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Child Training - Instruction. Child Training: Biblical Instruction. God’s Goal: independent godliness Hb 12:9-11 Objectives: wisdom , responsibility , self - control Method: train the will of the child Need the heart of a child to listen (God’s design)
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Child Training: Biblical Instruction • God’s Goal: independentgodliness Hb 12:9-11 • Objectives: wisdom, responsibility, self-control • Method: train the will of the child • Need the heart of a child to listen (God’s design) • Instructing, giving chances to apply, confirming good behavior, responsibility • Parental control needed until godly self-control rules the child • The will needs to be instructed to choose right
Child Training: Biblical Instruction • Deut. 6:4-9 • Time is required • Not just time • How is the time used? • Like spiritual family time Heb. 10:24-25 • Assembling without exhorting is time wasted • Not assembling also time wasted • Time without instruction is time wasted Ef. 6:4 • Constant instruction in God’s word (like church)
Child Training: Biblical Instruction • Deut. 6:4-9 • Should not be overtly “preachy” • In natural course in everyday activities • Teaches relevance of scripture • Doesn’t segment (isolate) spirituality from “real life” • Involves both parents Ef. 6:1-4 • Both parents to be obeyed • Both are to train and instruct 2 Tim. 1:5, Pr. 1:8
Child Training: Biblical Instruction • Parents should have control over influences • Abdicating to church or school or friends, media, etc. is wrong • Opposite extreme (sheltering) is naïve and will backfire • More protection till will is educated and trained • Realistic exposure to other influences but with guidance • Gives parents teaching opportunities • Opportunities to constructively bond with child
Child Training: Biblical Instruction • Consistency is required • Parents are to be examples • Prov. 23:26 Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways. • Living with purpose of setting example • Takes time, hard work, forethought • Show we mean what we profess • Earn the child’s trust • Consistency in instruction • Not self-contradictory
Child Training: Biblical Instruction • Consistency is required • Not contradiction between mother and father • Not contradiction between words & actions • Actions speak louder than words • What we do is who we really are; what we profess is what we wish others think we are • Consistency in other people • Using others as examples (books, movies, etc.) • Explain apparent inconsistencies Ps 73 • Characters of consistency or inconsistency
Child Training: Biblical Instruction • Coherent reasons are required • Not Why?on demand • Jesus did not do miracles on demand • Still must submit to authority rather than logic • However, children need reasons to educate the will • How God wants parents to teach children Deut. 6:20-25 • How God teaches us Deut. 30:11-20
Child Training: Biblical Instruction • Instruction should include reasons for child’s age to understand • Engenders trust in the principle & parent • Demonstrating the development of wisdom • Show how to make decisions • Children are not mindless drones • Can’t explain everything (faith)Deut. 29:29 • Job didn’t get an explanation he wanted • Rom. 11:33-36 • We can trust in God’s love Rom. 10:9, Ax 2:38