From the Campfire to the Cross

Church, a couple of weeks at camp, something powerful happened.

Yes—there was fun.

Yes—there were games.

Yes—there were late nights and lots of energy.

But that’s not what I want to talk about.

I want to talk about what happened when the noise quieted…

when the lights dimmed…

when distractions were stripped away.

Because in those moments, I watched students lean in not pull away.

I watched them worship—not because they had to, but because they wanted to.

I watched them listen—not distracted, but engaged.

I watched them respond—not emotionally manipulated, but genuinely moved.

And it raises a question for us this morning:

What happens next?

Because what God started at camp was never meant to stay at camp.

I. WHAT STUDENTS EXPERIENCED: GOD AS THEIR FOUNDATION

Text: Psalm 62

Psalm 62 ESV

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. 1 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. 3 How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah 5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah 9 Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. 10 Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them. 11 Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, 12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.

Psalm 62 says, “For God alone my soul waits in silence…”

1. They Experienced Stillness

For many of our students, this was new.

No constant notifications.

No endless entertainment.

No pressure to perform.

Just space.

And in that space they had the opportunity to encounter God.

Silence stopped being uncomfortable

and started becoming sacred.

2. They Experienced Stability

“He alone is my rock and my salvation…”

Students began to realize something:

Everything else in their life shifts.

Friends change.

Feelings fluctuate.

Identity can feel unstable.

But God does not move.

And for many of them, their faith stopped being something borrowed.

and started becoming something personal.

3. They Experienced Honesty

“Pour out your heart before Him…”

They opened up.

They asked real questions.

They confessed real struggles.

They prayed real prayers.

They didn’t clean themselves up to come to God

they came to God to be changed.

TESTIMONY: WHAT I SAW IN YOUR STUDENTS

Church, hear me not as a report, but as a testimony.

I saw your students’ spiritual lives deepening.

I watched them ask questions

real questions

not because they were told to

but because they wanted to know.

I saw them open their Bibles

not out of obligation

but out of hunger.

I heard them pray

honest, vulnerable, real.

There was a yearning in them.

A desire to know God.

A desire to be near Him.

A desire to understand His Word.

Student testimonies

During camp, I asked our students a question.

I said “right now, you are in a place of focus on God.”

“what is a tangible way that you can continue this focus back home in the daily routine?”

This is what they told me.

I want to share the gospel with 3 people (that’s a baseline) by the time fall starts.

My spiral goals is to read my Bible before getting on my phone and making time everyday for God.

Read my bible more often.

Share with people that aren’t just in church but maybe school too.

Doubling prayer life every month.

Hey my goal is to pray at least 3 times a day, not during meals.

I want to memorize more scripture.

My goal is to be a better role model with my friends.

I want to read and pray more.

I want to share my faith more.

Church, this is what you need to understand:

That kind of hunger cannot be manufactured.

That is the work of God.

TRANSITION

But here’s the tension:

This is where I want to remind you.

As a pastor, I’m supposed to get up infront of you and share what I am lead to share.

To be obedient in telling you what he has laid on my heart.

I’m not the chef in the kitchen cooking.

If you don’t like what you taste/hear

Its your job to take that up with the chef

I’m just the waiter here

I’m just supposed to serve it up hot and ready like a Little Caesars pizza

Camp creates the spark

but it is not designed to sustain the fire.

That responsibility doesn’t belong to a place.

It belongs to you.

II. DISCIPLESHIP STARTS AT HOME

Text: Deuteronomy 6:6–7

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 ESV

6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

A. Before It Reaches Your Children, It Must Reside in You

“These words… shall be on your heart”

In this passage, this is where God starts, not with your child, but with you.

The call is not first, “teach your kids,”

it is first, “treasure My Word in your own heart.”

Because discipleship is not primarily transferred through instruction

it is transferred through proximity and observation.

Your children will learn:

What you love

What you prioritize

What you turn to in difficulty

What actually shapes your life

Pastoral Truth:

You can fake a lesson.

You cannot fake a life.

If God’s Word is absent from your heart,

it will eventually be absent from your home.

B. Discipleship Is Intentional, Not Accidental

“You shall teach them diligently…”

That word “diligently” carries the idea of sharpening

like repeatedly drawing a blade across a stone.

It is not passive.

It is not occasional.

It is not reactionary.

It is purposeful repetition over time.

In other words:

Faith is not formed in a moment

it is formed in a pattern.

I’m about to step out on my branch here and start cutting.

We are incredibly intentional about many areas of our children’s lives:

We train them in sports

We coach them academically

We develop their talents

But spiritual formation is often left to chance.

Sharp Question:

Why would we be deliberate about training our children and teens up in everything temporary

and casual about what is eternal?

Being casual about the only thing that truly matters.

Being casual about what your children are hungry for.

Disciple your kids parents

Teach them about God and His character

Show them what God is doing in your life

You may ask “alright, how do I do that?”

