Who's In Charge Here? A Series on Authority
Friday, February 6, 2004
Authority Bible Study Calendar
Daily Bible Study Menu
A note about online study
My Prayer Today
Dear Jesus, I worship you. You alone are worthy of all of my praise. I thank you for my children and my family. I ask that you would help me to be serious about instructing both my children and those around me about your perfect ways. May my words and actions be in harmony with you Word. I do not want to be a hypocrite. I want to be a humble servant that follows you. Help my children to see that I love both you and them. May they experience your love and life. Lord, I ask that you would use me in some way to lead them to a saving knowledge of you. May my life be a testimony and an example to them, even after I am gone. I ask and pray this all in your name. . . Amen.
Bible Verses
Ephesians 6:1-4
"Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 'Honor your father and your mother.' This is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise: If you honor your father and mother 'you will live a long life, full of blessing.' 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."
Reflecting on God's Word
According to verse 4b, what does Paul command parents to do?
If parents are in authority over their children, will they be held responsible before God in how they followed this command? How?
Is it possible to "instruct" children against the ways of the Lord?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
What does Deuteronomy 4:9; 6:5-7; 1 Timothy 4:6; and 2 Timothy 3:15 have to say about instructing your children?
On a scale of 1-10 (ten being "all the time"), how well do you do as a parent in instructing your children in a way that is approved of God? What is one thing you could do to do better?
Understanding God's Purpose for Us
Is instruction done more in words or in action? Why?
If words are backed up with actions, why should children not follow the Lord's instruction?
Do you know the Bible well? If not, it may be important to develop this discipline – because you cannot teach to your children what you yourself do not know.
Applying God's Word to Our Lives
Are you daily having devotions with your children (if they are at home)? Why or why not?
Are your children regular attenders at church? Are you?
Have you ever asked your children if they would like to know Jesus as their Savior? If not, why not this day?
Thoughts
Yesterday, in Ephesians 6:4b, we talked about how to "discipline" children in a way that is approved by the Lord. Today we are going to look at how to "instruct" our children in a way that is approved by the Lord. It is important to note that these two subjects of instruction and discipline are inter-related to one another and cannot be easily divided. For a parent cannot really instruct a child unless they are willing to discipline them, and a parent cannot really discipline a child unless they are willing to instruct them. So they both are related to each other. But today we are going to focus more on how to instruct children. It is important for parents to know that they are to instruct their children by both their words and their actions. They must both be in harmony. If not, then the parent is a hypocrite. In fact, your actions will often speak much louder than your words. Therefore, it is VERY important as a parent that you do exactly what you say, and perform exactly what you demand of them. For example, you cannot instruct your children to go to church every Sunday if you yourself are not going every Sunday. Your children need to see that you are serious about God in all the areas of your life.
So instruction involves setting the example. It also can me speaking "life giving" words. Children need to know that God loves them and has a special purpose for them – these are life giving words. They are music to a child's ear. Children need to know that Jesus died for their sins on the cross and that we will one day get to see him face to face. Simply put, they need to know the way of Salvation. Instruction can cover so many areas and involve so many different set of circumstances, but all instruction is meant to draw the child into godly wisdom through the fear of the Lord. It is also meant that the child would come to a saving faith in Jesus. So parents have a huge responsibility in spending time talking about spiritual matters at home, praying together, doing devotions together, and taking children to church. If children see this, hear this, and experience this, then parents have indeed instructed their children in a way that is approved by the Lord.