to pray.
Bedtime Routine – Each night before bed, we read a Bible story together, and I ask a few age-appropriate questions to help guide the discussion. Our kids have memory verses they work on for church each week, and we review those nightly. Then we close in prayer, and again, they are quick to remind us of prayer time if we brush teeth too soon!
In addition to these rhythms, I try to encourage spiritual conversations throughout the day. When we are playing outside, it is easy to point to the sky, the trees, or the weather and talk about God’s beautiful creation. When one of our children disobeys, we can guide the conversation toward sin and forgiveness. Even a simple “I love you” can lead to a discussion about God’s design for the family and His love for us. These conversations do not have to be forced. They often happen naturally as we live life together.
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Mark: Weekly Rhythms in the Goering Household
In our home, a lot of disciple-making happens in the middle of normal life.
My boys, Andrew and Philip, are twin 7 year olds, and most of our rhythms aren’t formal. They show up in everyday moments.
My wife or I read the Bible with them at the dinner table most nights.
The car ride to school often turns into real conversations.
Just last week, one of them asked how to deal with a bully. It turned into a conversation about David and his heart to obey and trust God to protect him.
Before bed, we often just talk.
They bring up questions about gravity, Spider-Man, or faith, and we work through them together.
I work remotely in marketing and often set up at a coffee shop, and the boys sometimes come with me.
That space opens up natural conversations with people.
They get to see and be part of that.
We also bring them into what we’re already doing.
They sit in on simple church at our house around the table, and they’re part of prayer nights.
They see what it looks like to seek God with others.
Throughout the week, there are other rhythms in the background too, like a network prayer meeting on Tuesday nights and time spent meeting with leaders for coaching and accountability.
Not things built around them.
Things they get to watch or step into.
We don’t just want them around it.
We want them practicing it.
They share about Jesus with neighbor kids, often in heartfelt but awkward ways. They also join in for Bible stories and prayer when we gather.
Far from perfect. But they’re learning through immersion, not just observation.
It’s not polished or structured most of the time.
It’s just letting them see and participate in a life that’s actually following Jesus.
Conclusion
We do not have all the answers. We only know what has worked in our families as we seek to follow the calling God has placed on our lives as parents. As you seek the Lord’s guidance, you will discover the rhythms that work best for your home. Discipleship does not have to be complicated. Be present. Be consistent. Start somewhere. You will be amazed at how God multiplies your faithfulness as you point your kids to Him.
Next Week: When Tragedy Strikes
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A lot of great quotes here Matt! So true: What our kids need most are parents who are present and willing to build daily and weekly rhythms that will point their kids to Christ. 🔥
I love this post, and just forwarded it to my daughter and son-in-law with a note encouraging them to establish these type rhythms into their parenting of my two young granddaughters. Thank you for taking the time to write/share!