Preparing our Children for School

Proverbs 22:6, Genesis 18:19, Deuteronomy 6:7

1.                  They must know that our love is not based on performance or is not determined by their academic success or failure nor by their behavior

a.      Love is not an emotion based on how our child makes us look it is rather an action based on obedience to God I Corinthians 13

                                                              i.      Show love by being patient or suffering long 4

                                                            ii.      Show love by believing in your child and making sure that they know you believe in them 7

                                                          iii.      Let them know you love them because you will always be there and never quit loving them 7-8

b.      Our love should always be greater than their fault Romans 5:20

c.      They should have the security of being accepted Ephesians 1:6

2.                  Teach them that pleasing God is far more important than pleasing you

a.      God thinks about what they are doing and saying Proverbs 5:21

b.      There is no place where they can go that God will not see Proverbs 15:3

3.                  To be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit

a.      He will guide us into truth John 16:13 and make us remember John 14:26 but we must help them to fill their hearts with truth that He can cause to come to their minds Isaiah 30:21

b.      We can grieve the Spirit Ephesians 4:30

c.      We can disobey to the point that we no longer feel his voice Ephesians 4:19, I Thessalonians 5:19

4.                  We must teach them to think for themselves

a.      By teaching the Scriptures to them—family devotions and Bible reading II Timothy 3:15-17

b.      By helping them to memorize Scriptures Psalms 119:11, 37:31, 40:8, Colossians 3:16

c.      Teach them to meditate in the Scriptures Joshua 1:8

d.      Teach them to examine everything Acts 17:11

5.                  We must teach them to stand alone

a.      To make their own decisions Proverbs 1:10, 15

b.      To know what they believe and why I Peter 3:15

c.      To not follow the crowd Exodus 23:2

d.      We must teach them to choose the right friends Psalms 119:63, 115, Proverbs 13:20

e.      To call out to God in prayer when they are weak Psalms 86:7

6.                  To discipline himself Proverbs 6:6-11

a.      To think before he acts Proverbs 26:27

b.      To know that there are consequences for all of his actions Galatians 6:7, Proverbs 1:31

c.      To study II Timothy 2:15

d.      To work I Thessalonians 4:11, II Thessalonians 3:7-12

e.      To listen Proverbs 18:13

f.        To do homework and be in his place doing his duty

7.                  To keep themselves holy and pure sexually I Thessalonians 4:1-8

8.                  To guard their heart and mind or thought life Proverbs 4:23

a.      To know that their hearts and thoughts are the very center of everything that they are or will do Proverbs 23:7, Matthew 15:19

b.      To think only on what is right Philippians 4:8

c.      To keep bitterness out of their heart Hebrews 12:15

9.                  To listen and respond respectfully

10.             To keep the lines of contact and communication open with their parents and spiritual leaders