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May 15, 2005

"Raising Spiritually Strong Children I"

Extreme Makeover Family Edition—Part 7
Selected Scriptures

"No child naturally knows how to live in a manner that brings blessing to themselves and others."
— Jack Hayford

God's blueprint for the spiritual development of children:

1. Spiritual training is the parents' responsibility.

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 upon 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 6:5-9

And now a word to you fathers. Don't make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord.
— Ephesians 6:4 (NLT)

2. Spiritual training is not solely informational, it is also transformational.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
— 2 Peter 3:18

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
— James 1:22

3. Spiritual transformation requires us to rely upon God's grace.

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
— 1 Corinthians 3:6

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you...
— Ephesians 1:18

Rise during the night and cry out. Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to him in prayer. Plead for your children...
— Lamentations 2:19 (NLT)

4. Spiritual training must start young.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
— Proverbs 22:6

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.
— 2 Timothy 3:15

5. Spiritual training is dependent upon the Bible.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
— Psalm 119:9

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.
— 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)

Lifework

Parents have a profound responsibility—evangelize and disciple their children. God holds parents responsible, not schools, churches, or child care providers. While parenting is not an easy task, it is a primary task given to us by God Himself. Just as He cares for us, so we are to care for our own children.

But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.
— Joshua 24:15 (NLT)

On a scale from 1-10, how spiritually strong are your children?
Weak 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Strong

On a scale from 1-10, how much time do you give to the spiritual development of your children?
Little 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Much

What will you do this week to nurture their spiritual training?

Prayer: Dear God, help me to be a better parent to my children. Forgive me for neglect of my responsibilities, or thinking that someone else will step in and do what you have called me to do. I need your help. I need your wisdom. Help me make my children a daily matter of prayer. As for me and my house, we will serve you! I pray this as your child. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Extreme Makeover Family Edition—Week 7
Personal and Group Study

Getting Started

  1. As a young child, what was one lesson you were taught by your parents or grandparents for which you are most grateful? What was done to impress this lesson upon you?
  2. What lesson didn't you learn as a child, that you learned later in life in a much more difficult way? How would learning it earlier have made it easier?
  3. What do you wish the Bible taught about parenting for which you haven't found an answer?

Digging Deeper: Read Deuteronomy 6:1-9

  1. For whom and for what reasons are the commandments and decrees intended?
  2. Why is there such a strong emphasis on teaching children these commands?
  3. How would you characterize the method of teaching presented in the passage (verses 7-9)?
  4. Why might this method be best suited to the task of training children? How does this method support verse 5?

Applying It To My Life

  1. How do you demonstrate your love for God outside of church?
  2. Do you have a greater difficulty remembering God's role in your life during times of success or during times of failure?
  3. How important is it for you that the children in your life grow up to love God and appreciate His role in their lives? What are you doing or will you do, to help kids learn God's plan?