Parenting: Challenges & Promises

Biblical perspective of children
Children are a heritage, an inheritance - they are a
reward- they are a blessing- not a burden!

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127:3

Biblical perspective of children
Children are a stewardship entrusted to parentsthey are your greatest legacy

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127:3

Biblical perspective of parents
1. Teaching the truth of God’s word: Biblical truth should be the
foundation of our homes
And these words which I command you today shall be in your
heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk
of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way,
when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a
sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your
eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on
your gates. Deuteronomy 6 : 6-9

2. Bringing children up in the nurturance and
admonition of the Lord
Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but
bring them up in the training and admonition of the
Lord. Ephesians 6:4

2. Bringing children up in the nurturance and
admonition of the Lord
“If a man does not teach his children truth, others will
teach them error.” - Albert Barnes

Premise for Christian Parenting
1. Knowing God and having a personal relationship
with God is crucial to our relationship with our
children.
And these words which I command you today
shall be in your heart. Deut 6:6

2. Trust in the covenant keeping character of
God
Genesis 15

3. God is our perfect Father
As God parents you, you parent your children.
GOD

PARENT

CHILD

4. Marriage relationship: The greatest overall
influence that you are going to have in
parenting will not come while you are in your
roles of mother and father but rather while
you are in your roles of a husband and a wife.

Speaking blessings
Blessings were a practice from parents to children
• Blessings are prophetic and irrevocable
• Noah blesses Shem and Japheth Gen 9:26-27
• God blesses Abraham Gen 12:3; 18:18; 22:16-18
• Isaac blesses his sons Gen 27
• Jacob blesses each son by name

Speaking blessings
The principle is clear: God has given parents
the privilege and power to speak blessing
upon our children to advance life, health,
growth, joy and self-confidence!

Speaking promises of God
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of
the tongue
Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth
from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Areas to NURTURE and SPEAK BLESSINGS
1. For their salvation
i.

It is your responsibility to expose your
child to Christ
ii. Be enthusiastic yourself about your life in Christ
iii. Demonstrate the special place the Bible holds in
your life

Ezekiel 11: 19 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit
within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them
a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My
judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be
their God
1 Timothy 2:3,4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge
of the truth.

Refrain your voice from weeping, And your eyes from
tears; For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord,
And they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
17 There is hope in your future, says the Lord, That
your children shall come back to their own border.
Jeremiah 31:16-17

2. For the love for God’s word
i. Teach them to apply Scriptures in their
everyday lives.
ii. Be conscientious to use every opportunity to
talk about God’s word Deut 6:7

2. For the love of God’s word
Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might
not sin against You
Psalm 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold ,Yea, than
much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb

3. For wisdom and discernment
i. Be an active part of their lives
ii. Create an environment for discussions
iii. Allow children to participate in decisions which
affect the family.

iv. Role play
v. Discuss what they read, focusing on the choices
faced by the characters.
vi. Begin to talk about attitudes towards sex, drugs
and alcohol when children are young

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who
gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given
to him
Isaiah 30:21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right
hand Or whenever you turn to the left.

Treasures that wisdom gives:
• Provides direction and purpose in life Prov 3:5-6
• Lead to happiness, true riches and a long life Prov 3:13-17
• Insight into the character of others and protection from evil Prov
7:4-5
• The wisdom they use will bring joy to you as parents Prov 10:1
• It even brightens their face and appearance Ecc 8:1

4a. For their character as they view others:
compassion, humility, gentleness and patience
i.
ii.

Put others first in a me-first society
Never too early to start our children on the path of
serving and blessing others

4a. For their character as they view others:
compassion, humility, gentleness and
patience
1 John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or
tongue but with actions and in truth.

4b. For their character as they view themselves:
self control, diligence and their self discipline
i. Clear and consistent rules
ii. Setting and maintaining consistent boundaries
iii. Identify behaviors & preparing for action

4b. For their character as they view themselves :
self control, diligence and their self discipline
Heb 12 :11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the
present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields
the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have
been trained by it.

5. For their spiritual protection
i. Be involved in your child’s life
ii. Dress them for battle with the armor of God Eph
6:10-18.

5. For their spiritual protection

1 John 4:4 He who is in you is greater than he who is in
the world.
Psalm 34:7 The angel of the Lord encamps around
those who fear him and he delivers them

6a. For their relationship with you
i. Turn from our selfishness to giving
ii. Turn from our pride to humility
iii. Turn from our preaching to doing

6 a. For their relationship with you

To be in your children's memories tomorrow, You have
to be in their lives today.” - Barbara Johnson

6b. For their relationship with friends
i. Getting to know your child's friends
ii. Guide your child to choose friends wisely 1 Cor 15:33
iii. Speak over their friends Titus 2:7

7. For their life’s purpose
Jeremiah 29:11-13 1For I know the thoughts that I think
toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not
of evil, to give you a future and a hope
Psalm 138:8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns
me

HOPE FOR THE CHILDLESS
Joshua 1:9. Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or
discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you..."
1 John 5:14-15: And this is our confidence, that if we pray according to
His will, He will hear us, and give us what we ask for, because our
desires are in agreement with His thoughts for us.
Psalm 113:9 He grants the barren woman a home,
Like a joyful mother of children.

The covenant keeping God will by His grace cover up for our
human failings

Parenting out of fear

Parenting out of faith

All your children will be taught of the Lord and have great peace.
Isaiah 54:13

Parenting: Challenges & Promises - Sis Jean George