Tyler Jones and Erika Lizotte kick off a 4 week series on biblical parenting called Raising Kids Well.
Raising Kids Well :: Week 1 Vintage21 :: March 29, 2007 Tyler Jones, Erika Lizotte
Starting point: the gospel - Created: to be in the Trinity, in the image of God, with a choice - We choose to walk away from God and are in need beyond our capacity - Jesus died to trade his perfect life for our bent lives so we can live as we are created to.
Research shows that a person will spend the rest of his life trying to prove what he believes at 12 years-old. The most important thing to do for a child is prepare his heart, mind, and soul to know God.
Healthy approach to scripture - What we give into and put ourselves under. - Unidirectional Theology: we must go in the correct direction. (God‡scripture‡my experience) - Reasons we frame parenting through scripture - God’s heart is for children, parenting is such a big deal that surely God spoke of it, efficacy of scripture, transcendence of scripture, intention of scripture, there is life in the hard places of scripture
Appropriate Relationship Priorities - God has made an order: God, spouse, children (Ephesians5:1 & 33, Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 6, Hebrews 12)
Godly man: - Follower of Jesus. In all four gospel books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) we see Jesus: - Love people overwhelmingly - Utterly convict (John 4) - Fast and pray (Luke 5 & 6) - Trust God - Create things that didn’t exist - Be intentional (1 Corinthians, Ephesians 5) - Be strong (2 Corinthians 11)
Godly Woman: - 1 Peter 3:1-4, Genesis 2:18, 21-24 woman as “ezerâ€: a helper and completer, a mighty thing - Genesis 3:16 the strength of the helper leads to the sin of the woman which often manifests through: - Mood – overpowering and manipulative, sour and toxic - Mouth – searing and often come as a multitude, poisonous - Proverbs 31 wife of noble character is: - Free to labor gloriously; love family & community with supportive & enabling love; able to know satisfaction of living deep purposeful life. - Chose to live created intention. Proverbs 14:27, fear of Lord is a fountain of life.
Questions for personal reflection:
Why is it so crucial that we parent through the gospel? Do you believe the gospel for yourself? Are you modeling to your child coping strategies that will point his or her heart, mind, and soul to God?
Do you put yourself & your family under scripture? Do you believe that Jesus can enable you & your family to live as the Bible outlines? Have you been relying too heavily on resources other than God’s effective, transcendent, intentional, life-giving word? Do you allow God & scripture to make sense of your experiences or do you use your experiences to shape your understanding of God & scripture?
Realizing that much of your parenting is about what you do & don’t do (what you show your kids), are you concerned about what your kids are & aren’t seeing? Have you prioritized your life in a God-centered way? What does it mean for you to put your relationship with God first, your spouse second, and your kids third? What will have to change with your thoughts and actions and schedule?
As a man, do you see all these traits of Jesus in your life? Where are lacking most? Will you muster the courage & humility daily to allow Jesus to continually change your heart into that of a godly man?
As a woman, do you see the great value of living in the way you are created to? Have your moods and words been pointing your family to Christ or alienating them? What will it take for you to be aware of your created intention and consistently chose to live in that way?