Children need to be Obeyers and Prayers

From Changed Into His Image by Jim Berg
This is specifically for preschool children but if you have older children who have not learned this truth, they need to learn this.

Preschool Children can - and must - learn, however, as early as possible that there is an order in life and that they are subordinates.  They are not  rulers but obeyers.

They must also be taught as soon as possible to ask God for help to obey.  The self-denial that must must become a regular practice of life must eventually become a God-dependent self denial.  A parent can reinforce this as he prays with his preschooler at structured teaching times and at times of correction.  A parent can pray, "And dear Jesus, help Johnny to obey Mommy and Daddy.  It will be too hard for him unless YOU help him to please YOU instead of himself."  This teaches Johnny early on that God is the most important component in his obedience.

page 255.

Changed Into His Image: Recognizing the evil within

"In most cases 'issues' reveal what is going on in the child's heart.  That is good news for a parent who understands God's view of the heart, because he can then begin to address the problem God's way.   Incidentally, a parent who does not understand the nature of the human heart will not be aware of how his own heart's corruption is a further stumbling block to the heart of his child.  A parent's own inconsistency, anger, moodiness, materialism, sensuality, or deception can be a far more serious stumbling block to the child's life than whatever probelm (e.g., peer pressure and immaturity) the parent is trying to address."

page 28

Changed into His Image and parenting

This past Sunday we talked about the bible study resources we want to encourage people to go through.

One of those resources is Changed into His Image by Jim Berg.

Throughout the book Berg looks at several common relationships in life that involve Biblical change.  Over the next several weeks I would like to highlight some the things he says about parenting.  

Chapter One...

Parenting when understood biblically, is basically a discipling relationship.  When God gives a child to a Christian couple, they must realize that their bundle of joy is essentially a pagan.  Their biblical mission is to evanglize him then to equip him for usefulness to Christ, which, in essence is discipleship.  p. 12

Incidentally many parenting failures reflect a lack of biblical discipleship between husband and wife and a failure to understand principles of biblical change and growth within the marriage itself.   Husbands and wives who are not actively helping each other grow in likeness of Christ within their marriage will not see the importance of it with their children either.  Neither will they know how to apply the issues to the lives of their children since they have not had the practice of doing so in their own lives.