What does the Bible say about Parenting?

Introduction:

Being a parent today is not an easy task. Parenting has never been an easy feat. Raising a generation and being a person of influence in helping mould and shape their young lives is greatly significant.

The parent chid relationship is one of the most intimate known to humankind. It is in this relationship that the child receives the love, affection, and security that he or she needs for good self-esteem and adjustment to life.

The parent chid relationship is one of the most intimate known to humankind. It is in this relationship that the child receives the love, affection, and security that he or she needs for good self-esteem and adjustment to life.

Parents want to do what is right for their children. Parents this morning this message is not an attack on you love or skills or level of care. This mornings message is geared to help support you with God’s Word. The Bible is the best known source of parenting guidance.

Let’s take a look at our text:

Ephesians 6:1–4 NLT

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” 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.

Eph.

Do not provoke children to anger

We are challenged here as parents not to misuse the level of power.

What comes to mind most times here is the thought of child abuse. But that is not what I am talking about here. This passage of scripture cautions against such abuse. It also goes further in warning parents against injustice or severity in any case.

Do not be overly severe with children to exercise so much control over them that they are crushed in spirit or where you would loose trust. Where the children would feel or say “I do not trust you, nor do I have confidence in you”. The normal reaction to such control is loss of respect and rebellion.

Parents should always be on alert to give encouragement . Failure to do so causes insecurities and frustrations beyond many children’s ability to handle. Encouragement needs to be issued in word and in action over both big and little things. It needs to be done in times of success and in times of failure. Rewards can be used for encouragement.

We are also challenged not be too soft or careless with our children

By being too soft and careless with our children we can cause them to disrespect authority. There are consequences for wrong actions. This is where I hear a lot of threats but no follow through. This destroys a level of honesty between parent and child and then ruins respect levels. The child is spoiled when there are no boundaries. Such boundaries demand time and care.

The child is spoiled when there are no boundaries. Such boundaries demand time and care.

There needs to be balance. Often time in our society we are too afraid to set boundaries that have consequences, to set responsibilities for our children (have chores to complete) and to say no. There are many parents today who cannot say o to their children afraid they will get mad. By being fearful in this manner and not want to “rock the boat” how are we parenting? What good is this doing this generation?

illustration:

There was a story told of a little girl whose day was string of various misbehaviors accompanied by corresponding scolding from her mom. Finally, the girl sat down and said “I wish my dad would come home and make me behave”. Children need and want parents to show their authority. You may beg to differ with me on that point. No they won’t asked to be punished but they will certainly remember the level of respect for the boundaries you set for them.

Parents can provoke their children to wrath by not being authoritative.

A church youth director was in the presence of a teenager and her mom. The girl was saying all kinds of ugly things to her mother. When the mother left, the girl turned to the youth director asked and asked, “Wh does my mother let me talk to her like that?”

Parents are to raise their Children in the ways of the Lord.

Eph.

Ephesians 6:4 NIV

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

There are two words we are reminded of here:

Nurture

Admonition

Nurture defined.

Nurture defined.

Nurture is also translated as discipline, the total training and educational process of children.

Education in the widest sense includes the commands and admonitions - and sometimes punishment - cultivates the mind and morals, correcting mistakes and curbing passions.

All Christian parents should seek divine leadership in counseling their children against faults and oversights. Instruction instills virtues by teaching doctrines and duties.

Do our children know God’s word?

Do they know what they believe and why?

Is Soteriology, Christology, and Eschatology?

This morning we had beautiful baby dedicated to the Lord. Remember when we brought our kids to the Lord in this manner. Vowing like we took those marriage vows before God and witnesses to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

Take time this morning to take a moment and evaluate how that’s going?

Have you taught them well?

Are you teaching them well?

Are you keeping up your end of the vow?

Admonition is also translated as instruction, training by word of encouragement.

It is training training by word of reproof and and by word of blame when those are required.

When looking at this text it will show is that the discipline and instruction are to be done “in the Lord”.

Parent-child relationships are incomplete without the Lord as the third partner, because His word and His Holy Spirit serve as guides for raising children. Furthermore, our God is our pattern for good parenting.

Explain role of values in relationship.

We need to know what we value,

Who we are

Where we stand.

What are we to do?

We are to train our children by teaching them the ways of the Lord.

Daily Bible reading and prayer should be a common practice from infancy.

Use of the proper age level Bible story books can instill in children a great love and respect for God’s Word.

Regular church attendance will provide children with an extended family of Christian peers and mentors. It will also build into children a discipline that will make churchgoing a normal thing to do in their lives.

Lead by example with regular Bible reading and prayer. This teaches our children to be self feeders in the Word and in their relationship with God.

Conclusion:

Serving the Lord in any capacity is an awesome responsibility, but to fulfill the role of a parent as presented in our text is almost beyond one’s ability to comprehend. Parenthood demands a close walk and constant communion with God. It calls on each parent to learn from mistakes, grow in knowledge, and develop in maturity. The Lord sets standards for parenthood and also supplies the grace to meet them.