- Your major responsibility is direction
- Proverbs is basically the parenting manual
- Proverbs are axioms of truth, not carte blanche guaranteed results; strong call to wisdom
- “…listen to words of wisdom…”
- Prov 1:8-9
- Prov 2:1-6
- Prov 3:1
- Prov 4:1, 10, 20
- Prov 5:1
- Prov 6:20
- Prov 7:1
- wisdom is the right application of knowledge
- big difference between knowing vs practicing wisdom
- life of Solomon shows he knows a lot, but he doesn’t always follow his own knowledge
- this distills into David’s life
- no greater way to destroy the wisdom than to live hypocritically
- Eph 6:4
- unintentional provocation of children a lot of times; can have negative consequences
- overprotective
- tightly restricted and controlled all the time
- not trusting them that they’ll make good decisions
- showing favouritism
- giving unrealistic expectations
- being overindulgent and giving everything
- demonstrating neglect
- placing other things on a higher priority than them (ex. work, hobbies)
- constant criticism
- spiritual hypocrisy
- overprotective
- scriptures are meant to be a blessing, not a weapon
- you must recognize that your kids are sinners, just like you are; sin is embedded within our DNA!
- there are burning convictions for right/wrong
- wisdom teaches about right/wrong and pursuing the Lord
- profound convictions to guide your life
- Prov 10:19
- Prov 11:30
- Prov 12:15
- Prov 14:16
- conduct is crucial to wisdom
- unintentional provocation of children a lot of times; can have negative consequences
- don’t allow free range of actions, but don’t over-insulate; lest your kids be naive and “simple”
- you must teach your kids about sin (not experientially) before the world teaches its standard about that sin/topic
- Prov 1:2-7; the reality is that everything flows from the fear of the Lord
- fear of the Lord is the knowledge/wisdom
- fear of the Lord: C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe “…who is Aslan the Lion?”
- “…safe? Of course not, he’s a lion!… But he is the King, I am sure of it!”
- we need reverence in our hearts
- Ps 14:1; opposite of wise is fool, thinking they are the King
- 1 Cor 1:30; Col 2:3
- Jesus is wisdom; knowing Christ is knowing wisdom
- parenting is direction but also relationship pointing to Christ
- Ultimate end is deployment
- 2 Tim 3:14-15
- the deposits you make place now will reap massive spiritual dividends
- Prov 22:6
- Christ is calling them as He’s called you to mission for Christ; their future usefulness to God
- 2 Tim 1:5
- strong evidence that parents and grandparents have had massive role in mission
- 3 Jn 1:4
- 2 Tim 3:14-15
- Your supreme gift is devotion
- devotion to them
- devotion to God
- don’t sacrifice your family on altar of other things (ministry/career/$/etc…)
- pursue Christ daily; let your kids see you strive after God daily
- overflow of devotion to Christ is a strong impact upon life