The Greatest Among You II - Syllabus 

The Authority of Parents

Lesson 7

 Moses stood before the great Israelite nation to give them God’s Law. As he prepared to give them the Law, he gave them numerous warnings and admonitions.

  He warned them not to add or to take away from God’s Word:

 1. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may ______  the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Deut.4:2)

 He reminded them of how blessed they were to have God so near:

2. "For what great nation is there that has God so ____  to it, as the LORD our God is to us, for ________  reason we may call upon Him? (Deut.4:7)

And how blessed they were to receive God’s Laws:

3. And what great nation is there that has such ______ and __________   judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day? (Deut.4:7-8)

He admonished them that besides not adding to or taking away from the Word, they were take heed not to forget what they had seen with their own eyes of the glory and greatness of God:

4. Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you ______   the things your eyes have seen, and lest they _______   from your heart all the days of your life. (Deut. 4:9)

Then he admonished them to teach the Laws to their children:

5. And teach them to your __________   and your_________,.. (Deut.4:9)

Three Important Fundamentals Still Important in the NT

*Don’t add or take away from God’s Word.

*Don’t forget it!  Keep it ever in your heart!

*Teach it to your children.

The hub of Christian parental authority is Christ.  Your goal from the day your child is born should be to teach him or her to submit to the will of God.  The best way to do this is to teach your child God’s Word.  You and your child will be judged by God’s Law on the Day of Judgment.  Show your child that you respect God’s Laws and obey them.  Require strict obedience to your authority so that your child will therefore respect God’s authority.

Moses demanded great commitment from Israelite parents in teaching their children the Law of God.  Can Christian parents afford to be any less diligent? 

6. And these words which I command you today shall be in your ________  . (Deut. 6:6)

7. You shall teach them _________   to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.(Deut.6:7)

8. You shall bind them as a _______ on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets* between your eyes. (Deut. 6:8)

(Note: *A frontlet was a band with a leather case attached. It was worn by Jewish men.  Inside the case were pieces of parchment on which were inscribed scriptural quotations.  Wearing it was symbolic of obedience to the commands of God. The New Analytical Bible and Dictionary of the Bible)

9.  You shall write them on the ________   of your house and on your ________  . Deut.6:9)

The wise man, Solomon, instructed his son to value the teachings passed on by his parents:

10. My son, keep your father's command, And do not _______  the law of your mother. (Prov. 6:20)

11. Bind them _________   upon your heart; _____ them around your neck. (Prov. 6:21)
 

12. When you roam, they will _____  you; When you sleep, they will _____   you; And when you awake, they will _____  with you. (Prov. 6:22)
    

13.  For the commandment is a ______  , and the law a ______  ; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, (Prov. 6:23)

14. To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a __________ . (Prov. 6:24)

15. Do not ______   after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids. (Prov. 6:25)

Today, there is much danger lurking at every turn to destroy the innocence of your child.  Do whatever it takes to protect your child’s purity. Don’t be an ostrich with your head stuck in the sand, ignorant of the great evil that is out there!  Know where it can be found!

Temptation, sleaze and allurement can be found on the internet. It is found on the radio, on tv, and in magazines. It is found in the minds of ungodly friends, sadly even in the minds of friends whose parents are members of the church.  It is found in our public schools and in the malls.

Solomon was aware of where sexual enticement lurked in his day and warned his son:

16. For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, and saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man __________   of understanding, (Prov.7:6-7)
      

17. Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the _____  to her house In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night. (Prov.7:8-9)
      

18. And there a woman met him, With the ________   of a harlot, and a ________  heart. (Prov.7:10)
      

19. She was loud and __________ , Her feet would not stay at home.  At times she was outside, at times in the open square, _____  at every corner. (Prov.7:11-12)
      

20. So she caught him and kissed him; With an ______ face she said to him: "I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows. So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you. (Prov.7:13-15)
      

21. I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen. I have ________ my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. (Prov.7:16-17)
      

22. Come, let us take our fill of ____ until morning; Let us delight ourselves with ______  . (Prov.7:18)

In Solomon’s day, immoral young men hung out near a harlot’s house. Not long ago, in our own culture, young people hung out in lover’s lane and were tempted to commit fornication in the back seat of a car.  Today, boys and girls line up in the high school gym to perform and to receive oral sex.  Young people teach one another techniques of self sexual gratification (masturbation) which sometimes end in accidental hanging (death) instead of the depraved pleasure they were seeking.  

Godly parents have always known the places and activities they must cause their children to avoid to keep them from heartache, illegitimate pregnancies, sin, death and Hell.  I have written a tract for young people entitled, “God Approved Sex”.  In this day and age we have to communicate with our children plainly and frankly concerning sex.  I will be happy to email you a copy of the tract if you desire it.