I’m so glad that you asked!

The passage goes into that next!

C. Discipleship Happens in the Flow of Everyday Life

“Talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Here, God is dismantling the idea that discipleship is an event.

It is not confined to:

Church services

Youth group nights

Camp experiences

It is woven into the rhythm of daily life.

1. “When You Sit in Your House” — Ordinary Moments

Around the dinner table

During downtime

In casual conversation

This is where faith becomes natural, not forced, a more than daily occurrence.

2. “When You Walk by the Way” — Transitional Moments

Car rides

Errands

Between activities

These are often the moments where kids open up the most.

3. “When You Lie Down” — Reflective Moments

End-of-day conversations

Processing fears, struggles, questions

These are shepherding moments.

4. “When You Rise” — Formational Beginnings

Starting the day with intention

Setting a spiritual tone before the world speaks

D. Discipleship Is More Conversation Than Curriculum

Notice the word: “talk.”

I would never say this as a brag

I can tell you that I have spoken a lot of meaningful sermons

Packed thick with great theology, illustrations, and points.

None of those have had near the impact of the simple conversations that I have had with your students.

Not lecture.

Not preach at.

Not deliver a sermon every night.

Talk.

Ask questions.

Listen.

Engage.

Practical Shift: Move from:

“Let me teach you something” to

“Let’s walk through this together”

E. The Home Is the Primary Place of Formation

God’s design is clear:

The primary place where faith is formed is not the church building

It is the home.

The church is a partner.

The youth ministry is a supplement.

Camp is a catalyst.

But the home is the engine.

F. Removing the Excuses

At this point, many parents feel one of three things:

Guilt or inadequacy.

So let’s address that directly.

You might be thinking:

“I don’t know enough.”

“I didn’t grow up this way.”

“I don’t know how to start.”

But here’s the truth:

God did not call you because you are equipped.

He equips you because you are called.

You don’t need to have all the answers.

You just need to:

Open the Word

Be honest

Be consistent

G. A Clear, Pastoral Charge

Parents, this is your calling.

Not perfectly.

Not impressively.

But faithfully.

Because what God is doing in your child right now…

is too important to leave unsupported.

Transition Forward

So if discipleship begins with your heart…

is practiced with intentionality…

and is lived out in everyday moments…

Then the question becomes unavoidable:

What is your child’s spiritual life worth to you?

III. THE QUESTION: WHAT IS YOUR CHILD’S SPIRITUAL LIFE WORTH?

So I want to ask you a question lovingly, but clearly:

What is your child’s spiritual life worth to you?

Because your life already answers that question.

Your calendar answers it.

Your priorities answer it.

We make time for what matters.

Sports have schedules

School has structure

Vacations have planning

Entertainment has space

But what about their soul?

What about the one thing that will outlast everything else?

Sharp Call

If their relationship with God truly matters…

Then it cannot just be important.

It must be a priority.

Not someday.

Not when life slows down.

Not when it’s convenient.

Now.

Because what I saw during camp was not apathy.

It was hunger.

And that hunger must be fed.

While this message is directed to parents

I would be remiss if I didn’t address where the responsibility lies

IV. Fathers, it is Your Responsibility

Text: Ephesians 6:4

Ephesians 6:4 ESV

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

1. Own the Responsibility

“Fathers…”

Men, this is directed at you.

The spiritual leadership of your home is not accidental

it is assigned.

You are not called to be passive.

You are called to lead.

Not perfectly, but intentionally.

2. Don’t Push Them Away

“Do not provoke your children to anger…”

Harshness, inconsistency, and spiritual absence don’t produce faith

they produce frustration.

You can be present in the home and still not be leading it.

Lead in a way that draws your children toward God, not away from Him.

3. Build Them Up in Christ

“Bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord…”

Your role is to shape and guide:

Discipline — direction and correction

Instruction — truth and teaching

You don’t need to have all the answers.

You just need to be present, consistent, and willing to lead.

Men, you are already setting the spiritual tone of your home.

The question is:

Is it intentional… or accidental?

Encouragement

And I am not calling you to something you cannot do.

You don’t need a seminary degree.

You don’t need to have all the answers.

You just need to be willing.

Willing to open the Word.

Willing to have conversations.

Willing to lead.

V. PRACTICAL NEXT STEPS

Start simple:

5–10 minutes in Scripture together

One intentional spiritual conversation a day

Pray with your children consistently

Share what God is teaching you

Faithfulness, not perfection is the goal.

CLOSING ILLUSTRATION

At camp, we build a fire.

It’s big.

It’s strong.

It’s surrounded by others.

But when camp ends

you don’t take the whole fire home.

You take a coal.

And a coal, left alone, will grow cold.

But placed in the right environment,

it will burn again.

FINAL CALL

What God started in your child this week…

is too valuable too important and too eternal

to leave behind.