1. BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION DEUTERONOMY 6
CHILD TRAINING
BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION
DEUTERONOMY 6

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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