God-Empowered Families - Part 1 - An overview of Biblical Parenting

Outline: https://bit.ly/347zD3RSubtitle: An overview of Biblical ParentingToday we shift our focus and attention away from "God in Politics" toward "God in the Family".Opening StatementsThe basic building block of any society or nation is the family unitIf the family unit is strong then the nation will be strongIf the family unit is weak or broken down, the nation will be weak and broken downWhen God counted the nation of Israel, he counted them by their families (Numbers 26:1-5 >)Numbers 1:2 (NCV)You and Aaron must  count all the people of Israel by families and family groups , listing the name of each man.To (re)build a nation, God's focusses on (re)building the family, and in particular, the individual within the familyThe seeds of family breakdown are many times sown in people's lives during their childhood, through: - Observing dysfunctional family dynamics - Lack of proper child training - Wrong child trainingProverbs 22:6 (NKJVTrain up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.The Goal of your Parenting EffortsMalachi 2:15 (NLT) Didnt the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And _ what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.The goal of your parenting efforts is to raise up godly childrenGodly children will eventually become godly adultsAs Christian parents, we desire to bring our children up:To know and serve Jesus Christ as their own personal Lord & SaviourTo become law-abiding citizens and serve their generationTo be contributors to society, rather than takers from society"Google-style" parenting cannot produce "Bible-style" childrenOur parenting style shouldn't be a mixture of biblical & worldly parenting philosophies, as this would result in a mixture of godly & ungodly children.Ephesians 6:4 (NCV) Fathers, do not make your children angry,  but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord.Once again, Bible-based parenting will produce bible-based results - Make the Word of God the basis of your parenting philosophy - Teach your children the Word of GodChild-centred parenting is a worldly parenting philosophy and will produce self-centred childrenDeuteronomy 6:6–9 (NKJV) And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. _ 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children , and_ _ shall talk of them when you sit in your house ,_ _ when you walk by the way, when you lie down , and_ _ when you rise up._ _ 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes._ _ 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates._Teach the Word of God to your children:Talk of them (God's Word) when you sit in your houseWhen you walk by the wayWhen you lie downWhen you rise upIn other words, teach them the Word of God at every opportunityEphesians 6:1–3 (NCV) _ Children, obey your parents _ as the Lord wants, because this is the right thing to do. _ 2 The command says, " Honor your father and mother." _ This is _ the first command that has a promise with it — 3 _"Then everything will be well with you, and you will have a long life on the earth."Your most basic task as a Christian parent is to:To get your children to obey youTo get your children to honour and respect youHonour for father & mother speaks primarily about honour for authority.Initially, as a parent, you are your children's Nurturer & ProtectorThen you become their Trainer, Teacher & CoachYou are their Authority figureAs they get older, you become their Friend, advisor & counsellorIf you try to be a friend to your children before they recognise you as their authority figure, you will lose all authority and they will see you as their equal.Of course, you can and should be friend-ly with your children, but you shouldn't try to be their friend until after you have established yourself as their authority.Introducing the tree of the knowledge of good & evilGenesis 2:8–9 (NIV) Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. _ 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees _ _grow out of the ground— trees that were pleasing to the eye _ and _ good for food ._ _In the middle of the garden were the tree of life _ and _ the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. _God made and placed 3 main categories of trees in the Garden of Eden:Beautiful trees including fruit trees everywhereThe tree of life middle of the GardenThe tree of the knowledge of good & evil middle of the GardenGod gave Adam & Eve permission to partake of all the fruit trees, including the tree of life (vs. 16), but at the same time He forbade them to partake of the tree of the knowledge of good & evil.The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents:Rules & BoundariesNOWhilst obvious, dangerous and harmful temptation should be removed from children to keep them safe & keep them from getting into trouble, it is very healthy establish rules, boundaries and NO early in their childhood.If children disobey & partake of the "forbidden tree", there have to be consequences!Children may learn from your disapproving wordsBut children will really learn from the unpleasant consequences of their disobedienceOf course, consequences should be: - in proportion to their disobedience - in keeping with their ageParents who constantly shield their children from any consequences of their disobedience will perpetuate disobedience in their childrenProverbs 22:15 (NKJV)Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;__the rod of correction will drive it far from him.Proverbs 13:24 (NKJV)He who spares his rod hates his son, __but _ he who loves him disciplines him _ _ promptly__ . _Proverbs 23:13–14 (NLT)_ Don't fail to discipline your children. _ The rod of punishment won't kill them. _ 14 _Physical discipline may well save them from death.Types of consequences:Loss of privilegeLoss of certain enjoymentsCompliance vs ObedienceCompliance is external, obedience is internal.Obedience is the joyful carrying out of expectations & requestsCompliance is the grudging carrying out of expectations & requests.The 7 R's of successful parentingRepetition is the mother of all learningRoutine children thrive in routineRules boundariesReinforcement (positive & negative)Recognition catch them doing the right thingRe-direction redirect them before they get into troubleRewards reward good behaviour & extraordinary effortsRelationships bad company corrupts good morals (1 Cor. 15:33)Be consistent.