FOR PERSONAL APPLICATION These aspects of the study can be used in between group sessions on your own, either with your spouse or individually as part of your devotional and confession life.
Do Something During the week ahead, turn your learning into doing.
Memorize Deuteronomy 6:4-7 , and see that God commands parents to take theological responsibility for both themselves and their children. Then put this into action—see following. One of the most effective ways to cultivate your family as God’s learning community is by maintaining regular, evening family devotions . These can—and should—be very simple: read a Bible passage, briefly talk about it, sing a sweet hymn, say a short prayer. Make the events enjoyable—hold them in a cozy place, maybe include treats. Be consistent but not legalistic, perhaps shoot for three nights a week. If married, work together with your spouse to develop this habit for the rest of your parenting lives. Properly performed, this practice will yield a firm theological foundation and fond family ties. Each day this week, identify something different in creation to use to inspire divine awe in your children. Be both spontaneous—act when it happens—and intentional—plan to talk about it at dinner or during family devotions. Search Me, O God For introspection during the coming week. Do I enculturate my children with the things of God? Do I do so routinely, authentically and effectively? What specific steps can I take to address each of these priorities? Who in my life can help me (us) become better at this? Do I personally stand in awe of God? If not, is this a heart matter or a head matter—or both? How can I enlist prayer, participation in church, Bible reading, fellowship and theological enquiry to invigorate awe in both my heart and my head? Want to Know More? Read Deuteronomy 4-11 . Pull over and study each passage in which the Lord, through Moses, directs parents to teach their children. Learn all that you can from these commands, and identify specific
ways that you can put them into practice. For More From Paul Tripp: [Insert resource information]
Session 1
GETTING TO THE HEART OF PARENTING
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