Parents & Children

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Proverbs 22:6 NIV

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)

6 Direct your children onto the right path,

and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Proverbs 22:6 (HCSB)

6 Teach a youth about the way he should go;

even when he is old he will not depart from it.

“Point Your kids in the right direction…” (MSG)

Proverbs 22:6 (NASB95)

6 Train up a child in the way he should go,

Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

1. Parents Train Your Children

I immediately thought of this video when preparing this sermon.

Video: Andy Griffith—Right & Wrong

Before we get to far:

· Rules won’t work w/o relationship

· Rules w/o Relationships lead to Rebellion

· We can’t blame the culture for our mistakes.

Parenting styles:

Autocratic- Strong control but little support

Permissive-Strong support but little control

Indifferent-Little or no control, little or no support, the child feels like a non-entity

Relational(biblical model)- Correct balance of control and support

Ephesians 6:4—“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” (NLT)

What is the most important thing you can train them

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 NIV

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

2. Parents, Strengthen Your Children’s Heart

“in the way he should go”

-way also translated “bend” as in a bow

-not a “let them do it their way” verse but takes into account their personality when it comes to training.

-Not a one size fits all.

A. Acceptance

-they will then accept themselves

-expresses their worth (created in God’s image)

B. Appreciation

-Catch them doing something right

-Beware of mom goggles

-“This is my son in whom I am well pleased.” Matt 3:17

C. Affection

-For them

-For your spouse

D. Availability

-communicates love

-communicates importance

-quality & quantity

Parenting in Grace & Truth

3. Children, Honor Your Parents

Exodus 20:12 (NIV)

12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Ephesians 6:1–3 (NIV)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Disobedience is marked with terrible times

2 Timothy 3:1–5 (NIV)

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents,ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

2 Timothy 3:14–15 (NIV)

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion: