In our Bible study of Ephesians today, we learn that we are members of God’s household, “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 2:19-20).
Paul refers to this again in 2 Timothy 3:14-17, when he reminds young pastor Timothy,
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Did you know that God has “lesson plans” for how to make children “wise for salvation”? Did you know that His lesson plans go far beyond salvation and that they are “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”? Most amazing, did you know that God’s lesson plans are 100% guaranteed to “thouroughly equip” your children “for every good work”?
The first few books of the Bible lay out a specific lesson plan for teaching your children. Let’s take a look:
- Our children need to hear God’s words (Deuteronomy 4:10). Parents are supposed to assemble together to hear God’s words, learn to revere God, and then teach them to their children. Most of us know to start here, right?
- Parents need to keep God’s commands (Deuteronomy 4:40). God promises that if parents will not only hear God’s words but also keep His commands, it will go well with their children. This is a little harder, isn’t it? (One thing I’ve done personally is to keep a journal of commands that God is convicting me that I’m not keeping so well. I add to it as I read from my Bible each day.)
- We are to talk about God’s commands all the time in our homes (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). God gives lots of fun ways for us to do this, at all seasons of the year, and we can learn more about these by reading through the first few books of the Bible. I’ve also written quite a few blog posts about this, if you need some ideas.
- Parents are not to allow sin in the home. Sin must be dealt with! (Deuteronomy 24:16) The book of Proverbs tells us specifically how to deal with sin, as well as do numerous stories in the entire Bible, all put there for examples for us. Get the sin out! Be consistent in your discipline, never allowing sin to take root in the hearts of your children. If you find yourself getting comfortable with sin, wake up! Deal with all disobedience and disrespect immediately, never allowing them to characterize your children.
God’s lesson plans are simple, and they provide life. Of course, an honest look at my own heart tells me that I fail in many of these points every day. I must immediately confess my own sin and resolve to parent again according to God’s lesson plans.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6, KJV).
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