Guests: Nick Bellamy and Johnny Farr

Chapter 11 False Gods

Principle: You are parenting a worshiper, so it’s important to remember that what rules your child’s heart will control his behavior.

WORSHIP - everything your child has ever said or done is rooted in worship. Worship is that inner desire for wonder, amazement, and awe that every human being possesses. It is that craving to be fulfilled. It is that constant search for life. It is wanting personal meaning and purpose. It’s that universal hunger for inner peace.

Your kids were made for God. The capacity of your children to worship is the most important biblical insight for parents. Since your children are worshipers, a vital skill for you is to learn how to lead them to confession. To say your children are worshipers means you have no power to free them from their biggest problem. Because your children are worshipers, your only hope for them is the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Chapter 12 Control

Principle: The goal of parenting is not control of behavior, but rather heart and life change.

Psalm 51

Your children need to see their sin, so they’ll cry out for God’s mercy.

Your children need to understand the nature of sin, so they don’t minimize its danger

Your children need to understand that their problem is not with their parents, but with God

Your children need to understand that sin is a nature problem that produces behavior problems

Your children need to understand that since sin is a heart problem, the only solution is a new heart

Your children need to be taught to run to the only place of hope: the forgiving grace of God

Chapter 13 Rest

Principle: It is only rest in God’s presence and grace that will make you a joyful and patient parent.

Your job is to do everything within your power, as an instrument in the hands of the Redeemer who has employed you, to woo, encourage, call, and train your children to willingly and joyfully live as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It’s not enough to tell your children what to do and what not to do. This passage calls every parent to a deeper goal. You must teach your children how to think about everything in a way that is pointedly God-centered.

Chapter 14 Mercy

Principle: No parent gives mercy better than one who is convinced that he desperately needs it himself.

Parenting is about being God’s ambassadors in the lives of our children.

Mercy is parenting with a tender heart.

Look for every opportunity to shower your children with grace.

Be careful to help your children see the heart behind behavior.

Remind your heart each morning to rest in the presence and power of your heavenly Father.

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