Bringing Up Children in the Lord: Introduction

Bringing Up Children in the Lord

The topic of parenting is vital – not only for the Lord’s church, but also for society as a whole. Children are the future; therefore, it is important that parents take their responsibility seriously to bring up their children in the right way.

Before beginning this study, I want to address a potential question at the outset. As a parent of young children, am I fit to present these lessons on parenting? It is a fair question, and I would like to address it here.

First, these lessons are for me as much as they are for anyone else. Paul told the young evangelist Timothy, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16). Those in Timothy’s audience were not the only ones who were to pay attention to his message and practice what he taught. Timothy was to do this as well. In the same way, when I present lessons from the Scriptures – whether they are on the subject of parenting, purity, perseverance, etc. – they are for me just as much as they are for anyone else.

Second, preachers have an obligation to teach “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27, NKJV), regardless of their personal experience or circumstances. Paul told Titus, another young evangelist, that he was to “speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). This would include giving certain instructions to older men, older women, and servants (Titus 2:2-9). Titus may not have had the same life experiences that these others had, yet he was to give them instructions that would apply to their particular circumstances. Not only that, but in teaching them, he was to “speak and exhort and reprove with all authority.” Paul then added, “Let no one disregard you” (Titus 2:15).

There are valuable lessons to be learned from experience. But truth does not come from experience. It comes from the word of God (Psalm 119:160). In this series we will study not what I have learned from personal experience, but what the Scriptures teach. As we consider what the word of God teaches about parenting together, I hope we might all benefit from the study.

The lessons in this series are listed below:

    1. The Gift of Children
    2. The Home in Which Children are Raised
    3. Parents as Role Models
    4. Training Children
    5. Raising Children in a Wicked World
    6. Raising Children to be Christians

This series is also available in paperback.


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Comments

  1. Patricia Brewer says

    This is a topic dear to my heart. I would like to hear your lessons.

  2. Patricia, the audio sermons are being posted weekly on the Eastside church of Christ’s Facebook page. CD’s will be available at the conclusion of the series.