Intentional Parenting: Raising Kingdom Kids for Tomorrow

 

Summary

Raising children in today's world is a profound responsibility, one that requires intentionality and dedication. As a father of four, I've learned that shaping a child is far easier than repairing an adult. This insight inspired the creation of "Raising Kingdom Kids," a resource aimed at equipping parents to nurture their children into becoming kingdom men and women. While previous works like "Kingdom Man" and "Kingdom Woman" focus on adult transformation, this book emphasizes the importance of investing in children before they reach adulthood. By doing so, we can ensure that they naturally transition into adults who live under divine authority.

The book is not just a collection of biblical principles on child-rearing; it also includes personal experiences, challenges, and failures that I have encountered as a parent. These stories are shared to encourage and equip parents to raise children who consistently live under God's rule. In a world filled with distractions and challenges, it is crucial for parents to take seriously the privilege and responsibility of raising children who operate under divine rule in every aspect of their lives.

Our world is in desperate need of kingdom men and women, and this begins with kingdom parenting. By raising children who understand and live under God's authority, we can hope to see a generation that embodies these values. Thank you for joining in this mission to raise kingdom kids, and for your commitment to nurturing a generation that knows what it means to live under God's authority.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Importance of Early Investment: Shaping a child is significantly easier than repairing an adult. By investing in children early, we can guide them to naturally transition into adults who live under divine authority. This proactive approach can prevent many of the struggles faced by adults who were not raised with these principles. [00:25]

2. Biblical Principles and Personal Experience: "Raising Kingdom Kids" combines biblical principles with personal experiences to provide a comprehensive guide for parents. Sharing both successes and failures offers a realistic perspective that can encourage and equip parents in their journey. [00:58]

3. Navigating a Challenging World: Today's world presents numerous challenges that can hinder children from living under God's rule. By instilling strong values and principles early on, parents can help their children navigate these challenges and remain steadfast in their faith. [01:31]

4. The Role of Kingdom Parenting: Kingdom parenting is essential for raising children who will become kingdom men and women. This involves taking seriously the responsibility of guiding children to operate under divine rule in every area of their lives. [02:03]

5. A Generation Under God's Authority: By focusing on raising kingdom kids, we can hope to see a generation that understands and lives under God's authority. This vision requires commitment and intentionality from parents who are dedicated to nurturing their children's spiritual growth. [02:03]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:25] - Shaping Children vs. Repairing Adults
- [00:58] - Biblical Principles and Personal Experiences
- [01:31] - Challenges in Today's World
- [02:03] - The Need for Kingdom Parenting
- [02:03] - Raising a Generation Under God's Authority

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Raising Kingdom Kids

Bible Reading:
1. Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) - "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."
2. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV) - "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
3. Ephesians 6:4 (NIV) - "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

Observation Questions:
1. What does Proverbs 22:6 suggest about the long-term impact of early childhood training?
2. How does Deuteronomy 6:6-7 emphasize the importance of integrating faith into daily life with children?
3. According to Ephesians 6:4, what is the role of fathers in the spiritual upbringing of their children?
4. In the sermon, what does Tony Evans identify as a key difference between shaping a child and repairing an adult? [00:25]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How might Proverbs 22:6 be understood in the context of today's challenges in raising children?
2. What practical steps can parents take to fulfill the command in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 in a modern context?
3. How can Ephesians 6:4 guide parents in balancing discipline and encouragement in their parenting approach?
4. What does Tony Evans mean by "kingdom parenting," and how does it relate to the concept of living under divine authority? [02:03]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own upbringing. How did your parents or guardians shape your understanding of living under divine authority? How does this influence your approach to parenting or mentoring today? [00:58]
2. Identify one area in your child's life where you can intentionally integrate biblical principles. What specific actions will you take this week to begin this process? [01:31]
3. Consider the distractions and challenges your children face today. What strategies can you implement to help them remain steadfast in their faith? [01:31]
4. How can you create a home environment that encourages open discussions about faith and God's authority? What changes might be necessary to foster this atmosphere? [02:03]
5. Think of a personal experience or failure in parenting that you can share with your children to teach them about living under God's rule. How will you communicate this lesson to them? [00:58]
6. What is one specific way you can demonstrate kingdom parenting in your daily interactions with your children or those you mentor? [02:03]
7. How can you support other parents in your community who are also striving to raise kingdom kids? What role can your small group play in this mission? [02:03]

Devotional

Day 1: Early Investment in Children Shapes Their Future
Shaping a child is significantly easier than repairing an adult. By investing in children early, we can guide them to naturally transition into adults who live under divine authority. This proactive approach can prevent many of the struggles faced by adults who were not raised with these principles. In a world filled with distractions and challenges, it is crucial for parents to take seriously the privilege and responsibility of raising children who operate under divine rule in every aspect of their lives. [00:25]

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you can invest in the spiritual growth of a child in your life today?


Day 2: Integrating Biblical Principles with Personal Experience
"Raising Kingdom Kids" combines biblical principles with personal experiences to provide a comprehensive guide for parents. Sharing both successes and failures offers a realistic perspective that can encourage and equip parents in their journey. By learning from both the triumphs and the challenges, parents can better navigate the complexities of raising children in a faith-centered environment. [00:58]

"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a personal parenting experience, either a success or a failure. How can you use this experience to teach a biblical principle to your child today?


Day 3: Equipping Children to Navigate a Challenging World
Today's world presents numerous challenges that can hinder children from living under God's rule. By instilling strong values and principles early on, parents can help their children navigate these challenges and remain steadfast in their faith. It is essential for parents to be intentional in teaching their children how to discern and overcome the distractions and temptations of the world. [01:31]

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10-11, ESV)

Reflection: What is one challenge your child is currently facing, and how can you equip them with biblical truths to overcome it?


Day 4: The Essential Role of Kingdom Parenting
Kingdom parenting is essential for raising children who will become kingdom men and women. This involves taking seriously the responsibility of guiding children to operate under divine rule in every area of their lives. By modeling a life of faith and obedience, parents can inspire their children to follow in their footsteps and live a life that honors God. [02:03]

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you model kingdom values to your children today, and how can you encourage them to live under God's authority?


Day 5: Raising a Generation Under God's Authority
By focusing on raising kingdom kids, we can hope to see a generation that understands and lives under God's authority. This vision requires commitment and intentionality from parents who are dedicated to nurturing their children's spiritual growth. As parents invest in their children's spiritual development, they contribute to a future generation that embodies the values of God's kingdom. [02:03]

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one intentional step you can take today to nurture your child's understanding of living under God's authority?

Quotes

I have learned a major lesson as a father and raising four children, and that is, it is a lot easier to shape a child than to repair an adult. And that was part of the inspiration behind writing Raising Kingdom Kids. I know we've written Kingdom Man and Kingdom Woman, designed to challenge men and women to become people who operate under divine authority, but what would it look like if we got ahead of the game, and instead of simply focusing on making men and women better after they become adults, to rather investing in them before they become adults so that when they become adults they just naturally transition into being kingdom men and women because the parenting process was so strong, so relevant, and so impactful that kingdom kids were raised by their parents to become kingdom men and kingdom women. [00:01:10]

I share in this book, not only the biblical principles about child rearing, but also a lot of my personal experiences, challenges, failures in order to encourage you to want to be a parent that raises a kingdom kid. You know, our kids are growing up in a tough world today, and there are many forces that will work against them becoming kids who learn to live under the rule of God consistently in their lives. But we are hoping that through this resource, Raising Kingdom Kids, there will be a generation of parents who take seriously this awesome privilege and responsibility God has given us and raise up a generation of children who make it a habit to operate under divine rule in every area of their lives. [00:66:04]

And so if our world desperately needs kingdom men and kingdom women, then they also desperately need kingdom parenting so that we raise up those kinds of kids to become those kinds of adults. So thank you for being part of sending forth this message of Raising Kingdom Kids so that we can see God give us a generation of children who know what it is to live under his authority. [00:123:14]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?