God At Work Within Us

How can I disciple my children when my own faith is a little shaky and when I don’t know enough about the Faith to disciple anyone? (Part 3)

Please bear with me. This entry will be a little longer than most however I sincerely believe that the scriptural principle that you are about to read about is probably the most essential for Christian parents to understand!

Working hard to please God

When I first became a Christian I was so excited. I wanted to know everything, do everything right and experience God in everyway that was possible. I went to every church service and prayer meeting I could get to. I read every Christian book I could find and spent as much of my day every day that I could reading my Bible and on my knees praying. Every minute of the day I was a church service waiting to happen.

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The Third Parent

How can I disciple my children when my own faith is a little shaky and when I don’t know enough about the Faith to disciple anyone? (Part 2)

In Psalm 39 David said, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (v. 13, 14)

In these verses God shows us that he is involved in the making of each one of us. God didn’t just make Adam and Eve, wind up the baby making process and walk away. He loves and knows each one of us and was there with us from the womb.

It is funny that even though we are taught that God knows everything, is always everywhere and that he loves us all (John 3:16) it comes as a surprise to us that God made us and has known us from the start.

God did of course wonderfully allow parents to be involved in the process. Our children are the product of our unions but although that is so much of who are children are, looks, personality, talents, quirks etc. that is not all they are.

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What is Christian Parenting? (Part 2)

Here is where we begin to deal with what I call ‘side of fries’ Christian Parenting.

In the opening comment of part one of this blog I talked about what most parents believe Christian Parenting to be. I sum that up as believing that we are to raise our children like everyone else aiming at them one day being healthy, well adjusted successful adults but with a side of Christianity. Bible stories, Sunday School, bedtime prayers etc. need to be added, so that hopefully, they will know Jesus, attend church and even read their Bible when they grow up.

Let’s examine what Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to see if the ‘do you want fries with that?’ idea holds up.

Ephesians 6: 4 “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (NIV)

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What is Christian Parenting? (Part 1)

How would you answer this question? If you’re like I was, and probably most Christian parents, you would answer this question by saying, “It’s taking them to church, praying with them, getting them to read their Bible and hopefully seeing them give their hearts to Jesus; stuff like that.”

Let’s look at how God’s Word defines Christian parenting by examining Paul’s main comment on the topic.

Ephesians 6: 4 “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (NIV)

According to this section of scripture Christian parenting involves at least two main elements; the way we parent and also the purpose and content of our parenting.

The first element is straightforward and outlined in the first line of this verse; I like how the Message paraphrases it, “Fathers, don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them.” An essential part of Christian parenting is that we are to act in a Christ like way in front of our children and especially towards our children.

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