FUNCTIONALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL “Week Two: Nurturing a Godly Culture Through Parenting”

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” – Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Nurturing a Godly Culture at Home During the Foundational Years:

(1) Resist the tendency to make faith about the comfort of your children instead of the of Jesus. 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

Internal Foundation vs. External Circumstances

(2) Accept parenting as your calling to raise your children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. 

“Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.” – Psalm 127:3

Embracing the Cost vs. Bemoaning the Cost 

(3) Demonstrate acceptance of your children regardless of whether or not their actions are pleasing. 

“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” – 1 John 4:12

Who They Are vs. What They Do

(4) Learn how to interpret your children’s behaviors as greater indicators of what is going on inside their . 

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23

Heart Diagnosis vs. Behavior Modification

(5) Embrace the God has granted you as earthly parents as a means for developing their heart towards their heavenly Father. 

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. – Ephesians 6:1-4

Submission to God vs. Submission to You

Nurturing a Godly Culture at Home During the Adolescent/Teenage Years & Beyond

(1) the difference between positional influence and relational influence.

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”                       – 1 Corinthians 11:1

Raising Adults vs. Raising Kids

(2) Embrace Parenting.

“I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” – 1 Corinthians 9:22

Being Humble vs. Being Prideful

(3) If they are in rebellion seek to understand they are rebelling against.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” – James 1:5

Caring More for the First Name vs. Caring More for the Last Name

(4) Keep being the so that one day you can be their .  

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” – 1 Corinthians 13:11  

Brother/Sister in Christ vs. Parent of Child