Episode Overview Eric Rutherford sits down with David Michael to explore what it actually means to pass the faith from one generation to the next. They unpack the biblical mandate behind next generation ministry, why churches often miss the mark despite good intentions, and what a practical, vision-oriented approach to discipling children looks like — in both the church and the home. This episode is directly relevant to fathers who want to lead their families with intentionality and theological depth. Key Points 1. Truth78 is built on Psalm 78 — and so is the mandate. The organization takes its name from Psalm 78, which describes a God-given responsibility to pass a testimony of faith from generation to generation, so that those not yet born would set their hope in God. That multigenerational vision is the driving framework for everything Truth78 produces. 2. Next generation ministry has one primary reason for existing. It is not primarily to attract families, to keep children safe, or to give parents a distraction-free worship service — though those are fine secondary outcomes. The primary reason is to transfer truth about God from one generation to the next. When that gets displaced by secondary concerns, problems follow. 3. Most churches lack an intentional 18-year plan. Churches are generally intentional about presenting the gospel and running quality programs, but few have a structured, long-range strategy for what truth they want children to have by the time they leave home. David argues for what he calls vision-oriented parenting — asking now what you want to be true of your child at 20, 30, or 40, and building backward from there. 4. The Whole Counsel of God — five streams. Drawn from Acts 20 where Paul declares himself "innocent of your blood" because he did not shrink from declaring the whole counsel of God, Truth78 has organized comprehensive discipleship around five streams: Gospel Proclamation — a robust, not superficial, understanding of the gospel; many teenagers who grew up in church cannot explain why sin is a problem or how Christ's death solves itBiblical Survey — walking children through the full narrative of Scripture, Genesis to Revelation, multiple times over 18 years (the More Than a Story two-volume resource does this in about 750 pages)Moral and Ethical Instruction — practical wisdom from Scripture, through the Way of the Wise curriculumSystematic Theology — essential doctrines taught accessibly; the ABCs of God covers all of God's attributes in 40 lessons for early elementary studentsBiblical Theology — the redemptive story arc running through all of Scripture, taught through resources like What a Savior5. Kids are not bored by depth — they hunger for it. A common fear in children's ministry is that heavy content will lose kids. Truth78's experience is the opposite. First graders learning the word "incomprehensible" as an attribute of God love it, use it, and bring it home. Children respond positively to being taken seriously and given something real. 6. Transfer of truth is not merely transactional — it targets mind, heart, and will. The goal is not just filling a child's head with correct theology. Instruction is aimed first at the mind (understanding), then the heart (desire), then the will (obedience). Truth that stays only in the mind loses its power. The framework is: get from the head to the will through the heart. 7. Parents are the primary disciplers — not the church. David is direct: the church and home must partner together, but the discipleship responsibility belongs to parents first. Many parents default to "that's why I take them to church" — essentially outsourcing what is biblically their calling. The church's job is to give parents the vision and tools to do what they are already called to do. 8. Men especially need practical tools, not just a call to lead. David has talked to hundreds of fathers over the years. Not one pushed back on the responsibility. The gap is not desire — it is knowing what to do. Give a man something specific and achievable. One example he offers: make it your aim daily to bring Christ near to your wife and children. That might be a quick prayer at the door before school. It does not require a formal devotional setup to be meaningful. 9. Every church member has two contributions to make. David challenges every person in the pew — not just parents or ministry workers — with two things: set a worthy example and pray. Children are watching adults in the congregation; that influence is happening whether it is intentional or not. And 15 minutes of prayer per week — three minutes a day, five days — focused on the next generation in your sphere could move mountains if done across a whole church. 10. Prayer is the engine — everything else is infrastructure. Perfect curriculum, aligned leadership, committed parents — none of it accomplishes anything unless God moves on the hearts of children. David closes with the example of Jesus praying for Peter's faith not to fail, even though he already knew the outcome. Jesus prayed because God moves in response to prayer. That is the posture Truth78 wants to cultivate in every parent, teacher, and grandparent. Quotable Moments "We've been given a testimony. Pass it on to your children. Teach them to teach their children so that the next generation will set their hope in God." "We have these children from birth and we have them for maybe 18 years. What is our plan for effectively passing the truth on to them?" "I've talked to hundreds of dads and I have not found one who said, no, that's not my job. It's in their heart to do it. They just need something specific to put in their hands." "We want to get from the head to the will through the heart." "I think we pray wimpy prayers for children. Let's pray biblical prayers." "Prayer is the engine that drives children's ministry in your church." Resources Mentioned Truth78 — truth78.org Full library of curriculum, sample lessons, seminars, and teaching resources for churches and familiesZealous: Seven Commitments for the Comprehensive Discipleship of the Next Generation by David Michael — a book for church leaders and Sunday school teachers to align around the purpose of next generation ministry (includes a study guide)More Than a Story (two volumes, ~750 pages) — takes children through the full biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation; designed to be worked through 2-3 times over 18 yearsABCs of God — 40-lesson curriculum covering all of God's attributes for early elementary studentsThe Way of the Wise — curriculum focused on moral and ethical instruction from ScriptureWhat a Savior — kindergarten curriculum on Jesus rooted in biblical theologyBig, Bold Biblical Prayers for the Next Generation by David Michael — a resource to help parents and grandparents move beyond general prayers toward prayers grounded in Scripture and God's promisesNurturing the Faith of Our Children — seminar resource David developed that churches can use to equip individual parents Action Steps for Listeners If you are a father: Ask the long view question: what do you want to be true of your child spiritually at 20, 30, or 40? Start planning backward from thereDaily aim to bring Christ near — a brief prayer at the door, a question about what they are reading in Scripture, a blessing as they leave for schoolPray specifically and biblically for your children; pick up Big, Bold Biblical Prayers as a starting pointIf you are a church leader or pastor: Do a six-week teaching series on next generation ministry to build a shared vocabulary and visionPull fathers together by age group (all dads of first graders, all dads with kids in Sunday school) for breakfast and cast visionWork toward a culture where anyone in the church could answer, without prompting: "Why does children's ministry exist?"Read Zealous with your elder board or children's ministry teamIf your church leadership is not there yet: Start where you have access — your Sunday school class, your own children, individual parents you knowHost a small seminar or parent gathering; you do not need institutional buy-in to begin equipping people around youIf you are any member of any congregation: Commit to 15 minutes per week praying for the next generation in your sphere — your children, grandchildren, kids in your Sunday school class, children in your neighborhoodBe the kind of person a child could be pointed to as an example worth followingDo all of the following at https://entrustingthefaith.com/ Sign up for the newsletterContact me about speaking opportunitiesBuy the book Leading Well at Home: Husbands and Fathers Can Biblically Lead Their Families
