PARENTING POST-PANDEMIC - JANUARY 15, 2023

SCRIPTURE
Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. Psalm 127:3-4, NLT/NIV

BORN INTO WAR
In the Bible, a physical assault on children is seen in Moses, Molech, and the Massacre of the Innocents.

In our day, a physical, spiritual, psychological, and emotional onslaught has been brought against our children in an unprecedented way. Our enemy is no longer content to kill our infants, he is now coming for their souls.
Children are a great blessing that come with a great burden. That burden is to exhaust every effort to protect the spirit, soul, and body of children.
Remember: …the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:4, NLT

In Scripture, when men illogically target children, it’s because their kingdom is threatened.

Parenting is hard! While there is no perfect philosophy and no perfect parent, the Bible offers us timeless parenting principles. But we must do this with tenacious intent!

SAME PAGE PARENTING
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6, ESV
Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction? Amos 3:3, NLT

Although negative, the power of agreement is present at the Tower of Babel.

PRINCIPLES FOR PARENTING
1/ Children benefit when parents pray.
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17, BSB
We must be filled with the Holy Spirit, discerning a child’s well-being on every level.
When praying for children, visualize their salvation and destiny.

2/ Children benefit when parents set a good and godly example.
“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” Jesus in John 13:15, ESV
Children need to see good qualities and godly character in parents (work ethic, repentance, etc.).

3/ Children benefit when parents give them realistic responsibilities.
Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work. Proverbs 21:25, NLT
“The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes.” Martin Luther

4/ Children benefit when parents appropriately discipline and discipline appropriately.
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. Ephesians 6:4-5, NLT
“At its core, our parenting must be rooted in a desire for them to have a new heart, not just good behavior.” Paul Tripp
Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. Proverbs 23:13, NLT
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. Proverbs 22:15, NIV
Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. Proverbs 13:24, NLT

5/ Children benefit when parents get into their world.
This reverse of this principle is seen in the life of Herodias’ daughter in Matthew 14.

6/ Children benefit when parents discern when to speak life and when to speak death.
The tongue has the power of life and death. Proverbs 18:21, NIV
The practice of verbally blessing others begins with God and possesses a supernatural, unseen component (Adam, Abraham, etc.).
“Blessing is the projection of good into the life of another. It isn’t just words. It’s the actual putting forth of your will for the good of another person. It always involves God, because when you will the good of another person, you realize only God is capable of bringing that.” Dallas Willard

7/ Children benefit when surrounded by godly influences.
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13:20, ESV
We need to create eco-systems that involve God’s presence and God’s people.

8/ Children benefit when parents guard their hearts.
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23, NLT

9/ Children benefit when parents teach and talk about the Lord.
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 on 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. Deuteronomy 6:4-9, NIV
Help children understand the nature of God, spiritual laws, and core Christian doctrines.

Create moments for encounter, no matter how small.

10/ Children benefit when parents seek out others who are beyond them, beside them, and behind them.
This principle of mentorship is found throughout Scripture (Moses to Joshua, Elisha to Elisha, Jesus to disciples, Paul to Timothy, etc.).

11/ Children benefit when parents prepare for and initiate difficult conversations.

The writer of Proverbs is a father speaking to his son about difficult topics.
We should be prepared to discuss issues of sexuality, politics, abortion, racism, etc.

12/ Children benefit when parents prioritize their marriage relationship.
Ephesians 5-6 outlines the proper order of the family unit.
Beware of “kidolatry.”

13/ Children benefit when parents are healed and whole.
And He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them. Luke 4:39, ESV
“The subject of raising children really does start with the nature, character and condition of the parents. It does not take perfect parents to raise children correctly. Nor do the parents have to come from healthy backgrounds. But it does take the intentional pursuit of the values rooted in…the Bible…” Bill Johnson, Raising Giant Killers

CLOSE
“I may not be the smartest man, the most gifted man, or the most able man. But if God has called me to pastor this church…then NO BODY can do it better!” John Kilpatrick