We are now in Chapter 5: Grace That Trains.
The theme of this chapter is different from the previous four. It’s still talking about raising our children with grace, but with the focus being that we don’t ignore discipline. Grace does not mean we don’t train our children and just “let the chips fall where they may”.
The crux of this chapter, as it points out two key verses in scripture, is that Christian parents are to train up their children with love, nurturing and admonition of the Lord. We are to proclaim the Gospel and bring discipline all at the same time.
Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord”.
This chapter also points out how, even in the old testament, parents struggled with instructing and training their children solely under “the law”. But by the scripture above, they understood the term “of the Lord” and pondered it’s meaning. It stood out more in the Greek. We (Christians today) have become so accustomed to hearing “of the Lord” that sometimes it can be glossed over without the heaviness of the meaning sinking in and taking root. But training them in the discipline and instruction “of the Lord” means that we give them grace, mercy, love, direction, guidance, and always bring it back to the context of relationship with Christ. As that relationship (and salvation) is not something that can be earned.
We must learn to manage, nurture and discipline our children. But how do we accomplish that without raising our children to be moralists? How do we ensure our parenting is actually training our children in the ways “of the Lord”?
“Distinctly Christian parenting must be accomplished in the environment of the good news about Jesus Christ or it is not Christian parenting” (p. 94). The Gospel. It all comes back to that. Because without it, there is nothing. The gospel is everything! And our parenting should revolve around that.
Questions for discussion:
1. How does grace train us? How can we use grace when training our children?
2. Has your understanding of bringing up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord changed? How? What does that phrase mean?
3. Does it surprise you that there are only two direct commands about training in the New Testament? How does this truth inform your parenting?
Home
RSS Feed
Del.icio.us
Digg
Technorati
Magnolia
Newsvine
Reddit
4 Responses
I guess my thought/comment/question is how do you start this? I have a 4 and 2 year old and they are just starting to understand prayer and stories from the Bible. But I find it hard to explain the concept of Jesus right now let alone teaching them about the grace of Jesus. Besides asking The Lord to help me show it to them in my lives, what words to do use to teach to such young children?
Grace to a child is like widening the learning curve around them, giving more opportunity to try again and pointers on how they might succeed next time. Picture The Lord saying to you after you’ve fallen on your face, “that’s okay, try it again!” With a smile and excitement over the learning that is taking place through the experience.
Grace is never shaming, angry, or critical… It does provide an atmosphere for safe learning. The fruit will be a child who comes to you for advice on how to improve vs a child who hides their mistakes in fear.
Is the discussion of this book still continuing?
Stephanie, yes it is. So sorry. My comp died in the middle of this study and I have no way of continuing until early March. We have another gal who has stepped up and will be finishing it out. Thank you so much for your patience and am so glad you are following along with us on this great book!