As a child, what was the biggest thing you ever did to disrespect or disobey your parents?
How big of an issue is lack of respect between parents and children?
God is the designer, the patent-holder on the family! He made it to represent His relationship with His family… He is our Father, and we’re His children. So, when a child dishonors or disrespects his parents, he not only harms his relationship with his parents, but his relationship with God as well.
Exodus 20:12 (NLT)
Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
This commandment has been called the “bridge commandment.” It forms a bridge between relating to God and relating to others. A person learns respect for God by learning respect for authority in the home.
Understanding this, how might weak parenting undermine a child’s ability to relate to God?
To “honor” literally means “to treat with respect” or “to prize highly.” Does our culture encourage children to “respect” and “prize highly” their parents? Why or why not?
How can we teach our children to honor this commandment? How can we as adults still honor our parents?
Ephesians 6:1–4 (NLT)
Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
What does God ask of all children and with what promise?
Paul’s instructions are for children of all ages. The tense of the verb “obey” in Greek emphasizes habitual, constant obedience. Paul gave three reasons for obedience; moral duty, spiritual duty, and one of the Ten Commandments—a Commandment with a promise attached. He also gave fathers two commands, which are equally applicable to mothers: to nurture them through maturity and to avoid actions and words that drive children to resentment.
What do you think might result from a society in which people generally honor and obey their parents?
How can children of all ages and family situations give their parents the respect God commands?
No Christian ever moves beyond the responsibility to show respect for his or her parents. If children are to honor their parents, then parents have a reciprocal responsibility to be submissive to their needs in ways that will lead them to maturity. Growing up in a Christian home is to be a positive, encouraging experience for both parents and children.
What are the most important ways that Christian parenting is different from secular parenting?
How can parents bring up their children “in the training and instruction of the Lord”? Did this happen in your home?
Deuteronomy 6:4–9 (NLT)
“Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
What is the truth parents were to communicate to their children? How were they to communicate that?
What does it mean to have the Word of God “in your heart”? What are some practical ways we can teach this to our children? How will doing so help us make sure we are growing in Christ and in relationship to one another?
Families are instructed to pass on the ways of God to the next generations. However, parents and grandparents cannot teach what they themselves do not know and practice. A passionate devotion to the Lord must first be in the parents’ hearts. Only then are they equipped to help instill a genuine love for God in younger lives. Because these adults are devoted to God, they seek to know His truth and apply it in their lives. Their devotion influences everything they do and say. If adults in families place God at the center of their lives, children benefit from their examples.
Another translation says to “impress God’s commandments” on your children. How do you interpret that?
Looking at verse 7, when might be appropriate times to “talk about them” in your context?
In addition to studying the Bible together, why is it important for families to take time to pray together?
PRO TIP: The PARENT CUE APP is absolutely great for facilitating exactly this!! Find it in your App Store.
What are some things we can do in our families to build this relationship with God into our families?
PRAYER
Ask God to give each of us the grace we need to lead our families to love and serve Him and His church.