In a Recent Conversation & Teaching . . .
This past Wednesday night we had a lesson on communication between parents and teenagers. How things seem to be and the spiritual hope of how things can be when we align ourselves with scripture. We spent our time looking up scriptures that define the spiritual roles of both parents and children. I promised the youth I would post the lists and scriptures that we looked up so they could try to keep their covenant with God about who they can be a children.
A Child's Spiritual Responsibility
! Obey & Honor [Ephesians 6:1-2- Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother- which is the first commandment with a promise. (There are a number of other references that call children to 'obey' their parents. I will not list them all here for space purposes.)]
! Listen [Proverbs 1:8- Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.]
! Respect [Leviticus 19:32- Rise in the presence of the aged and show repect for the elders and revere your God. I am the Lord.]
! Care for your family [1 Timothy 5:4- But if a widow has children or grandchildren those whould learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their paretns and grandparents for this is pleasing to God.]
A Parent's Spiritual Responsibility
! Teach the commandments of God to your children [Deuteronomy 6:6-7- These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes ofyour houses and on your gates.]
! Encourage, Comfort & Urge [1 Thessalonians 2:11-12- FOr you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.]
! Don't incite the anger of your children [Ephesians 6:4- Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
! Don't embitter your children [Colossians 3:21- Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.]
! Discipline in love & Delight in your children [Proverbs 3:11-12- My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.]
! Discipline to produce righteousness and peace [Hebrews 12:10-11- Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of rightousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.]
! Give good gifts [Matthew 7:9-11- Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then thought you are carnal, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!]
