CHILD TRAINING BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION DEUTERONOMY 6 Child Training
CHILD TRAINING BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION DEUTERONOMY 6
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 • • •
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)
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 • •
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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