Session 3 Target the Heart, Part I
FOR GROUP PARTICIPATION These elements of the study are best used with others in a group setting.
And God Said… Read aloud Luke 6:43-45 . What is the Point? Read these statements aloud and keep them in mind during the video (5 minutes) • In all of child training, “the heart is your target.” • Targeting behavior instead of the heart is like nailing good apples on a bad-apple tree. • Only as heart change takes place in a child will lasting behavior change take place. Petition Pray this together aloud. Almighty God, who are powerful enough to make even the human heart holy, guide us as parents in cooperating with your Spirit, diligently and consistently, in his work of conforming the hearts of our children to the image of Christ, who is their Savior and ours. Amen. Hear the Word 1. Read aloud Matthew 15:10-20 and Luke 6:43-45 . Sinful behavior, like bad fruit, is merely an effect —what is the cause ? Why is it ultimately fruitless to simply enforce good behavior in a child? Return to the Matthew passage and back up to v8; read it aloud—is God pleased with the outward behavior of lip service? What then should ultimately and always be the “target” of your child training? 2. Throughout the Bible, the “heart” is used as a metaphor for “the causal core of your personhood—the control system.” What does the heart cause and control? So, if a child’s heart is changed for the good, what will happen to their bad behavior? And most importantly, what will heart change produce in their relationship with the Lord? 3. Describe how the metaphor of “apple nailing” accurately illustrates our sadly frequent approach to child training. Share some episodes from your own experience. (It’s OK, we’ve all done it!) Why were you content at these times to nail a few apples on the outside of your child rather than to address what was inside their heart? What are some other common situational reasons for our tendency to settle for apple nailing? Identify some specific, practical steps you can take to effectively prevent such situations. Watch the video. (23 minutes) Let's Talk About That Discuss these questions. (35 minutes)
Session 3
GETTING TO THE HEART OF PARENTING
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