Besides seeking deviant and bizarre sexual pleasure, some kids today are also practicing a technique of strangling one another that causes a rush similar to taking drugs in order to get high.  They feel this effect when the blood rushes back to the brain after being strangled.  More than ever, parents need to know where their kids are and who they are with.  Kids, even older ones, should not be left alone unsupervised, especially with access to a computer or with a friend or group of friends.

Wise Parental Counsel from Patsy

Parents have the authority to guide all the choices their children make: 

Whether we realize it or not we make choices for our children everyday.  Choices concerning what they do, when they do it, and with whom they do it with.  The decisions we make can and will set the pattern for their lives.

God gives us instructions for making choices for our children.  In Ephesians 6:4 it states,

“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord”. 

Let us focus on the second half of this verse.  Look closely at the words, “training” and “admonition”.  Here we are commanded to bring our children up in the training and admonition of the Lord. 

What exactly does that mean and how do we apply it to our lives today?  The word “training” means ‘the act or process of learning.’  The word “admonition” means ‘the act of admonishing, counsel, warning, gentle reproof.’ 

 According to this verse we are to teach and guide our children in the way of the Lord.  This is hard, especially in a world filled with so many choices;  in a world where being a Christian may not be the “fun” or “popular” thing to do.

We as parents have the responsibility of making choices that will lead our children in the way of the Lord.  Let’s take a look at one of the choices we face today. 

We allow our children to be involved in all sorts of activities.  We wouldn’t think of them missing a practice or competition, but do we apply the same determination to reading the Bible, praying, and having devotions with our children?  In God’s eyes, which is more important?  Are our children so busy with school, homework, and activities, that they are too tired to read or listen to a story from the Bible.  Are we as parents too tired to read or to listen to a story from the Bible with them? 

 Do our children ever hear us pray?  If not, we as parents are making a grave mistake if we are negligent in this.

Let me stop here and say that there is nothing wrong with “activities”.  It is when they, or anything else, become an all consuming priority in our lives that we have problems. 

We need to ask ourselves a couple of questions: ”Have I spent as much time preparing my child for the Lord’s work, as I have preparing him/her for activities?”  “Which takes a priority in our home?”  If we don’t set the pattern of daily Bible reading, praying, and studying God’s Word when our children are small, we cannot expect them to want to continue when it is their choice.

Bible reading, praying, and studying God’s Word is just one aspect of the decisions we as parents make for our children.  Others include watching TV and being aware of what they are reading.  Many children and adults have ideas planted into their minds and are influenced by what they see on TV, read in books, hear in music or find on the computer.  Would you want your child to do or say some of the things they read in a book or see on TV? Would you want your child to pick up an attitude portrayed by a character on TV or in a book?  If we are allowing them to watch or listen these things or read about these things we are giving our approval without even saying a word.  Sometimes it is not what we say, but what we do that speaks the loudest.  It matters what our children watch or listen to!  It matters what our children read!

Until our children are old enough to be accountable for making these choices we, as their parents, are responsible.  Are we establishing patterns that will influence our children to continue seeking God when they are in a position to make these decisions on their own or are we influencing our children to fill their lives so full that there is neither time nor energy to seek God and study His Word? 

Are we allowing our children to watch and to read anything they want regardless of its content? Which choice are we making for our children? Which choice have we made for ourselves? (Choices We Make For Our Children by Patsy Norwood ~ © 2002 - 2004  All Rights Reserved)

The Old Law demanded that children have great respect for the authority of their parents:

23. If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not ______  the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have ________ him, will not ______  them,... (Deuteronomy 21:18)

24. Then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the ________  of his city, to the gate of his city. (Deuteronomy 21:19)

25. And they shall say to the elders of his city, "This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a _______   and a __________  .' (Deuteronomy 21:20)

26. Then all the men of his city shall ______ him to ______   with _____ ; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear. (Deuteronomy 21:21)

Rebellion to parental authority was considered evil.

They were instructed to kill the rebellious child.

Killing the rebellious one would cause all of Israel to hear and to fear and to have great respect for authority.

Astute Observation by Billie

All I can say on this is if that was the case today, either not many would be doing this sin or there would be a lot of stonings.

As a child growing up under these punishments I believe I would have been on my best behavior. ~ Billie Duty

Parents are not demanded to stone their child to death today.  They must instead destroy the willful heart of their child.  My mother always said, “You must conquer a child”.  Even as a child, I knew what she meant. The wise man, Solomon, said it this way:

27. Foolishness is ______  ___  in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him. (Prov. 22:15)

Parents who love their children will discipline them.

28. The _____  and  _____   give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. (Prov.29:15)

29. Do you want a wise child? What produces wisdom according to Prov.29:15)

Sound reflections by Gail

When I say NO, it means NO!  My children often don't seem to understand this concept and will keep on and on, until they end up with a spanking and are sent weeping to their rooms.

