Read Colossians 3:20, Ephesians 6:1-3
Christian parenting, like Christian marriage, has caused a lot of debate and angst for many. Argument has raged for centuries regarding the best way or the most biblical way to parent children. Issues have flared up continuously about a number of areas relating to parenting. It’s no wonder that new Christian parents could feel overwhelmed at the breadth of advice given and even at the
In today’s world children from an early age do whatever they want. In many circles discipline and correction are frowned upon. In other areas, parents have had many of their rights and powers taken away so that children are empowered to do whatever they please. One child simply threatened to call the police every time his mum said ‘No’ to something he wanted to do. She capitulated and allowed him free reign.
From the children’s point of view, they are called to obey their parents. That’s simple enough. When dad or mum tell a child to do something, the child does it. The issue though is so important for Paul that in Ephesians 6 he reminds us that this call to obedience is the first commandment in the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20) that has a promise attached to it. In the context of Ephesians 6 it appears that the promise of long life is reapplied to Christian readers!
The key phrase in the command to obey parents is ‘in everything’. Children are called to obey their parents in everything. They are not the ones who decide when obedience is or is not given. They are to obey without whinging, arguing or dissenting. Even more so, God hates it when children verbally agree to obey parents but then sneak off to do their own thing anyway. Verbal obedience combined with practical disobedience is an abomination to the Lord. If a child says she will go to the library to study, that’s what she should do. If a young man is asked to complete homework, that’s what he should do. Even when the child doesn’t agree or has reservations about obedience, obedience is still called for. They are not the adjudicators of when obedience is or is not rendered. Ephesians 6:1 communicates the same idea but uses the phrase ‘in the Lord’. practically it has the same meaning as ‘in everything’. It however, allows the child to stand respectfully aloof when asked to sin or to do something displeasing to the Lord.
In fact, disobedience among children is so serious in God’s eyes that in the Old Testament an unrepentant and disobedient son was stoned by the elders of the town or city in which he lived. Deuteronomy 21:18-21 shows that if a son continued in wilful and stubborn disobedience he was to be taken to the elders at the city gate and they were to stone him without mercy. The section concludes with the chilling words, ‘you must purge the evil from among you.’ The section clearly shows that discipline and warnings are to be attempted first but continued disobedience was to be met harshly.
Prayer:
Using today’s Bible reading and notes spend time praying.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
à Ask the Lord to grow the children in your congregation into loving obedient children. Pray that the children will have a heart that loves God enough to be obedient to their parents.
à Pray that the teens in your congregation would be standing against the trend in society and would be walking in holiness, in obedience to their parents and in deep rich love for the Lord and each other.
Living as an obedient child today is much more difficult because society actively encourages disobedience through movies, music, peer pressure, etc.
1. Two Christian teens are talking. One says to the other, ‘Mum’s always telling me to do something. I say yes to get her off my back and then forget about it.’ What should the other teen do? What factors need considering?
2. When should the church be called in to assist regarding disobedient children?
Intro: Children have a role in a family as well as the mother and father. The role of the children is to obey.
Share: the times as child how you were tempted to disobedience.
Read: Colossians 3:20
What does Paul call children to do?
Can you think of a situation in which children need not obey their parents?
What does God think of the obedience of the children in a family?
Pray Together: Pray that God would help you to get to know Him better. Pray that He would help us live well.
Intro: Children have a role in a family as well as the mother and father. The role of the children is to obey.
Share: the times as child how you were tempted to disobedience.
Read: Colossians 3:20
What does Paul call children to do?
Can you think of a situation in which children need not obey their parents?
What does God think of the obedience of the children in a family?
Pray Together: Pray that God would help you to get to know Him better. Pray that He would help us live well.
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