Tyler Jones and Erika Lizotte continue their series on biblical parenting called Raising Kids Well.

**Download Notes**

Vintage21 Parenting Class :: Week 3 Taught April 19, 2007 Tyler Jones, Erika Lizotte

Celebrating our kids communicates to them their value as children of the most-high God

• Children are a blessing – Gen 1:28, Mark 10:16
• Children are created perfectly & wonderfully – Psalm 139:13-14, Genesis 1:27, Psalm 45:11
• Children are created for a life of great purpose – Psalm 8:2, Jeremiah 29:6 Children are loved – John 3:16, Romans 8:38-39, Jeremiah 31:3

Parenting is a role of:

• Sacrifice
• Rescue
• Difficulty
• Pointing children to Christ.

Hebrews 12:3-11

• Discipline = training = Paideia
• Train what life is & isn’t
• Train & then call to obedience
• Love precedes obedience
• Romans 1:18 & 28: wrath is the absence of discipline

Questions for Personal Reflection

1. What difficulties are you facing at the moment? Do you allow God to grow your faith & trust in him through these difficulties? Do you see your child’s sin as training opportunities—opportunities to grow his or her trust & faith in God?

2. What is healthy life? What does the Bible tell us of healthy, strong, fruitful, purposeful life? Do you & your spouse agree? How will you communicate this to your children? How will you make it clear that you want & expect these things for your children?

3. What is sin/brokenness/death? What are two ways this plays out for each of your children right now? How will you communicate these to your children?

4. What will you do to rescue your children when they choose to live out brokenness? If you have more than one child, does this rescue mission look the same for all? This may change over time as your children grow; when will you revisit this rescue plan?

5. Does the word “obedience” have negative connotations for you? Why? Think of God’s interaction with you, his child; do you see specific boundaries & consequences? Do you see that these show seriousness & love? Do you see this bring clarity in your life? Do you see that God showed ultimate love for us before calling us to obedience?

6. Do you punish only for sin (and not humanity)? Do you always punish sin? Do you see the problem with “letting things slide”? Does it lead to a clear understanding of sowing & reaping?

7. Do you see the cycle of celebration à discipline à celebration & how they bring us full-circle in parenting?