Trusting God’s Plan for Raising Children
Introduction:
A. You can walk into any bookstore and find a number of books on how to raise children
B. These may be helpful, but only insofar as they follow God’s divine plan for raising children
1. It is the deviation from that plan that has endangered the family institution
2. A lack of values, a loss of commitment, and confusion of roles have contributed to this
C. Families can be strong and vibrant if they will follow God’s plan for raising children
D. “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6)
I. Parents Need to Understand and Fulfill the Roles God Has Given
A. For each other –
1. These roles have been established since Creation
2. Gen. 2:18-25 (From Bible)
a. The reason for the creation of woman
b. The order of creation of man and woman
c. The process of creation of man and woman
d. The naming of woman by man
3. These roles are confirmed by:
a. 1 Tim. 2:11-14
a. Col. 3:18-21
b. Eph. 5:21-25
4. Feminism has done much to harm the family unit
B. Toward Their Children -
1. Eph. 6:1-4
a. God has commanded children to obey and honor their parents, parents must teach these values
b. God has placed the primary responsibility for the discipline and instruction on the father
c. We need more men to be men!
2. God has certain expectations of mothers too! Titus 2:3-5
a. Wives are to: Love their husbands, love their children, be keepers at home, be obedient to husband
b. This passage has implications for grandparents as well
II. Parent’s Need to Have Clearly Defined Convictions
A. I have found that many Christians have trouble defining their convictions when asked
B. The nurturing of children in the Lord cannot be approached with vague generalities
C. Children must see conviction and moral clarity in their homes and at church
D. This is done by:
1. Example – Prov. 23: 26 “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”
2. Instruction – Teaching important lessons in life and biblical principles
a. One of the most valuable gifts a parent can give their child Prov. 1:8-9
b. Prov. 4:1-4 The purpose of instruction is to impart understanding and establish knowledge
c. Teaching children God’s word is done all day, every day, in every way Deut. 6:4-9 (From Bible)
3. Discipline – A mark of true love
a. Discipline involves teaching a child to be self disciplined
b. “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” (Prov. 22:15)
c. "Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying." (Prov. 19:18)
d. Prov. 23:12-14 Wisdom dictates that parents punish children for the saving of their souls
III. Parents Need to Cherish Their Children
A. Psalm 127 (From Bible) shows that God places great value on children
B. Do you believe that a child is a gift from God? How does this affect your parenting?
C. God gives children to parents to accomplish his purpose in the children's lives.
D. How did Hannah express the value of a child? (1 Samuel 1)
E. Favoritism generates strife in a family, all children need the same amount of love and attention
1. Gen. 25:28 Isaac and Rebekah caused strife in their family by having “favorites”
2. Gen. 37:3, 4 Jacob had not learned his lesson and his favoritism toward Joseph caused much pain
F. The principles of Eph. 4:29-32 (From Bible) will help to convey to children that they are cherished
Conclusion:
A. As parents we desire to be able to say of our children as John said of the church in John 3: 4
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
B. Prov. 3:4-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In
all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
C. We must trust God’s plan for raising children, it is perfect
Michael E. Grooms