3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Psalms 127

Having children is one of the greatest blessings

God gives

TremendousResponsibility

“What kind of child will this be?”(Luke 1:66)

What isAt

Stake?

Soul of the Child

Souls of the Parents

Better ParentsBetter Parents & Better Children& Better Children

Prov. 22:6Prov. 22:6

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

Proverbs 22:6

“Train up a childin the way he should go…”

How to raisea child

“…and when he is old,he will not

depart from it.”

What he will beas an adult

Dependsupon

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

Proverbs 22:6

• Train up: - Mold & Shape Dedicate by trainingDedicate by training

• Strong’s: “chanak figuratively, to initiate or discipline:- dedicate, train up.”• Same word translated “dedicate” (Deut 20:5; 1Kings 8:63; 2 Chron. 7:5) – Training is dedicating a child to God.

How? - Guide them in what they needHow? - Guide them in what they need• Chanak - lit. means put something in the mouth. – as nurse gives an infant in order to prepare them for nursing (Pulpit).

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

Proverbs 22:6

• Train up: - Mold & Shape• Child: From infant to marriageable age 1 Sam. 4:21 - infant

Gen. 21:12-20 - preteen ladGen. 37:2 - youth (17)

Gen. 34:19 - marriageable age

While stillunder your roof!

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

Proverbs 22:6

• Train up: - Mold & Shape• Child: From infant to marriageable age• In the way: God Fearing / Child’s Way

• Heb: derek - Keil says, “of the nature of the child as such, for _____ is the child’s way”• “The manner of instruction, ought to regulate itself according to the stage of life; and its peculiarities; the method ought to be arranged according to the degrees of development which the mental and bodily life of the youth has arrive at.” - Keil

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

Proverbs 22:6

• Train up: - Mold & Shape• Child: From infant to marriageable age• In the way: God Fearing / Child’s way• Result: Impacts rest of his life

General Statement- Are Exceptions -

Better ParentsBetter ParentsTeach

(Instruction)

Teach - InstructionTeach - Instruction

• What: Saturate them with Word (Deut. 6:1-9)• Who:

Fathers are responsible (Eph. 6:1-4) Mothers should teach (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15)

• Why: Fatal to assume they know (Jud. 2:10)

Better ParentsBetter ParentsTeach

(Instruction)

Show(Example)

Show - ExampleShow - Example

• Examples are powerful Live Right - Children Blessed (Prov. 20:7) Follow what see (Ezek. 16:44)

• Show them what want them to be Christians / Faithful / Active Moral / Caring / Generous Workers / Homemakers

Better ParentsBetter ParentsTeach

(Instruction)

Show(Example)

Correct(Punishment)

Correct - PunishmentCorrect - Punishment

• Change the behavior (Prov. 22:15)• Firm - put some teeth in the rules.• Balanced with love / encouragement / praise• Done with future in mind (Heb. 12:11;

Prov. 23:13-14)

The Punishment Should:

Better ParentsBetter ParentsTeach

(Instruction)

Show(Example)

Correct(Punishment)

Control

ControlControl

• Children do not have wisdom - comes later• Need guidance & restrictions• Controlled by parents (cf. 1 Tim. 3:4-5)• Parents need to watch / know. . . .

Prov. 29:15 “The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child

left to himself brings shame to his mother.”

Better ParentsBetter ParentsTeach

(Instruction)

Show(Example)

Correct(Punishment)

Control

Give ThemResponsibility

Give Them ResponsibilityGive Them Responsibility

• Teach them to work.• Teach them to be content (Phil. 4:11)

Lam. 2:27 “It is good for a man to bear The yoke in his

youth.”

Better ParentsBetter ParentsTeach

(Instruction)

Show(Example)

Correct(Punishment)

Control

Give ThemResponsibility Time

TimeTime

• Training takes time• Hindrances:

Work Sports TV

Eph. 5:16 “redeeming the time, because the days are

evil.”

Better ChildrenBetter ChildrenListen ToParents

Listen To ParentsListen To Parents

• Wise to listen to parents (Prov. 1:8; 4:1; 15:5)• Failure to listen - stray (Prov. 19:27)• Reason: “They’ve been around the block”

Better ChildrenBetter ChildrenListen ToParents

ObeyParents

Obey ParentsObey Parents

• Command to obey (Eph. 6:2-3; Col. 3:20)• Disobedience = great sin (Rom. 1; 2 Tim. 3)• Blessing - live long (Eph. 6:2-3; Prov. 4:10-13)

Better ChildrenBetter ChildrenListen ToParents

ObeyParents

Honor

Honor ParentsHonor Parents

• Respect (Prov. 23:22; 31:28)• Care (1 Tim. 5:4, 16; Exo. 20:12)

Better FamiliesBetter FamiliesGod is Feared

Word is Honored

God is FearedGod is FearedWord is HonoredWord is Honored

• Children taught to “fear God” (Psa. 34:11)• Children remember creator (Ecc. 12:1)• Each member of family - own faith, own convictions, give account of self.• Respect Bible for what it is (2 Thess. 2:13)

Better FamiliesBetter FamiliesGod is Feared

Word is Honored

Communicate

CommunicateCommunicate

• Essential to train / teach / listen• “Generation Gap” = lack of communication• More than “lecture” / “complaining”• Talk & listen to each other (calmly)

Better FamiliesBetter FamiliesGod is Feared

Word is Honored

Communicate

Know that LittleThings Mean a Lot

Know that Little ThingsKnow that Little ThingsMean a LotMean a Lot

• Little things are of greater value than - think• Examples:

• Meals together / “Sir” “Thank you” / Where sit• Hugs / Saying “I love you” / Less material• “Special Time” /

Better ChildrenBetter Children

Better ParentsBetter Parents & Better Children& Better Children

Better ParentsBetter Parents

Better FamiliesBetter Families

“I have no greater joythan to hear that

my children walk in truth”(3 John 4).