SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON, FEBRAURY 21, TOPIC - PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
God directs parents to rear their children according to Scriptural principles
The lesson outline
1. Teach God’s Word
A. An ounce of prevention
B. Effective Discipline
3 Demonstrate Love
A Love Rejected
B Love forgives and restores
Teaching goals
1. Impart and Reinforce knowledge: Make your students aware of the
importance of having a consistent
plan of teaching
God’s word.
Some one once said, “the
toughest job in
the
world is to be a parent and to do it right”. Christian parenting
is sometimes difficult because we
live in an ungodly
society. But parenting is a responsibility that God has given to us.
It is sometimes tempting to delegate this task to others. But others may
not teach our children the spiritual values we want to see instilled in
them. If we fail to teach our children properly, we may lose a generation
who
will faithful serve God.
Many parents do not have a clear understanding of what their role as
parents really is. This week’s lesson is designed to help make these
roles clearer and to give some practical suggestions
in performing them.
As we look at the principles of parenting, ask the Lord to
help you be the parent He desires you to be.
Commentary and
Application
1. Teach God’s word
A. Obey God’s commands
The children of Israel were at the border of the Promised
Land. Soon they would be scattered all across the hills and valleys of their new homeland. How
could this people keep focused on God and avoid being
distracted
b the lifestyle
of those around them? God’s solution was quite
simple
–a consistent plan
of teaching God’s word.
This would help ensure that they continue on the path God had
chosen.
Moses had just reviewed the Ten Commandments with them. He made it clear that Gods purpose was for him to
teach them “the commandments, the statutes and the judgments” of God. The purpose of this teaching was twofold. First, it was to ensure
that each generation would fear (reverence and honour
the Lord and His decree.). Second, teaching them to obey
God’s commands would ensure that things would
go well for them
and
give them a long life.
A priority for Christian
parents is to
establish
a
solid
biblical foundation in their own lives. If we expect our
children to serve the Lord,
then
we must set the example for them. This not only includes faithfully attending worship
services at church, but having private devotional times
at home as well. We must also model for them the Christian values that
we desire them to have. As we have established our relationship with
the
Lord, then we can properly teach our children.
B. Teach your children daily
Our responsibility is to teach God’s Word to our children. According to
this
passage this would include
truths concerning the
nature of God
and their love for Him and His
Word. Moses indicated that
this
teaching is not
a one time occurrence, but an on going process. Every day you would be opportunities for parents to use common experiences to
teach their
children the truths concerning God and His commandments. As these truths are
addressed, they become a part of the children’s lives.
Question for Application
What situations in life can be used as opportunities to teach Gods word to our
children?
The biblical mandate in verse 7 is to “teach [God’s
commandments,
statutes, and judgments] diligently unto thy
children. Moses gave three methods of accomplishing this task. First, the
parents were to
talk about Gods
law regularly. They were to look for opportunities to teach and
reinforce the principles of God’s word. Things that happen every day, both positive and negative, are
tremendous opportunities to teach
and reinforce God’s
Word.
Next, they were to bind God’s law
to
themselves. They were to carry with them a constant reminder of the truths, they
had learned. Last, they
were
to write them on the door frames of their homes and on their
gates
as well. This would serve to remind their children as they entered
or left their home of
the
God they served and of their responsibilities to Him.
Question for Application
How can we apply
these visual and life-style teaching methods to our
Christian homes today?
One casualty of our busy
society
has been the family
devotional time. Few
families eat meals together anymore, much less have family devotions. While family
devotions are
necessary, the concepts
presented by Moses are a natural
way
to instruct
our families
in
Christian values. In this lifestyle teaching method, every
event, opportunity, victory, or defeat can become a practical
opportunity to teach our children
God’s work. Our children will be able to observe
biblical truths and
principles in action.
In our daily teaching , we just teach our children several important
precepts-the baptism in the Holy spirit, the soon return of our Lord, the
importance of holy living, and appreciation for and obedience to the word of God. These precepts must be written on the hearts of our children by taking
the opportunities
of
life and
teaching them
how God is an everyday part of their lives.
We
must not just teach religious duties, but a practical and holy lifestyle.
2. Employ Godly Discipline
A. An ounce of prevention
God has placed the responsibility for disciplining
children on parents.
The
end result of discipline should produce orderly conduct and a respectful
submission to rules and
authorities. As we discipline our
children, we desire to make a difference on their behavior both now and
in the future for their good.
In 1 Samuel 3:11-14, we observe the results of failing to
properly discipline one’s children. Yong Samuel heard God’s voice for the first
God gave him message that would rock the nation
of Israel. Eli’s sons
had lived in gross sin and shown disrespect for sacred things. Eli
was aware of this and failed
to restrain them (verse 13). As a result, Eli was
removed from office and his entire family was judged by god (verse 14).
They were judged not only because Eli had failed to discipline his sons.
Question for
application
Why does
god hold parents accountable for the disciplining
of their children?
While god does not hold
parents accountable for their children’s
actions he does hold them accountable for
failing to discipline their children and take the chance that their children neither may nor serve god. Even
though disciplining
children is not always easy, Christian parents are
required to do it.
B. effective discipline
The subject of
discipline generation much discussion. Views concerning the proper methods
of
discipline are quite diverse.
