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Merge Lesson 4 A Powerful Yet Simple Strategy. Nov. 14. Think About It …. What is the most important thing you learned from your parents?. Kids say they learned this …. Never trust a dog to watch your food. When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" don't answer
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Think About It … • What is the most important thing you learned from your parents?
Kids say they learned this … • Never trust a dog to watch your food. • When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" don't answer • When your mom is mad at your dad, don't let her brush your hair. • Never let your three-year old brother in the same room as your school assignment.
Kids say they learned this … • Never hold a Dustbuster and a cat at the same time. • You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. • Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts. • If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse. • Felt-tip markers are not good to use as lipstick.
Today … • Will be looking at God’s Word to see: • How we intentionally parent our children • How we live according to the biblical mandate in Deuteronomy 6. • Intentional parenting is parenting with a plan, having an end goal or purpose.
Definitions • Survival parenting • Parents do whatever they have to do to make it through the situation. • Accidental parenting • Parents make decisions or choices according to what is popular in culture without considering if it is most helpful • Intentional Parenting • Parents carefully think through what would be most beneficial in order to achieve the end goal
Parenting Styles at Work • Suppose your family is going on a road trip. What kind of trip would it be if you got ready and proceeded on your trip using one of the above life styles?
Parenting Styles at Work • Survival parenting • Parents do whatever they have to do to make it through the situation. • For survival parenting, how would the family • Handle daily homework? • Choose a movie? • Get ready for church?
Parenting Styles at Work • Accidental parenting • Parents make decisions or choices according to what is popular in culture without considering if it is most helpful. • For accidental parenting, how would the family • Shop for clothes? • Plan a birthday party for a middle school child? • Get ready for church?
Parenting Styles at Work • Intentional Parenting • Parents carefully think through what would be most beneficial in order to achieve the end goal • For intentional parenting, how would the family • Shop for clothes? • Choose a movie? • Handle daily suppertime?
Listen for when and how to teach children. Deut. 6:4-9 (NIV) Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [5] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. [6] These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. [7] Impress them on your children.
Listen for when and how to teach 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. [8] Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. [9] Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
God’s Plan for Intentional Parenting • What were the Israelites supposed to do with God’s commandments? • How are parents to teach their children God’s Word? • What are some specific situations where we could talk about spiritual things with our children within our daily schedules? • How do we intentionally do these things – not just wait for them to maybe happen?
God’s Plan for Intentional Parenting • We probably wouldn’t adopt the Jewish custom of phylacteries as shown here. What would be appropriate within our culture that would accomplish what God intended?
Listen for qualities to pursue. Philip. 4:8-9 (NIV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. [9] Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Put It into Practice • What are the qualities of wholesome thoughts mentioned here? • How can believers enjoy the presence of the God of peace? • If you were to do this, in what ways would it affect your children and grandchildren?
Application • Carefully consider intentional Christian lifestyle • A daily time alone with God – scripture reading, meditating on what you read, prayer • Plan for times to use the weekly Faith Moments • Be on the lookout for teachable moments – in all situations
Application • Think about the five stages of spiritual development and be watching for opportunities to encourage your children and grandchildren to progress • Spiritual Foundation (preschool) • Spiritual Birth (children) • Spiritual Discovery (children/preteen) • Spiritual Ownership (students) • Spiritual Leadership (students)
Application • Remember that children and grandchildren learn much from the models they see lived before them • Practice the principles you study in small groups and hear in weekly messages • Verbalize your faith often • At the same time, James says, “be quick to listen and slow to speak”
