Sunday Synopsis: Perfecting Parenting

I can't get everything in on Sundays, so we are going to use this for overflow. Last week started our new series on biblical principles of parenting, so let me set it off with a synopsis of Sunday's teaching. Our first topic for teaching is "A Biblical Philosophy of Parenting."

The homiletical idea here is that no one is naturally pre-wired to be a biblical parent, but fortunately parenting is a skill you can perfect. So parenting is like any other aspect of life: you need to know how God’s handbook on humanity says to run it. The first point that lays the foundation for biblical childrearing is

Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Since you missed what that verse is saying, let me be kind and rewind. Happiness is defined in Prov 29:18 as setting a goal to see Bible principles applied in your life. The idea of vision means having a very concrete picture of what a good parent is, no matter how you were raised as a child. This is necessary since children do not go where you say, because they cannot cognitively process things that way; children go where you show, because their little life is based on imitation.

We teach a philosophy of discipleship encompassed in four biblical goals. Likewise, there are at least four good goals to biblical parenting.

Goal 1. Establish them in a safe and secure environment.

Each goal has a task tied to it that makes it practical and accountable.

Task 1. The way you establish children in a secure environment is through constant, consistent and courageous communication about life-issues from a biblical frame of reference.

This is necessary because the thing that most often causes rebellion in children is hypocrisy in the parents. Hello somebody!

Goal 2. Establish them in good citizenship. Good citizenship means
· They have a good attitude toward law enforcement
· They participate with you, through this church, in being productive in the community
· They contribute to the well-being of others at school and the edification of others at church

—because good citizenship is tied to acting like God in the community.

Task 2. You get to this goal by teaching them to submit to authority.

Most parents stop with goal #1. Some go as far as level 2. A complete biblical philosophy of parenting has two civil goals (one internal to the house: security, and one external to society: good citizen). But then it goes even further to two spiritual goals (one internal, dealing with attitude, and one external encompassing action). First, the aspect of internal attitude.

Goal 3. Establish them in biblical understanding.
· Knowledge is the facts of a situation
· Wisdom is knowing how to take the facts and act in that situation
· Understanding is how God figures into the situation

So there is a task tied to the accomplishment of this goal as well.

Task 3. Educate them in what it takes to be pleasing to God by first making right decisions, and then secondly developing the discipline to get it done.

This is illustrated through the book of Proverbs. That gets us to level-four parenting.

Goal 4: Establish them in godliness.

Because the only way our city will get better is for parents to be godly so their children can be good. And the fourth goal, even though it is the highest level, is the foundation of the other three.

Task 4: The Process of Biblical Parenting

A. Start with the heart, Luke 6:45; Prov 4:23
· As you deal with the heart start with three ideas: conviction, grace, and free choice

B. Stick to the scriptures, Heb 4:12; Deut 6:5-7; 2 Tim 3:15

· Remember that while you are teaching your child and training them in the word, it is also cutting you!

C. Seek the Spirit to help you live what you lip, Psa 127:4

· The target you are pointed at is the one that your children will hit!

D. Strive for biblical success, Josh 1:8; 24:15

Next Sunday we will be teaching from the topic of how to parent the prodigal.