Training up your kids...

I was watching Charles Stanley this morning and he gave a message about training up your child in the ways of the Lord. I was going to give a summary of the message, but when I took a look at my notes for a second time, I realized they are pretty much self-explanatory:

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart
from it. Proverbs 22:6

1. Spend quality time
- Investment in their eternity
- You are most important in their life

2. Listen to them carefully, so they will listen to you
- No education is needed to give your kids time or to stop and listen
- They deserve your undivided attention (the Lord gives us undivided attention when we come to him)
- They will go to someone; better you than someone else

3. Admit when you are wrong
- Tears down barrier and builds relationship
- They won't mind coming and talking to you when they are wrong

4. Love them unconditionally
- Despite their looks, attitude, brains, etc.
- Not bringing up past wrongs
**Love never fails! (1 Peter 4:8)

5. Discipline them motivated by a desire to protect them
- You want them to grow up to be a good person

6. Motivate them to be all they can be
- "Look your best; Do your best; Be your best"
- Do you think Jesus did anything less then His best?
**Correct without demeaning

7. Lead them to fully understand that their ultimate accountability is to God
- When you aren't around, they still answer to God
- Being accountable to themselves is a disaster - they will try to play God

8. Most important thing in their life is their personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ
- If you don't have one, you can't teach them to have one

9. Teach them to spend time daily in the Word of God
- You won't live a godly life with a closed Bible
** "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" - Psalms 119:105

10. Teach them to obey God and leave all the consequences to Him
- Will teach them to 1)recognize the sovereignty of God; 2) recognize His personal interest in them; and 3) trust Him

Most important: PRAY FOR YOUR CHILDREN!!!!!


My main reason for recording this is so that I can come back and refer to it when I finally have children of my own, but also because this is direction that all parents need.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6