“Why Be a Proactive Parent?” Proverbs 22:6 Deuteronomy 6:4-9 March 1, 2009

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” -- Proverbs 22:6

I. What does being proactive mean? The Bible says to proactively participate in the process. – We are to train our children in the way they should go. – When they are older, they will not turn from the right way.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. -- Deut. 6:4-9

I. What does being proactive mean? The Bible tells us to parent as a way of life. – First of all, God’s commandments are to be on our own hearts. – Secondly we are to impress them on our children. – Thirdly, we are to intentionally teach them.

II. What is the danger of not being proactive? If we aren’t, who will? – We cannot abdicate our responsibility in hopes that someone else will do it. “I want my children to make their own decisions about religion.” – We cannot delegate this to someone else, even at Church.

II. What is the danger of not being proactive? If we aren’t, someone will! – There are other adults who have no qualms about imposing their values on our kids. – Their friends will influence them according to their values.

III. What should we be doing as proactive parents? We should be modeling the Christian life. We cannot lead them where we have not already gone! – Do they see you praying and reading the Bible? – Does the sound of you praying for them ring in their ears?

III. What should we be doing as proactive parents? We should be making church essential. – If church is important to us, we will attend and our children will attend with us. – But it is not enough just to go to church! We should discuss spiritual things at home. We should serve in church. We should pray together.

III. What should we be doing as proactive parents? We should be setting boundaries. – We have a right to know what goes on in their rooms. – We have a right to know who their friends are. – We have a right to know who they talk to on the internet or who they text on their cell phones. – We have a right to expect them to abide by the family rules.

III. What should we be doing as proactive parents? We should be raising expectations. They’re not JUST teenagers! Give them some credit! – Our children can learn. – Our children can control their hormones. – Our children can minister to others.

Conclusion Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna, how to raise spiritual champions: Genuinely love God. Pray daily Worship regularly Read the Bible habitually Participate in spiritual community Apply resources, spiritual gifts, etc.

Conclusion The impact is proportional to the depth of relationship we have with them. Wholeheartedly embrace the outcomes we are pushing for them to achieve. Coach “in the moment.” Communicate and be in charge Have a comprehensive plan.

“What’s your game plan?”