Empowering Parenting: Wisdom, Teamwork, and Faith
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, Hickory Ridge family, and happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. Today, we continue our series on "The Power of Parenting," focusing on how we can give our kids the best. Parenting is a multi-faceted and challenging task that requires wisdom, understanding, and a deep relationship with God. We all come from different family situations—some of us are actively raising kids, some are praying for kids, and others are influencing other people's kids. Regardless of our situation, the truth of God's word applies to all of us.
We began by emphasizing the importance of teamwork in parenting. Both parents bring unique gifts and perspectives that are crucial for raising children. When parents are united, they can better navigate the challenges of parenting. For single parents, it's essential to ask God for wisdom and favor to carry both roles for a season. The church community also plays a vital role in supporting single parents and helping to raise their children in the way they should go.
Parenting is hard work and requires dedication, consistency, and prioritization. It takes your best to give your kids the best. This involves stepping into moments of triumph and challenge with your children, offering encouragement and perspective. We must avoid the temptation to elevate our kids too quickly or lower ourselves to just being their friends. Instead, we should train them up in the way they should go, as Proverbs instructs us.
We then focused on a short but powerful verse that describes Jesus' growth in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man. This verse serves as a blueprint for how we should train our children. The first aspect is wisdom. Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Teaching our kids to put God first and to have a reverence for Him is foundational. Reverence is not just about being quiet in church; it's about recognizing God's sovereignty and our dependence on Him.
Next, we discussed the importance of sharing our faith with our children. It's crucial to be transparent about how God has worked in our lives. Sharing personal stories of transformation can help our kids understand the power of God. For example, I shared my struggle with anger and how my relationship with God helped me overcome it. This transparency helps our children see that God is real and active in our lives.
We also talked about the importance of integrity and consistency. Our kids need to see that we live the same way in private as we do in public. More is caught than taught, and our children will pick up on our consistency. We must evaluate our lives to ensure that we are not segmenting our faith but living it out fully.
Finally, we emphasized the importance of favor with God. Our children need to see us imitating Christ in our daily lives. This involves showing them how we depend on God in both big and small matters. When they see our genuine relationship with God, it will encourage them to develop their own. Proverbs 14:26 says that in the fear of the Lord, there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. Sharing our confidence in God with our children helps them build their own faith and confidence.
In closing, we reflected on the words of the Apostle Paul to the church in Colossae, emphasizing the importance of praying for our children and seeking God's wisdom and understanding. We prayed for God's blessing on our families, asking for His wisdom to help us train up our children in the way they should go.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Teamwork in Parenting: Both parents bring unique gifts and perspectives that are crucial for raising children. When parents are united, they can better navigate the challenges of parenting. For single parents, it's essential to ask God for wisdom and favor to carry both roles for a season. The church community also plays a vital role in supporting single parents and helping to raise their children in the way they should go. [01:13]
2. Dedication and Consistency in Parenting: Parenting is hard work and requires dedication, consistency, and prioritization. It takes your best to give your kids the best. This involves stepping into moments of triumph and challenge with your children, offering encouragement and perspective. We must avoid the temptation to elevate our kids too quickly or lower ourselves to just being their friends. Instead, we should train them up in the way they should go, as Proverbs instructs us. [08:08]
3. Teaching Reverence and Wisdom: Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Teaching our kids to put God first and to have a reverence for Him is foundational. Reverence is not just about being quiet in church; it's about recognizing God's sovereignty and our dependence on Him. This teaching happens every day, in every moment and experience. [13:21]
4. Sharing Personal Faith Stories: It's crucial to be transparent about how God has worked in our lives. Sharing personal stories of transformation can help our kids understand the power of God. For example, sharing struggles and how a relationship with God helped overcome them can be powerful. This transparency helps our children see that God is real and active in our lives. [31:24]
5. Living with Integrity and Consistency: Our kids need to see that we live the same way in private as we do in public. More is caught than taught, and our children will pick up on our consistency. We must evaluate our lives to ensure that we are not segmenting our faith but living it out fully. This integrity helps build a strong foundation for our children's faith. [35:34]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:13] - Introduction and Importance of Teamwork
[08:08] - Dedication and Consistency in Parenting
[13:21] - Teaching Reverence and Wisdom
[31:24] - Sharing Personal Faith Stories
[35:34] - Living with Integrity and Consistency
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 9:10 - "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
