In this episode, Joe Stout, elder at Christ Covenant Church, walks parents through some ideas on how to think biblically about parenting. This was part of a Sunday School class that took place on June 25th, 2023.

Christ Covenant Church (CCC), is a local reformed church in Centralia WA. We are a gathering of saints who love the Lord Jesus Christ because He first loved us. We are a thoroughly Trinitarian, Biblically devoted, and Historically Reformed church founded within the CREC denomination in 2021 in Centralia, WA. Learn more at ChristCovenantCentralia.com

Proverbs 13:24

He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

Main idea: God has granted Christian parents authority (as viceroy) to raise their children and parents must exercise this authority (regardless of previous success or failures) if they desire to truly love their children and honor Christ.

Genesis 15:5,6

Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Main idea: Christian parents must begin by believing God’s Promises regarding their covenant children. Before we can implement effective and fruitful parenting, we must first believe that God has already promised to give the growth. 

Ephesians 6:4

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Main Idea: Having believed the promises, if follows we treat covenant children not as pagans but as holy (1 Cor 7:14) and covenantally tied to their Heavenly Father (Deut 7:9). Parent’s generally and father’s specifically are called to shape every aspect of their children's lives from birth (paideia) with Christ as King (Joshua 24:15).