Resources

When discussing family integrated worship one of the first concerns raised it "How do I get my kids to behave in church?" The practical aspect of keeping children in the worship service is an important issue and in many cases a real difficulty, especially if changing from an age segregated meeting. Thankfully, there are simple, practical things that parents and members can do and it all starts with the mindset of recognizing the goodness of having children in the church.

When it comes to bringing truth to bare in our homes, God has been so kind to give us the precious gift of living with each other in a close environment 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week. This means that Christians have the opportunity to be a living billboard of the realities of God to everyone around them. Even though we are very imperfect (as those who live with us know best), through our imperfect yearnings for God Himself and our stumbling efforts to apply the things we are searching after, God brings truth before the eyes of the people we love. With children, we practice family worship and talk about the realities of God throughout the week. We can point them to the memorization of scripture, not just as a whole, but particularly those passages where God reveals Himself in a striking way. We can point them to great hymns and explain that we sing these old songs because they give honest views of the Christian life and high views of our God. More than all of this, our daily lives are able to help our children know how to apply the realities of God to a situation in the daily circumstances of life. For example, dealing with children in their disobedience, point them (and yourself) to the all-sufficiency of an infinite and incomprehensibly great and good God. If I do not know this, how will I talk to my children about this?

Omniscience is derived from two words: omni (which means "all") and science (which means "knowledge"). The fact that God is omniscient means that God knows everything. Here are some important things to know about omniscience. The greatest thing about God's omniscience is that it means God knows everything about Himself. He is infinite and eternal yet He knows who He is. God knows what has happened in the past, what is happening now, and what will happen in the future. How does He know what will happen in the future? Because He has planned everything that is going to happen. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good." (Proverbs 15:3) God knows everything that you do. Not only does He know what you do in front of your parents, but He knows what you do behind their back and in your bedroom and when you are playing. Wherever you are, God sees you and knows exactly what you are doing. God knows you and everything you do. These are very important things to tell an eight-year-old about the omniscience of God.

Two girls had a tin of cookies to take to Grandma. Their mother said, "Don't take a cookie on the way to Grandma's house." As they carried the cookies, the two girls got very hungry. One said to the other, "I am very hungry. No one will see us if we just take one." The other girl agreed. She set down the box of cookies, took off the lid, and started to take a fresh cookie off of the top when her sister grabbed her hand and shouted, "Stop! Someone will see! God sees us!" He is always around us and in the room with us. This will change our whole behavior. We will be careful about what we say, what we think, and what we do because God is always there.

David Fry explains in this video that Abraham gave us a positive example of biblical fatherhood. We have many situations of how involved he was with the Lord but also with his son and his nephew, Lot. Even though he wasn't perfect, he strived to walk according to what God commanded. Proverbs 20:7 (NKJV) - "The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him."

Mike Davenport explains in this video that Scripture makes it clear that discipline is healthy and biblical. In fact, God chastens all of His children and does not spare us from it. If God does not discipline us, it is because we are not sons of His. Discipline, though it may not be sweet to the recipient, is ultimately an act of love and kindness. Hebrews 12:11 (NKJV) - "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

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."

Gary Powers explains in this video that Eli wrongly treated his sons, by failing to take action when they acted in sinful ways. Why were they placed in a priestly office? They should never have been in that position at all. He should have removed them from that office. He should have continually been pointing them to God instead of allowing them to act in the way that they did. Hebrews 12:11 (NKJV) - "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

John Snyder explains in this video why it is important for parents have biblical expectations for their children. Hudson Taylor, for instance, had godly parents who raised him and everything that he did was impacted by his godly upbringing. Parents are called to be faithful to raise their children in the way that God commands. Even if your children don't ultimately walk with the Lord after they leave the home, you are still commanded to train them according to Scripture. 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 fathers should not provoke their children to anger. One way parents can avoid provoking their children to anger is to bring them up according to what Scripture dictates instead of arbitrarily parenting them, perhaps with how they see fit or what traditionally has occurred. Doing so will exasperate them. Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV) - "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."

John Snyder explains in this video that if we want to have good marriages and raise our children in the right way, we can't only be concerned about the passages that speak about marriage or about children raising. Rather, we must back up and see what the purpose is for everything according to Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) - "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

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."