One of the greatest challenges of living a missional life is sharing and developing it as a family. This dimension of being a missional community cannot be taken for granted. It is worthy of attention and discipline because it will be these transformed homes that produce disciples and leaders for the next generation. The Christian home should be the first place in which we tell and practice the Gospel that transforms. It can also be the hardest place to live the Good News reign of God. The crucibles of male-female relationships, of parenting, of sibling rivalry, and then relating to extended family who may or may not follow Jesus can be extremely refining and even discouraging. The story of the Wagler family above is just one example of what a family might choose to do together to train up their children as missional disciples of Jesus. To stir more in this regard think through how some of the following might help shape the life and practice of your missional home: •
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Practice Sabbath. Don’t buy into busyness, surrender to the obedience of rest. We know this is counter-cultural and that’s okay. Include God. Including the presence of the Holy in the mundane and not just on Sundays is crucial in developing a home where faith is not dualistic. Gathering the family around the Scriptures in some form will awaken great conversation, bring the Bible out of the past and into the present and force parents to do hermeneutics and get beyond pat answers. Exercise uncommon restraint and generosity. Fight with all your might the urge to simply please your children with the latest gadgetry. There’s nothing wrong with toys, but there is something wrong with idolatry and in western culture there is a fine line between the two. Delaying pleasure and encouraging sacrifice may be a tough sell, but it produces uncommon beauty in a self-centered world. A home where restraint is coupled with generosity (including hospitality, time-use, and financial stewardship) is central to the