Resources

If I was asked by an eight-year-old how he can know God, there would be a couple of layers to my answer. The first is knowing about God. This is very important. We want to go beyond knowing about God, but it does start here. We need to know the God who is and that can only happen through His word. If you do not, you end up with a God that very rarely contradicts you, who is always happy with you no matter what patterns of sin persist in your life, and who never asks you to turn away from those sins. Many people who say they know about God do not know about the God of the Bible at all. The second layer is that God must be known in more than an academic sense. We do not study the Bible like a math book. We must think of it as a love letter communicating intimacy and friendship.

This is the most important question that a man can ask. How do we break this down for a child? The best way to begin is to think about how we know one another. We might know things about a person without personally knowing the individual. The only way we can know each other is to communicate with one another. In the Bible, God communicates to us. So we go to the Bible to hear what God says about Himself and us. This is how we learn who He is. But there is still a breakdown in this relationship. Something has to be overcome so that we can truly know God. The Bible tells of Jesus Christ. We read the Word of God, learn who Jesus is, go to Him as a sinner, and pray that the Holy Spirit would teach us to know God through Christ. "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." - John 17:3

Child Discipline by Jason Dohm. How do we address our children's behavior as a husband and wife? What is discipline and why is it necessary? What does the Bible say about a child's heart and how do we apply it?

Dr. Carlton McLeod explains in this video that while they are in the home, daughters should seek how to add value to their households. The normative pattern is for daughters to marry and have children. Accordingly, parents should train their daughters to prepare for womanhood. Proverbs 31:10-11 (NKJV) - "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain."

Kirk Smith explains in this video that there may be times where children struggle with their faith. As they gradually go out into the real world, they will come across people who believe differently. When our children have questions, parents should walk by faith and not by fear. As our children ask these questions, we can point theme back to Christ. Doubt and struggles are a normal part of life. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) - "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Rob Tart explains in this video that one of the most important things that a parent should work towards is to win the heart of their child. If they do not have the heart of their child, it is very difficult to maintain a harmonious relationship with a child and to pursue shared goals together. To win the heart of a child, parents need to listen, care for their children, and affirm them when applicable. Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV) - "A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones."

Trent Moody explains in this video that children are commanded to obey their parents. No matter how old they get, they should always honor their parents. If a child is questioning the teaching of parents, parents ought to point them to Scripture instead of coming up with a reason for why they are asking them to do a specific thing. While children have a responsibility to talk to their parents if they have questions, parents should make themselves available to discuss the struggles or questions of their children. Exodus 20:12 (NKJV) - "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you."

Malamulo Chindongo explains in this video that if a child is questioning the faith of his or her parents, the child should realize that God has given you a gift. He has given you parents that care and love for you. Second, the child needs to consider what Christ has done. If you are questioning the faith of your parents, then what is the alternative? Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Clarence Simmons explains in this video that in regards to parenting, as our children get older, parents can sometimes fail to communicate and seek to know how their children are doing and what they are thinking. We have to be intentional about caring for our children in this way. Parenting God's way is hard work -- yet, we cannot be idle in this area. Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) - "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Phil George explains in this video that Ephesians 6 states that children are to obey their parents. And how does that text apply to us as parents? If our children are called to obey, parents ought to be able to instruct their children. They need to be able to instruct their children why things are the way they are according to Scripture. Isaiah 1:19 (NKJV) - "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land."

Anthony Mathenia explains in this video that if parents have a child in the home that is questioning their lifestyle or Christianity in general, be patient and loving. Remind them that you haven't been a perfect parent but that you have sought to do things according to Scripture. Open Scripture with your child and show them what Scripture says. 2 Peter 1:19-20 (NKJV) - "And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation."

Jeff Pollard says that we are living in a generation of younger Christian families who are perplexed what to do in regards to what biblical femininity looks like. Parents ought to be teaching their daughters the importance of being wives and mothers and that this is a high calling. Proverbs 14:1 (NKJV) - "The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands."