some of the areas in your own life where you have particular difficulty in modeling God as Father. 3. Read aloud Romans 13:1-2 . Name some of the delegated authorities that God has placed in your own life. Do you humbly submit to these people as the Lord’s appointed rulers? Or do you grumble and complain about them—in front of your children? Beware: you are training your children to respond to your own and God’s authority the same way you respond to the authorities over you. Other than parents, who are some of the authorities in your children’s lives at this age, and how can you practically train your kids to submit to them? 4. “Obedience means willing submission, without challenge and without excuse.” Remember that in training your children, the heart is your target . What are some common responses and excuses that show clearly your child is not submitting to your rule in their heart, even if they obey the letter of command? Discuss some specific, practical ways to address the root problem instead of just nailing apples on them. 5. “Submission to God’s authority is not bondage, it is actually freedom.” Explain the concept of “God’s circle of safety” and how it affirms this statement. 6. Read aloud (again) Exodus 20:12 and Ephesians 6:1-4 . Explain the specific circle of safety prescribed for children and parents in this passage, and the benefits that each receives from living within that circle. How can you explain to your children, without sounding like a tyrant, that your authority as parents comes from God, and that they are accordingly bound to submit to your authority? How practically can you encourage them with God’s promise attached to this commandment? Suggest ways to demonstrate the principle by rewarding their good behavior yourselves. 7. “Have these battles when your children are little—you do not want to have authority battles with a seventeen-year-old.” Let this sink in, and then discuss the very serious consequences of teenage rebellion compared to toddler rebellion. Are you having the good battles when they are little? How Did It Go Last Week? Share your successes and trials with the group. (10 minutes) Were you able to have some five-question conversations with your children? How did they respond? Did you memorize Psalms 139:23-24 and teach it to your children? Talk about your experiences. Whom did you invite to critique your parenting, and how did you respond to them?
Session 5
GETTING TO THE HEART OF PARENTING
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