Bringing Our Families Before the Lord at Dinner

by Mo Hodge

Our families have become fractured. We’re running in a thousand directions and missing what’s most important. Perhaps we can learn from the still fresh in our minds pandemic shutdown experience. Everything we hold dear is experienced through the family. And parents are God-designed to be the spiritual leaders of their homes. We as Pastors pretend to be the experts when we were never meant to be. Pastors are meant to be player/coaches who set the example and mentor others in how it’s done. Like the Pharisees we Pastors load unrealistic expectations on the people. And families suffer, our own included, because of our well meaning but misguided focus. It’s time for fathers and mothers and grandparents to rise up and become spiritual leaders. Our home is the spiritual base (and not the church). This shutdown is over, but it is never too late to seize the opportunity of a lifetime!

My challenge to Dads and Granddads. You are still the leaders of your family. Choose to anchor Jesus deep in the hearts of your children and grandchildren. Start today, at one meal per day, choose a few verses from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John that talk about Jesus and read them before you eat. Then ask someone to pray. We take turns praying before meals, children included, so we pass it around (take your turn too!). The more we learn about Jesus the more we love Him.

As founding Pastor of The Bridge Community Church and Executive Director of Mo Hodge Ministries, Mo resources Pastors and Leaders in the area of leadership development. He enables Pastors and leaders in the following areas: Developing Teams, Church Growth, Church Planting, Discipleship Multiplication, Nonprofit Organizational Management, Multi-site Church Development, Public Speaking, Capital Campaigns, and Sr. Pastor Succession. … Mo and his wife, Nancy, live in Anderson, IN with their children and grandchildren. Though retired, Mo is still active in ministry, preaching, teaching, and planting new churches wherever the Lord leads. You can follow him on LinkedIn or through his Newsletter.

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