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The foundation of successful parenting is to put God first in your life and in your family’s life. This simple principle is the key to unlocking a happy and harmonious home.

The command to obey applies to everyone, parents and kids alike. Parents must obey God and set a good example for their children to follow. Children must learn to obey their parents, as this is a sign of respect and a reflection of their obedience to God. This is highlighted in the fifth commandment, which serves as a bridge between the “love God” and “love people” commandments of the Ten Commandments.

To truly embrace wholehearted obedience, it’s essential to incorporate spiritual disciplines into your daily routine. These include things like prayer and Bible reading. By making these practices a priority, you are showing your children the importance of having a relationship with God and instilling in them the value of spiritual growth.

Practicing spiritual disciplines as a family unit is a great way to bond and create a positive atmosphere in your home. Regular family devotionals, where you read and discuss Bible passages together, can be a fun and meaningful way to connect with each other and with God.

In addition to incorporating spiritual disciplines, it’s also important to model good behavior for your children. As parents, we are our children’s first and most influential teachers. Our words and actions have a powerful impact on our children’s development and worldview.

One way to model good behavior is by showing respect for others. This includes our spouses, our children, and those outside of our family unit. By treating others with kindness and consideration, we demonstrate to our children the importance of empathy and compassion.

Another way to model good behavior is by being honest and transparent. When we make mistakes, it’s important to admit them and apologize. This teaches our children the value of accountability and shows them that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as we take responsibility for them.

And, when we live God-centered lives, it will change our whole perspective on life and our priorities. How we spend our money and where we spend our time will be influenced by God’s plan, not our own.

Talking Points:
  • Parenting is like everything else in life: if you put God first, the rest of it falls into place. That’s why our first Parenting Principle is: put God first. Deuteronomy 5:7-21,33, Matthew 6:33
  • The command to obey applies to both parents and kids: parents obey God and kids obey parents. The fifth commandment (honor your parents) serves as a bridge between the “love God” and “love people” commandments. Deuteronomy 6:1-3, Ephesians 6:1-3
  • Wholehearted obedience should impact every part of our lives – both personally and as a family unit. Learn to practice spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible reading, and family time. Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Discussion:
  1. Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Did you grow up in a home with spiritual values? How have those values shaped you as a parent?
  3. How would you describe the current spiritual climate in your home?
  4. Do you currently make a habit of reading and praying on your own? How can your spiritual habits affect the rest of the family?
  5. Read Deuteronomy 6:1-3. According to this passage, what is a parent’s responsibility? Why does obedience lead to a blessed life?
  6. Read Ephesians 6:1-3. Why do you think Paul emphasizes the importance of obeying parents? How does learning to obey parents help kids to obey God as adults?
  7. Read Deuteronomy 6:4-7. Evaluate your family priorities right now. What are some practical things you can do, as a family, to pursue God together?
  8. Check out pursuegodkids.org and pursuegod.org How can utilizing topics from these sites help to facilitate productive Family Talk time?
  9. Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?

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