Verse to memorize: Ephesians 6:1-2
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and your mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise).
Whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, teacher or a friend to younger people, the Bible teaches us how to influence them in a godly way.
Day 1: Read Matthew 18:2-4; 1 Peter 2:1-3; and Romans 12:9-18
Dig In: How are we to come to Jesus? What is mandatory to "enter the kingdom of heaven"? Can you think of some more child-like attributes that we might take on as God's children? What does Peter say we should long for? To what purpose? How does Paul describe genuine love in Romans? Does anything in Paul's list surprise you?
Take Root: Scripture repeatedly stresses that we must be humble before God. We come to Him, whatever our age, as a child, to learn from Him and to accept His guidance and discipline.
Cultivate: Are you showing the qualities of genuine love to your family and the children in your life? Are you placing yourself in the position of a child before God? What does it mean to be "a child of God" to you? Do you yearn to learn more about God and to follow Him better? Pray for God to strengthen your walk with Him, and for Him to show you specific ways to exhibit genuine love to your family and to children in your life.
Journal: How do you measure up to Paul's instructions on how to show genuine love? Can you think of how you might improve your expression of love for your family and/or friends?
Day 2: Read Psalm 50:16-21; 2 Timothy 3:2-5; 1 Timothy 5:8; and Titus 1:16
Dig In: In the psalm, what do the wicked talk about? Explain how their words--versus their actions--angered God. How did the wicked feel about discipline? How can we discern those that only have an appearance of godliness? How does Paul describe people who only pretend godliness?
Take Root: Children and teens are really good at sniffing out hypocrites. So was Jesus!
Cultivate: Are you living a life of transparency and honesty before your family? Before your friends? Do you hide some things from your family? Do you excuse your actions as being "okay" to your spouse, your children, or your friends? Are there things that you do that you are ashamed of but still hang onto?
Day 3: Read Proverbs 19:18; Proverbs 13:24; Hebrews 12:7-11; and Matthew 10:37
Dig In: The Bible speaks of inadequate discipline of a child as what? What is the result of good discipline? What point is Jesus making about your commitment to him? Is he negating your love for your family?
Take Root: Mankind's biggest temptation (including believers) is to idolize something other than God. Sometimes we idolize ourselves; sometimes we idolize our children.
Cultivate: Do you ever allow your desires and wants come before your family's needs? Do you ever allow your children's desires and wishes come before their or your needs? Please notice the difference between necessities and desires. Are you allowing your children to be so busy that you neglect eating together? Praying together? Going to church? Do you allow others to correct your child when the child is wrong? Do you consistently and lovingly discipline your child? The root of "discipline" is disciple--which is not always punishment; it also includes teaching and modeling! Disciplining children requires leadership. How did Jesus disciple the apostles?
Journal: Have you seen or read about families where the children were "idolized"? What was the result for the children? For the family? How can you put your family into proper perspective with God's?
Day 4: Read Ephesians 6:4; Ephesians 4:2; 1 Peter 5:2-5; and Psalm 40:11
Dig In: How does Paul say fathers are NOT to be with their children? What is then the way to behave toward one's children? While Peter is writing about pastors, do you think these instructions could be appropriate for parents too? How are both younger and older people behave toward one another? Why do you think Peter tells us this? How does God treat us as His children?
Take Root: It's important that children be disciplined; it's also important that they learn mercy and grace from their parent(s). God exhibits both patience and grace towards us, as well as discipline.
Cultivate: What kinds of actions exasperate other people? What specific kinds of actions exasperate your family or your friends? Are you willing to repent and change your actions? Ask God to help you see where you might be frustrating, angering or annoying others at home or at work.
Day 5: Read Galatians 4:19; 2 Timothy 3:14-15; Galatians 5:19-24
Dig In: What did Paul fervently want for the Galatians? In Paul's letter to Timothy, what did Timothy experience in childhood? What did that result in? What are the fruits of the flesh? What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit?
Take Root: The root problem of misbehavior and bad attitudes, in both adults and children, is sin. There's only one cure--Jesus.
Cultivate: Do you pray daily for your children or children that you know? Do you pray fervently for their salvation and for their walk with God? Do you help them to know Jesus better? Do you lead your family and others you know by example? Do you teach your children about God?
Journal: What could you do this week to increase your children's (or a younger acquaintance's) devotion to God?
Cultivating the Soil
What would a humble parent look like? What would a humble child look like? Why is humility so important to God?
As a parent (grandparent, relative, teacher, friend, etc.) are you showing your children godly leadership? Are you teaching them leadership skills? What leadership skills do you think a parent should exhibit? What skills do children need to learn?
What is the promise given by God to children who honor their parents? What does "honoring" mean? How do you honor someone?
Why is discipline so important in the home? Why is self-discipline of such value? Read the Proverbs--much of it concerns discipline and wisdom. Proverbs can be great scripture to read and discuss with your children!
Small Group Questions
Why is transparency so important in human relationships? Can you build a relationship without candor and openness? Are you the person that you portray to other people?
Do you give your children increasing responsibilities as they grow older? Do you allow them to suffer the natural consequences if they make mistakes? Do you distinguish between honest errors and deliberate disobedience? Should there be different consequences for errors and disobedience?
Who teaches your children about God? About morals? About relationships? About money? About time management? About responsibility?