Proverbs 13:24 speak to
the issues of corporal punishment where a child is given physical discomfort because of a willful and defiant act oust
against this type of discipline, we must remember that this is god’s
inspired word.
Spanking has often been
used the wrong purpose
the
inclusion of the
word “rod” does indicate that
there
is a
proper time and use for physically spanking a child but never physically harm
or abuse anyone
Spanking as discipline, must be administered on love. It
should never be administered in anger, out of frustration, or to make
the
parent feel better. Spanking as discipline, should be followed by
an expression of love and acceptance.
The end result of any disciplinary action is to teach children
that wrong behavior always carries unpleasant consequences. Proverbs states that parents who do not discipline their children actually hate
them.
Parent is also warned
against being passive in regard to discipline.
Discipline must be administered during the formative years of children’s
lives, while there is still hope for them. failure
to follow this advice can make the parent a
“wiling party” (NIV) to a person’s death. This could
refer to capital punishment under the law or by natural consequences that accompany
a person’s foolish behavior. Discipline is designed
to prevent children from destroying their lives by sinful activities.
One of the best forms of discipline is proper training (22:6). Part of
the concept of training is to cultivate a taste for the things of god. This means that parents must model godly attitudes and actions. We can never discipline our children
for
the things we do ourselves. Double
standards will derail all disciplinary actions.
The last
part of this
verse should not be considered an ironclad
guarantee. Manu parents have their child stray from
their child stray from their godly training. However, children reared in Christian homes under
the
influence of godly
parents, are more act to follow the training they
received.
Parents can also be too strict in their discipline in Ephesians 6:4,
Paul instructed parents to not anger their children
by wrong or too strict
discipline. Paul wanted Christian parents to realize that part of parenting
is training children in righteous living.
3. Demonstrate love
A. Love rejected
Being a good parent is not always easy. Providing
children with a sound biblical foundation
and a well-disciplined
lifestyle values often presents
a challenge.
Parents must remember that all training and discipline
must be in love. Love is something we can talk about, but for love to fully
realized, it must be demonstrated, whether children fully accepted teaching and discipline or totally rebel, they must be able to see their parents’ love for them
and
concern for their well being.
Jesus told the parable
of the prodigal son to demonstrate a father’s
love in action for
a wayward child. According
to jewish law, this son had no right to return to the family
as a
son. He had squandered
his son. When he saw
his son in the distance, he ran to him and embraced him.
This suggests tat perhaps the father often looked down the road for some sign of his son’s return.
Question
for
Application
How does this
parable speak to parents concerning loving their
children?
The son did not complete the speech that he had so carefully rehearsed. The father interrupted him and quickly sent the servant scurrying to begin the big celebration.
The father made several significant and symbolic
gestures towards
his son that referred to more than sonship. The robe
he placed on his
back was a ceremonial robe for a guest of honor. The ring he placed on his hand symbolizes authority. Lastly, the sandals were those only
worn by a free man. And the “fatted calf” was a special animal that was kept
for
only the most special of occasions.
The young man was totally
restored to the place he had once held.
This father’s love reached beyond the son’s failures and saw him in need of restoration, forgiveness, and acceptance.
As Christian parents, we need to closely
observe the actions of this father.
We need to understand ranging children will make mistakes ranging from spilling milk on the new
carpet to going into the depths of sin, but one of our
roles as parents is to
help our children get back up
when
they fall, whatever their offences, they
need our love, encouragement, and support.
Some parents are too quick to criticize their children
with careless and harsh statements. Verbal abuse
can
be as devastating as physical
abuse. Certainly at
time corrective measures must be taken, but they
must
be handled is such a way as
to
build up and not tear down.
We can demonstrate love by going to their special events at church and school and by spending time with them. we can also show we love them by proper discipline and forgetting past mistakes once they are settled.
Parents love for their children a remarkable
thing to observe natter
how often this love step on, it rebounds to give the children another
chance interestingly, what Jesus to teach about
characteristics of god’s
love chose as a model a father’s
love
his runaway son.
Parenting is
both
a privilege and a responsibility. Many times our child brings joy and refreshment to our lives. The times that parents spend
with their children can be some of their best
experiences.
It is exciting to see our children
grow. We notice daily
changes when our children are newborn babies.
Even most teenagers have noticeable
grow spurts. But with the physical growth of our children comes the
responsible for training
and disciplining them.
Our children are gifts god has entrusted to
us.
As stewards of god’s gifts we need to train them
to honor him. We can do that by
teaching our children god’s word and by
using the activities that we are involved
everyday to teach them
godly principled,
It would
be wonderful if you
never had to
discipline your
children unfortunately, this is not the
case. As you have examined the scripture
concerning the disciplining of children presented in the lesson., perhaps
have
seen areas where you need to change the way you discipline your
children maybe you are not too
strict and need to nurture and train.
Perhaps you have not discipline as you should.
Allow the lord to help you seek discipline according
to his word.
Maybe you have children who are like the prodigal son. Ask god to
help you to love them as you would a faithful child pray for them that god
will
we in their loves for salvation.
Pray for parents to accept the privilege and responsibility of parents
pray that will train and discipline their children
in love.
No comments: