Living Belief Ephesians 6:4 God's Will for Parents

5:1-14: Walking in Love & Light 5:15-22: Walking in Wisdom (Walking in the Spirit) 5:21-33: Walking in Relationship As Husband and Wife As Children As Parents 2121And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

44 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. And you, fathers, do not irritate your children, but bring them up tenderly with true Christian training and advice. (Weymouth)

6:4 What Godly Parents Do… Nourish “bring them up” Train “discipline” Admonish“instruction”

First the WARNING: “don’t exasperate” to rouse to wrath, to provoke, exasperate, Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

The Heart of Anger – Lou Priolo 1.Lack of marital harmony 2.Keeping a child-centered home 3.Modeling sinful anger 4.Habitually disciplining in anger 5.Scolding 6.Being inconsistent with discipline

7.Having double standards 8.Being legalistic 9.Not admitting you’re wrong and not asking for forgiveness 10.Constantly finding fault 11.Parents reversing God-given roles 12.Not listening to your child’s opinion or taking his or her ‘side of the story’ seriously

13.Comparing them to others 14.Not making time ‘just to talk’ 15.Not praising or encouraging your child 16.Failing to keep your promises 17.Chastening in front of others 18.Not allowing enough freedom 19.Allowing too much freedom

20.Mocking your child 21.Abusing them physically 22.Ridiculing or name calling 23.Unrealistic expectations 24.Practicing favoritism 25.Child training inconsistently with God’s Word

6:4 What Godly Parents Do… Nourish “bring them up” properly, feed (nourish out), to its needed outcome). "effectively nourish, nurture" sustain, "nourish out (up) to maturity" to rear, raise

6:4 What Godly Parents Do… Train “discipline” 1. The whole training and education of children - which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, commands, admonitions, reproof and punishment; it includes also the care and training of the body.

6:4 What Godly Parents Do… Train “discipline” 2. whatever cultivates the soul, especially by correcting mistakes and curbing the passions; a. instruction which aims at the increase of virtue: 2 Timothy 3:162 Timothy 3:16 b. according to Biblical usage chastisement, chastening (of the evils with which God visits men for their amendment)

6:4 What Godly Parents Do… Admonish“instruction” properly, setting or to place in the mind through God-inspired warning ("warning through teaching") improves a person's reasoning so they can reach God's solution –by going through His thought- process.

6:4 What Godly Parents Do… Admonish“instruction” I Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (NASB) Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. (Holman)

6:4 What Godly Parents Do… Admonish“instruction” Romans 15:14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. (ESV) And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. (NASB)

Keys for Great Parenting 1.Reserve “best” energy for family 1rst & fun. 2.Do all you can to make marriage “all in.” 3.Set a true moral compass with true humility. 4.Love~serve~empower~lead. 5.Keep learning from the Ultimate Father. 6.Band together with like minded parents. 7.Never quit and never give up, its never too late!