Forming Faith in Families: A Parenting Class

“Justin and Molly finish off this parenting course by concluding with Justin Whitmel Earley’s final two chapters in Habits of the Household entitled ‘Conversation’ and ‘Bedtime.’ But don’t be fooled - this class is far more than ‘how-tos’ on having certain conversations and life-hacks on how to do bedtime! It is about the necessity of having good conversation with our children through the years, making friends out of family. It is also about how we conclude each day with a much needed reminder of grace so that we can have a renewed vision for our tomorrows.”

In this class, Justin and Molly draw from J.C. Ryle’s Duties of Parents and Justin Whitmel Earley’s Habits of the Household as they discuss bringing up our children in rhythms of work and rest. They discuss why it is important to impress upon our children the goodness of work, as well as the goodness of ceasing from that work, and then they try to answer how it might look to do both of those things well.

“This week Justin and Molly combine two classes into one: the foundational importance of the parents’ marriage in the task of parenting and how we are to instruct our children spiritually as their parents. Parents are the primary teachers of their children and while we cannot ultimately save our children’s souls, there are numerous tools and ancient wisdom to be found so that we can do all we can to bring up our children to know and love the Lord Jesus Christ.”

"In this class, Justin and Molly discuss the power and place of technology in the formation of our children. Drawing heavily from Justin Whitmel Earley’s chapter ‘Screentime’ in Habits of the Household, they seek to apply some ancient wisdom on a very modern issue.”

“This week Justin and Molly discuss the discipline of children, drawing mainly on Justin Whitmel Earley’s chapter on discipline in Habits of the Household. Discipline is not only a critical part of our children’s discipleship, but of our own discipleship as parents as well. They discuss important habits to help resist our natural, sinful tendencies when it is time to lovingly discipline our children.”

“Just as Justin and Molly discussed last week that regular meals together as a family are almost always messy, but nonetheless deeply formative often in profound and unexpected ways, so too this week they discussed the messiness yet deeply formative impact of Sunday morning worship on children. The assigned material for this week comes from J.C. Ryle’s Duties of Parents, chapter 7 ‘Your Children and Church.’”

“In this class, Justin and Molly discuss the importance of regular mealtimes. Meals together as a family with little children are almost always messy, but they are deeply formative, often in profound and unexpected ways. The table is to be the gravitational center of the home where food and conversation form strong bonds. The family’s table is also meant to be the place where Christians can practice the lost art of Christian hospitality and be a blessing both to strangers and the lonely.”

Description: In this episode, Justin and Molly discuss the power of our own examples in the formation of our children’s loves and spiritual lives. Their discussion is based upon the material found in J.C. Ryle’s Duties of Parents Ch. 13 “Remember God’s Example” and Ch. 14 “Remember Your Example” as well as Justin Whitmel Earley’s Habits of the Household Ch. 1 “Waking.”