1. Children are a blessing from God. "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord...," wrote one of the Psalmists (Ps. 127: 3). "Happy is the man," he continues, "that hath his quiver full of them..." (vs. 5). Along with the blessing of children, though, there is responsibility.

2. Many precious memories will be of children and family!

3. “4: And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” An examination of Ephesians 6: 4:

4. "Paideia: denotes 'the training of a child, including instruction;' hence, 'discipline, correction,' 'chastening,' Eph. 6: 4, RV (AV, 'nurture'), suggesting the Christian discipline that regulates character; so in Heb. 12: 5,7,8 (in ver. 8, AV, 'chastisement,' the RV corrects to 'chastening'); in 2 Tim. 3:16, 'instruction.' See INSTRUCTION, NURTURE" (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words).

5. “4: That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5: To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Tit. 2, cp. Prov. 6: 20-23).

6. Children taught to honor parents: Children are to be taught to honor and respect their parents. The scriptures teach, "Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth" (Eph. 6: 2, 3).

7. Children learn obedience in the home: It is in the home that children learn the first lesson in obedience. Paul commands, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right" (Eph. 6: 1). The biblical home is structured (Eph. 5: 22-6: 4). The Bible teaches discipline, both of an instructive and punitive nature (cp. Prov. 13: 24). Children must be provided guidance and rules to be followed.

8. Children learn early: Timothy had from an infant been taught the things of God by his godly mother and grandmother (2 Tim. 3: 15, 1: 5). Jesus, his authority and church, should be an ever present theme in the home, both in teaching and in practice (Matt. 28: 18; Eph. 1: 22, 23).

9. Children taught about material things: Children must be taught the nature and value of material things (Luke 12: 15). Respect for God should begin in the home.

10. Children’s gender considered in teaching: Young men should be taught the importance of fatherhood and being a provider and leader in the home (Eph. 5: 24 ff., I Tim. 5: 8). Young girls are to be taught their role as a wife and mother and the art of home making (Eph. 5: 22 ff., Tit. 2: 4, 5).

11. Children learn of marriage in the home: They learn of the sanctity, dignity, and purpose of marriage and home making. The children learn all these matters not only by the verbal teaching of their parents, but also by the good examples their parents are to set for them (cp. Deut. 6: 6-9).

12. “4: And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6).