Raising Our Sons to Be Future Elders

What virtues should we strive to instill in our boys as they grow into men?Robert Bosley suggests that the answer lies in the qualities Paul lists in his letter to Timothy, describing the requirements for an elder. These are virtues that every man should aspire to, Bosley explains. An elder, or a mature Christian man, should be someone that everyone in the church can look up to. He should be above reproach, faithful to his wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, and respectable. These are the traits we should aim to cultivate in our boys.Bosley emphasizes the importance of teaching boys to control their natural masculine urge to fight. They should know when it's right to fight and when it's not. A man does not use his strength to hurt his family or those he loves, but to protect, defend, and promote the gospel. As our boys grow older, we should strive to raise them into men who are respected by their peers, the community, and the church.1 Timothy 3:2 (NKJV): 'A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach.'