Child Training - Instruction

Child Training: Biblical Instruction God’s Goal: independent godliness Hb 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

Child Training: Biblical Instruction 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 church)

Child Training: Biblical Instruction 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, Pr. 1:8

Child Training: Biblical Instruction Parents should have control over influences Abdicating to church or school or friends, media, etc. is wrong Opposite extreme (sheltering) is naïve and will backfire More protection till will is educated and trained Realistic exposure to other influences but with guidance Gives parents teaching opportunities Opportunities to constructively bond with child

Child Training: Biblical Instruction Consistency is required Parents are to be examples Prov. 23:26 Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways. Living with purpose of setting example Takes time, hard work, forethought Show we mean what we profess Earn the child’s trust Consistency in instruction Not self-contradictory

Child Training: Biblical Instruction Consistency is required Not contradiction between mother and father Not 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 Consistency in other people Using others as examples (books, movies, etc.) Explain apparent inconsistencies Ps 73 Characters of consistency or inconsistency

Child Training: Biblical Instruction Coherent reasons are required Not Why? on 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 wants parents to teach children Deut. 6:20-25 How God teaches us Deut. 30:11-20

Child Training: Biblical Instruction Instruction should include reasons for child’s age to understand Engenders trust in the principle & parent Demonstrating the development of wisdom Show how to make decisions Children are not mindless drones Can’t explain everything (faith) Deut. 29:29 Job didn’t get an explanation he wanted Rom. 11:33-36 We can trust in God’s love Rom. 10:9, Ax 2:38