Parental Goal – Offspring that know God and are know by God
But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. Malachi 2:14 (NKJV)
Obvious from a Christian perspective – but critical foundation.
For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 3:11 (NASB)
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. I Corinthians 15:3-4 (NASB)
Gospel Truths — Loved, Not Condemned, Child of God (Relationship with God)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (KJV)
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name John 1:12 (NASB)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24 (KJV)
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NASB)
Understand Righteous Standing in Christ
But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: Romans 4:5-7 (NASB)
How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! Psalm 32:1-2 (NASB)
Understand the human condition.
When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.
I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin – Selah. Psalm 32:3-4 (NASB)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. Psalm 32:8-9 (NASB)
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. I Corinthians 10:13 (NASB)
Understand how the Gospel affects their life.
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, Colossians 2:6 (NASB)
- Example – Accepting God’s Love – 1 John 4:8 , Revelation 1:5, John 3:16
- Example – Wonderfully made – Psalm 100:3, Psalm 139:14, Ecclesiastes 3:11, Exodus 4:11, Psalm 119:69
Understand their Purpose:
Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.” Isaiah 43:7 (NASB)
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples John 15:8 (KJV)
He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” John 14:21 (NASB)
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:9-10 (NSAB)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 (NASB)
Reminder to Dad’s
You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. I Peter 3:7 (NASB)
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 (NASB)
For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Proverbs 2:6-7 (NASB)
Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory. Proverbs 11:4 (NASB)
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; II Timothy 3:16 (NASB)