BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION DEUTERONOMY 6 CHILD TRAINING BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION DEUTERONOMY 6

Child Training God’s Goal: independent godliness Heb. 12:9-11 Objectives: wisdom, responsibility, self-control Method: train the will of the child Need the heart of a child to listen (God’s design) Instructing, giving chances to apply, confirming good behavior, responsibility Parental control needed until godly self-control rules the child The will needs to be instructed to choose right

Deut. 6:4-9 Time is required Not just time How is the time used? Like spiritual family time Heb. 10:24-25 Assembling without exhorting is time wasted Not assembling also time wasted Time without instruction is time wasted Ef. 6:4 Constant instruction in God’s word (like the church)

Deut. 6:4-9 Should not be overtly “preachy” In natural course in everyday activities Teaches relevance of scripture Doesn’t segment (isolate) spirituality from “real life” Involves both parents Ef. 6:1-4 Both parents to be obeyed Both are to train and instruct 2 Tim. 1:5, Prov. 1:8

Biblical Instruction: Need for Control Parents should have control over influences Don’t abdicate to TV Don’t abdicate to internet Don’t abdicate to friends Don’t abdicate to school Don’t abdicate to church

Biblical Instruction: Need for Control Over-protecting is naïve and will backfire Protect until the child’s will is educated and trained Gradual, realistic exposure to other influences but with guidance Gives parents teaching opportunities Opportunities to constructively bond with child

Biblical Instruction: Need for Consistency Parents are to be examples Prov. 23:26 Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways. Live with purpose of setting example Takes time, hard work, forethought Show we mean what we profess Earn the child’s trust Contradictions create anger, distrust Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21

Biblical Instruction: Need for Consistency No contradiction in instruction No contradiction between mother and father No contradiction between words & actions Actions speak louder than words What we do is who we really are; what we profess is what we wish others think we are

Biblical Instruction: Need for Consistency Consistency in other people Using others as examples (books, movies, actual events) Characters of consistency or inconsistency Explain apparent inconsistencies Psalm 73

Biblical Instruction: Need for Coherence How God wants parents to teach children Deut. 6:20-25 “Why?” Not as a demand Jesus did not do miracles on demand Still must submit to authority rather than logic However, children need reasons to educate the will How God teaches us Deut. 30:11-20

Biblical Instruction: Need for Coherence Instruction should include reasons for child’s age to understand Engender trust in the principle & parent Demonstrate the development of wisdom Show how to make decisions Can’t explain everything (faith) Deut. 29:29 Job didn’t get an explanation he wanted We can trust in God’s love Rom. 10:9, Acts 2:38