On occasions one of my girls will act as if they are the center of the universe and everything revolves around them. I have to quickly let them know God is in charge and there are more important things than them having their way or what they want!   

An example of this happened just last night while we were at Wal-mart picking up a few things.  Emma (4yrs) said she wanted the "Dora" Playhouse set.  This is a dollhouse type thing.  I told her she couldn't have the Dora playhouse, we didn't have $ for it,  and she became upset. 

She kept repeating that she wanted it.  So I told her if she got the Dora house, we wouldn't have a house to live in.  I then asked her what was more important, for her to have a Dora house to play with or for us to have a home to live in????  She thought for a moment, looked at me and smiled and said, for us to have a home to live in.  And that was the end of that!

Children must be taught what is right and acceptable in the home first in order to be able to learn what is right and acceptable in school, in the workplace and ultimately even in worship.  It is all about respect.  Unless a person has respect for authority, they will not submit themselves as they should.  Parents are the first authority a child knows.   If the parents do not discipline by setting boundaries for the child's behavior, the child never really gets the concept that he sometimes does something wrong.

  I guess we have all know people who could never take responsibility for their actions because they have never been corrected for their mistakes.  When a child is small, they have an inborn respect and love for their parents, making them open to correction.  Discipline with a rod at a young age allows you to discipline with wisdom and reasoning later on.  Eventually, discipline turns into counseling for those of us who have grown children.  I believe it is a life long process. ~ by Gail Kincade (ISBS student)

30. He who spares his rod _____  his son, but he who _____   him disciplines him promptly. (Prov.13:24)

31. ________ your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction. (Prov.19:18)

32. Thought question:  Explain Prov.19:18

Timely Advice from Kathy

If you have asked your child to do something, and they do not do it, you must train/spank/discipline them.  Right now!   EVERY time they do not obey the first time they are asked or told to do something.  Just a little switch is enough to get their attention   If you are consistent with your children and reward (ha! ha!) every disobedience with a switch for  three days; you will be amazed at the change in yourself and your children.  It is hard, being consistent; however the results are amazing.  It can change your life.

A mother, in our congregation gave some advice years ago.  I still remember it and use it often.  When you ask your children to do something, when you are sitting down, and they do not do it; you must physically get up from your chair and discipline them.  Think before you speak…. if you are not willing to follow through in your training, then don’t ask your child to do it.  We all slack at times, but it is that negative training that works against us. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not permit your to be tempted above that ye are able, but will, with the temptation, also make the way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it  (*1). 

It is such a temptation to not be consistent, but we must. ~Kathy Bugg (ISBS student)

33. Correct your son, and he will give you ______ ; Yes, he will give _______ to your soul. (Prov.29:17)

 Sage Counsel from Billie

 If parents do not teach children to listen and to obey them then the children will not be willing to listen or to obey the authority of others, such as government, law enforcement, teachers, principals, and they will not hear God either. ~ Billie Duty

34. My son, do not despise the ________  of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; For whom the LORD loves He ________ , Just as a father the son in whom he delights. (Prov. 3:11-12)

A Godly Mother Trains Up Her Children

35. Nevertheless she will be _______ in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control. (1 Timothy 2:15)

I have been surprised to learn that many think and even some commentaries teach that “childbearing” in the above scripture means “childbirth”.  If this were the case, then a woman who could never have children could not be saved and that is ridiculous.  The word childbearing in this verse means “training and teaching her children”.  This verse teaches that a woman can lose her soul if she neglects this great responsibility to teach and guide her children.

Judicious Words from Tamara

A woman’s responsibility is to God, then her husband and then to her children!  Her children need for her to be in the home to care for them and teach them.  Being a homeschooling parent, I also feel we have a responsibility to teach our children spiritually and also with schooling.  I would much rather my children be taught the truth about the creation and not evolution.  I would much rather protect them from outside influences while they are young to prevent them from learning of evil things in this world before they need to know and can fully understand.

A woman’s responsibility and God given role is to her Home and to her family!  Not only do her children need for her to be at home, but also her husband needs her to be there.  ~ Tamara Williams (ISBS student)

Teach Your Children to Respect Your Position of Authority

36.The ____  that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley will ____ it out, and the young eagles will _____  it. (Proverbs 30:17)

Parents should never, never, never allow their children to talk to them disrespectfully, give mocking looks, or to be insolent in any way.  Our children spoke disrespectfully to me once and only once.  What immediately followed the first display of impertinence scared them so badly that they never dreamed of behaving disrespectfully again.  My husband hates disrespect and his quick, forceful remarks left the impression on our children that they would not see the light of another day if they ever showed disrespect again. 

37. Whoever ________ his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness. (Proverbs 20:20)

How Solemn is the Responsibility of Parents

Handle With Lots of Prayer

 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:“that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1-4)