The Target: Your Child’s Heart
Intro:
READY? Three Reality Checks that Must Shape Biblical Parenting:
- Your Relationship with Christ is Priority #1.
1 Corinthians 2:14 - But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
- Your Child is a Little Sinner.
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Review: Romans 5 - The Bible is the Source of Authority.
AIM...! My Mission is to Make Disciples of My Children:
What Does it Mean to Disciple Your Children? (Deuteronomy 6:4-13)
- Worship
- Walk
- Work
FIRE! Go for the Heart.
4 Wrong Things to Go After:
- Your comfort
- Your child's happiness
- Applause for yourself
- Applause for you child
TEAR DOWN IDOLS - (Rom 8:19)
Mark 7:21-22 - For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.
LIFT UP CHRIST
Five Things to Teach and Model about Christlike-ness:
- Teach them to Serve.
Isaiah 52:13 - Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up, and greatly exalted.
- Teach them to be Submissive.
Luke 2:51 - And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and He continued in subjection to them.
- Teach them to Seek.
Luke 19:10 - For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
- Teach them to be Sanctified.
John 17:4 - I glorified you [God the Father] on earth.
- Teach them to Suffer.
1 Peter 1:2-3 - And while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.
Psalm 127:3-5 - Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.
Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!
Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Psalm 127:3-5
- What’s the best parenting advice you’ve ever heard? What’s the worst parenting advice you’ve ever heard? How do you evaluate what’s good and what’s not?
- What is the goal of parenting? How do you know (as a parent) you are hitting that goal?
- What does Genesis 2:24 show as a big difference between the duration of marriage and the duration of parenting? What does that say about how you should go after each of these?
- How is a child’s disobedience like an idol in their heart? Discuss the following case study:
Ronnie has been told that he is to always make his bed before breakfast. Today, Mom discovers that Ronnie's bed has not been made. Mom thinks, "Is it laziness? Is it rebellion? Is it due to distraction? Do I have all the facts?"
Evaluate these possible responses from Ronnie. How would you respond if you were his Mom? Is there an idol that needs addressed? If so, what is the idol?
It's too hard to get the wrinkles out.
I'm sick of cleaning my room. Hannah doesn't have to make her bed.
"Dad asked me to help him in the basement with the leaking pipes, right away.
I'll get to it when I'm done playing Super Mario."
Breakout Questions:
Pray for parents YOU know who are currently struggling with parenting issues.