2. Proverbs 14:26 - "In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge."
3. Colossians 1:9 - "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Proverbs 9:10, what is the beginning of wisdom? How does this relate to parenting? [13:21]
2. What does Proverbs 14:26 say about the fear of the Lord and its impact on children? [27:20]
3. In Colossians 1:9, what does Paul pray for the believers in Colossae to receive? How can this prayer be applied to parenting? [41:29]
4. What are some specific ways the sermon suggests parents can demonstrate integrity and consistency in their lives? [35:34]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does teaching children to fear the Lord contribute to their overall wisdom and understanding? [13:21]
2. What does it mean to have "strong confidence" in the fear of the Lord, and how can this be a refuge for children? [27:20]
3. How can parents share their personal faith stories in a way that is age-appropriate and impactful for their children? [31:24]
4. Why is it important for parents to live with integrity and consistency, and how does this influence their children’s faith? [35:34]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own parenting or influence on children. How can you better demonstrate the fear of the Lord in your daily life? [13:21]
2. Think of a recent challenge you faced with your children. How did you handle it, and how might you handle it differently by seeking God's wisdom first? [16:12]
3. Share a personal story of how God has worked in your life with your children. How did they respond, and what impact do you think it had on their faith? [31:24]
4. Evaluate your daily routines. Are there areas where you can be more consistent in living out your faith both in private and in public? How can you make these changes? [35:34]
5. How can you involve your church community more in supporting your parenting journey, especially if you are a single parent? [06:52]
6. Identify one specific way you can show your children that you depend on God in both big and small matters. How will you implement this in the coming week? [27:20]
7. Consider the relationships in your life. Are there any that might be hindering your children’s spiritual growth? How can you address this issue? [19:20]
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the sermon’s key points and apply biblical principles to their parenting journey.
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of United Parenting
Parenting is a journey that requires the unique gifts and perspectives of both parents. When parents work together as a team, they can better navigate the challenges and joys of raising children. This unity is crucial for providing a balanced and nurturing environment. For single parents, it's essential to seek God's wisdom and favor to fulfill both roles effectively. The church community also plays a vital role in supporting single parents, helping to raise their children in the way they should go. This collective effort ensures that children receive the guidance and love they need to grow into well-rounded individuals. [01:13]
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"
Reflection: How can you actively support your spouse or a single parent in your community today? What practical steps can you take to foster unity in parenting?
Day 2: Dedication and Consistency in Parenting
Parenting is a demanding task that requires unwavering dedication, consistency, and prioritization. To give your children the best, you must be present in both their triumphs and challenges, offering encouragement and perspective. It's important to avoid the temptation to elevate your children too quickly or to lower yourself to just being their friend. Instead, focus on training them up in the way they should go, as instructed in Proverbs. This means being a consistent and reliable presence in their lives, guiding them with love and wisdom. [08:08]
Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Reflection: In what areas of your parenting do you need to be more consistent? How can you ensure that you are a steady and reliable presence for your children?
Day 3: Teaching Reverence and Wisdom
Teaching your children to put God first and to have a reverence for Him is foundational. Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Reverence is not just about being quiet in church; it's about recognizing God's sovereignty and our dependence on Him. This teaching happens every day, in every moment and experience. By instilling a deep respect for God in your children, you lay the groundwork for them to grow in wisdom and understanding. [13:21]
Psalm 111:10 (ESV): "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!"
Reflection: How can you incorporate the teaching of reverence for God into your daily interactions with your children? What practical steps can you take to model this reverence in your own life?
Day 4: Sharing Personal Faith Stories
Being transparent about how God has worked in your life is crucial for helping your children understand the power of God. Sharing personal stories of transformation, such as overcoming struggles through a relationship with God, can be incredibly powerful. This transparency helps your children see that God is real and active in your life, encouraging them to seek their own relationship with Him. By sharing your faith journey, you provide a tangible example of God's love and grace. [31:24]
Psalm 66:16 (ESV): "Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul."
Reflection: What personal faith story can you share with your children today? How can your transparency about God's work in your life inspire them to seek their own relationship with Him?
Day 5: Living with Integrity and Consistency
Your children need to see that you live the same way in private as you do in public. More is caught than taught, and your children will pick up on your consistency. It's important to evaluate your life to ensure that you are not segmenting your faith but living it out fully. This integrity helps build a strong foundation for your children's faith, showing them the importance of living a life that honors God in all circumstances. [35:34]
Proverbs 20:7 (ESV): "The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!"
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where your public and private actions do not align? How can you work towards greater integrity and consistency in your faith journey to set a strong example for your children?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Parenting is hard work. It takes dedication. It takes consistency. It takes a prioritization. Bottom line is this, it takes your best to give your kids the best. What is your best? Well, looked online, a lot of memes I found that try to define what good parenting is all about. I saw one recently that made me chuckle. It said, good parenting is a lot of getting up just as soon as you've sat down. And it is true. It is true. Parenting isn't every day, all day. Step to those moments. Celebrate with your kid in their triumphs. Encourage them in their challenges." [02:56]
2. "We all have different families, right? All have different kids. All in different seasons of life relative to the topic of parenting. Some of us have kids and we're actively raising them. Some of us want kids one day and we're praying for them. Some of us don't have kids and maybe don't see ourselves as ever having kids, but we are parental influences to other people's kids. Some people are praying for and thinking about or actually have adopted kids. Some are praying, thinking about or have fostered kids. Some families have kids who are just about or have recently left the home. You are empty nesters. Glory be to God." [01:13]
3. "It is so important for both members of the team to be on the same team, to be united, because a lot of parenting problems can exist when you are not. God gives favor. Typically gives to the mom favor to see what's happening in that moment in light of everything else that's got to get done that day, that week, that month. You know, how are we going to prioritize? How am I going to help channel and manage the emotions of the household based upon what's got to get done today? Kind of a micro version of favor. God tends to give the father a macro version. What's happening in this moment in light of where are we going down the road? You know, where's our family headed spiritually?" [06:52]
4. "When you're experiencing trouble, when you're experiencing challenges, when you have confusion in your life, who is it that you go to? It's so important. We need go-to people, right? Life is hard and it is not meant to be done alone. Maybe you're thinking of a spouse or a sibling, a parent, a grandparent, a best friend. When you go to that person, with that challenge, and listen, we need those. Mentors are important. The testimony of our lives matters. We need our go-to people. But what would happen if you go to that go-to person with that challenge, with that struggle, and instead of then jumping in to that moment and saying, well, you know what you need to do? You know, here's the answer to your question. Here's the solution to your problem. Instead, they would leverage that relationship, leverage that situation, leverage that. And ask you a question like this. What do you think God wants you to do in this moment?" [16:12]
5. "The weaker you are, the more you depend upon him. And the more you depend upon him, the stronger you get. I love that. I love Rick Warren quotes. Cause at first read, you're like, yeah, that's obvious. Duh. Right. Actually, you know, I ruminate on that, you know, meditate on that. That is so good. That is so deep." [35:34]
### Quotes for Members
1. "We know a thing or two. We've experienced a thing or two. We've learned a thing or two. A lot of problems exist in parenting when we will elevate our kids faster than their life experiences would support. We sometimes don't want to do the hard work of parenting. It's a day-in, day-out endeavor. It is not for the weak of heart. And sometimes we speed that process up by giving our kids freedoms that their maturity, will not support. Exposing them to topics and situations. We talked about last week, let kids be kids. Let children be children. Sometimes we elevate our kids faster than their life experiences and maturity and sophistication would support. Or we lower ourselves. We just want to be our kids' friends. We throw our hands up to those responsibility to be a trainer. Train up your child, right?" [08:08]
2. "We have to teach our kids a fear of the Lord or a reverence for God, putting God in his rightful place, the perspective that we train up and teach our kids to have towards God. Now, Suzanne and I grew up Catholic, and we heard that word reverence a lot. And we were both directly and indirectly taught that reverence meant one thing. It meant, shh. In the Catholic world, that's what reverence means. It just means shh. I mean, most Catholic churches are ornate and echoey. Everything echoes. Footsteps echo. A cough echoes. When you're in the pew with your sisters and you're trying to make them laugh and you're successful, then that giggle echoes too. And your mom whips her head around. You learn pretty quickly, directly, indirectly. Reverence means quiet. But obviously, reverence means so much more than that. Yes, it has to do. With obedience. But what reverence really means is seeing God the way he is, as creator and as sustainer of all." [13:21]
3. "We share that with our kids, obviously at key times, at age appropriate ways. When, when Suzanne and I think they're presenting something to us that isn't quite the whole story, they're presenting something as this is the issue, but there's probably some levels deeper that we really should go. It's easy not to, it's easy just to cover that up and insulate it. But you know what? We didn't sign up for easy. I don't think you guys did either, right? To share with your kids who God is to you, how big your God is, how powerful and mighty. And the fact that he's in for the whole Magilla, it's not a little dabble do you kind of God, right? It's the whole thing. It's making what is not into what is. It's, it's changing a heart and changing a life and being truly born again. Share that with your kids." [34:09]
4. "If you're a single parent, ask God, pray to him for direction and peace about who you can step to that would help step into your family. Ask God for direction and peace about who you can step to moments, offer perspective, offer encouragement. This church is full of people who will do that, be honored to do that. But we encourage couples with the theme of team because when the two are not united, real parental problems can happen." [08:08]
5. "We need to evaluate our lives. Are we living the same in private as we are in public? Is our walk better than our talk? Are we falling into the temptation to segment our life and run the risk of losing integrity? As we talked about last week, more is caught than taught. Kids will pick up on consistency and they need the consistency of the character of those around them." [35:34]
6. "We are to train up our children in the way that they should go so that when they are older, they will not depart from him. It takes your best to give your kids the best. And the best is obviously Jesus. So we need to look to Jesus, right? If God humbled himself to step out of heaven, take the form of a man, we need to look to him to see how was he grown? How does his growth look, right? There's not, at first blush, there doesn't seem like there's a whole heck of a lot in the Bible, right? We know Jesus was born. We know he was dedicated. There's a quick little story about him getting separated from Mary and Joseph at the Passover feast. And they're all crazed looking for him. And they go back a day and he's not crazed at all. He's in his father's house. Didn't you know I'd be here, right? And that happened about the age of 12. And then it seemingly jumps to Jesus, the man in the start of his earthly ministry around the age of 30. But there's this short little verse that a lot of us have read and many of us know and have kind of viewed as just a transitional verse from Jesus, the child, to Jesus, the man. It is exactly in that short little verse that we want to spend our time this morning. Because that short little transitional verse is actually chock full of gold." [10:46]
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