CHAPTER 9- INSTRUCTING A CHILD'S HEART: Wisdom and Foolishness

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  • Posted by Pastor George
  • Tuesday, September 9, 2008
  • Labels:

    • Most people would like life to be black and white. The Bible does indeed divide our hearts and behavior in a black and white manner called wisdom and foolishness. It makes some of the things we deal with our children easier (and ourselves) when we ask the simple question – “was that wise or foolish?” The problem comes in identifying what is wisdom and foolishness.

    Wisdom is defined as the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is reverence and awe of God. It is something that even a very young child can learn.

    Foolishness can be defined by Psalm 14:1 – “The fool says in his heart, ‘there is no God.’” In other words, I make myself a law and pursue what pleases me without consideration to what pleases God.

    Foolish pursuits can be found on the following paths:
    The pursuit of pleasure
    Indulging in substances
    The pursuit of sensuality
    Defining success by accomplishments or wealth
    Placing faith in education as giving life meaning and purpose

    The pursuit of wisdom leads to blessings such as:
    Understanding
    Long life
    Godly values
    Moral sensitivity
    Honor
    Eternal joys
    Spiritual success
    Education that teaches a care for God’s world and increases our knowledge so we can glorify God.

    APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
    1. Have you been demonstrating foolishness as a parent? Do you express selfishness? A temper?

    2. How are you demonstrating wisdom as a parent? Do you show a response to the holiness of God? A hatred to wickedness? A love that shows compassion, grace and mercy?

    3. When you are in a discipling situation with your children, do you ask questions that help them discern wisdom and foolishness?

    4. Look for opportunities to teach the difference between wisdom and foolishness. Situations abound: Watch others at ballgames. Evaluate TV shows or movies. Give situations to your children to evaluate.

    INSTRUCTING A CHILD'S HEART - Chapter 8: Giving Children a Vision for the Glory of God

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  • Posted by Pastor George
  • Sunday, August 31, 2008
  • Labels:

    • Children are instinctively worshipers and the challenge as with all of us, is how to help children be dazzled by God's greatness and worship Him. Worship is a response and it is either to the greatness of God or we exchange the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:21-23)


    To love anything more than God is called idolatry. Ezekiel 14:2-3 indicates as much as there are physical idols, the danger is that we establish idols of the heart. These can be power and influence, pride and performance, possessions, pleasures and sensuality, fear of man, friendships or being in the know.


    When idols of the heart are replaced by the greater, more pleasing delights of Christ, they lose their grip on our heart. The Tripps provide a wonderful section on God's glory in the Psalms to help reinforce this principle.


    The heart of the gospel is the glory of God. God does not exist to satisfy our desires but we exist for God. A proper interpretation of this truth is essential for children and for us. This helps you as a parent the following ways in teaching your children: (Evaluate how you are doing in these areas)

    1. Children sin for pleasure

    2. We are not to feed their idols

    3. We must be dazzled by God

    4. We need to meditate on spiritual truth

    5. We must provide ourselves with spiritual enticements

    6. We need to express spiritual delights

    7. We must know that children can "get it."

    8. We must know and teach that the glory of God is the beginning and the end.


    INSTRUCTING A CHILD'S HEART - Chapter 7: Auhtority is God's Plan

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  • Posted by Pastor George
  • Sunday, August 24, 2008

    • Authority begins with God. He is over all and there is no equal. All of humankind and creation stands under the sovereign might of the Lord. His authority carries over to His care, provision, and protection which is the general principle for all who God gives authority to - including parents.


    God's Word makes it clear that blessing is found when children honor and obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1-3). Obedience is submission to God's authority and honor is the way we respond to that authority. The promise of God is that when children follow this, they will find great joy and happiness.


    When children do not follow God's design for authority in their life under parents who pursue God's plan of care, provision, and protection, the child falls into all the dangers of being a fool.


    We as parents must model to our children submission to authorities in our lives - in the home, society, and to God. We should show and talk to our children about the struggles of doing this and the grace and strength that God provides for obedience.


    As children grow, they need to be taught to be good decision makers. To understand boundaries and how to apply wisdom in situations where they are free to choose. Teens need parents to shepherd them and to model good decision-making processes.


    Our ultimate shepherd-model is Jesus Christ. Point children to His wonderful example.


    1. Why is authority so important to all of us?


    2. What does God provide as the authority structure for the home? How does your home demonstrate this model?


    3. How are your children fitting the "circle of blessing" on page 83? Are things going well or are they struggling? Why?


    4. Do you have a method of appeal in place for your older children when there are decisions they would like to discuss?


    5. How are you teaching your older children to be wise decision makers?

    INSTRUCING A CHILD'S HEART - Chapter 6: The Sowing and Reaping Principle of Scripture

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  • Posted by Pastor George
  • Tuesday, August 19, 2008
  • Labels:

    • Galatians 6:7,8 states, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction. The one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

    Consequences are a vital part of the instruction, discipline and correction of our children. These consequences however must be understood as God designed them, not as the world teaches them.

    The goal of Christian parenting is the heart of our child, not their behavior. The hope that we have to accomplish this is the transforming power of the gospel. Sowing and reaping needs to be connected to the redemptive purposes of God and not just random acts of behavior modification.

    Dr. Tripp covers the biblical vision of sowing and reaping in this chapter by showing the blessings of sowing to the Spirit, the biblical reality of sowing and reaping, and the behavior consequences of sowing and reaping from Scripture.

    There a 2 types of consequences:
    Natural – those that happen if no one interferes
    Those that are shaped by authority

    There are at least 6 inevitable consequences to all thoughts and actions:
    We reap in relationship with God
    We reap in habits for life
    We reap in reputation
    We reap in human relationships
    We reap in long-term usefulness in Christ’s kingdom
    We reap for eternity

    Just trying to change a child’s behavior may work to do exactly that but it also may obscure the gospel. We are teaching our children that we can live in God’s world without Christ and do just fine.

    What to do?
    Be a student of the Scriptures
    Pray
    Shepherd yourself – let God’s Word be on your heart so you may impress it on your child’s heart (Deuteronomy 6:6)

    CONSIDER:
    1. What does your instruction, discipline and correcton reveal about your real concern for your children? Does it show you are more concerned with their behavior or their heart?

    2. What does it mean “He who sows to the Spirit?” How can you teach this to your children?

    3. Check the comparison charts on pages 67-69. Have you been deceived in thinking that rewards and punishment are the same as biblical sowing and reaping?

    4. Do you have a tendency to interfere with the 2 types of consequences and thus possibly interfering with the progress of the gospel in your child’s life?

    5. Develop a plan as to how you can start teaching the inevitable consequences of all thoughts and actions?

    Next week: Authority is God’s Plan
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