In communicating and disciplining our children, we don't want to only stress rules, correction, and punishment. Our communication needs to include rebuke, entreaty, instruction and prayer.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 shows us this communication should be all the time and everywhere.
Most fundamentally, this communication should be Scripture (Psalm 119:105; Hebrews 4:12). We should not just quote Bible verses. We must help our children learn how to apply scripture to life at every opportunity.
Why do we do this? To get to the heart of our children. But we need to remember that we cannot change anyone's heart.
Even without a heart change, there are times when we need to work with our children and their behavior, even if their hearts are still in process.
Obedience is the willing submission of one person to the authority of another.
Ephesians 6 gives commands to children to obey their parents and parents to help their children do this.
Here are two helpful video lessons on Ephesians 6:1-4.
Do Obedient Children Always Live Long?
- Consistency, threat with no consequences vs. commands with real consequences
- Same standard, not mom vs. dad
- Training, reactive vs proactive
- Encouragement - reinforce positive behavior
- Discernment, every family and every child is different
- Graciousness - be thoughtful when asking children to obey
