Listen, my child, to what your father teaches you. Don’t neglect your mother’s teaching.
Proverbs 2:1 NLT
My child, listen to me and treasure my instructions.
Proverbs 3:1 NLT
My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store up my commands in your heart.
Proverbs 4:1 NLT
My children, listen to me. Listen to your father’s instructions. Pay attention and grow wise.
Proverbs 5:1 NLT
My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel.
Proverbs 6:20-21 NLT
My child, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s teaching. Keep their words always in your heart.
Proverbs 7:1-2 NLT
Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands. Obey them and live! Guard my teachings as your most precious possession.
Parents, do you realize that you have been given the sacred duty and responsibility to teach your children? Seriously, have you ever noticed these specific verses before? Have they ever jumped off the page and hit you right in the heart?
Parents, it is our God-given mission and responsibility to teach our children. Just imagine what our world would be like if all parents took this sacred duty seriously, and were devoted to teaching their children?
Teaching is my passion. It burns in my heart and soul. I cannot live without teaching and passing on to anyone who will listen, what God has taught me in all aspects of life and His truth. This is why I wake up every single day! To teach, teach, teach, and teach some more. Every single day this was on my mind with my children, it was on my wife’s mind as well and it was the primary focus of our lives as parents. TEACH THOSE KIDS EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO KNOW TO SUCCEED IN LIFE, TO WALK WITH GOD AND SERVE HIM.
All of us must zealously embrace our God-given role to teach our children everything necessary for life and godliness.
Consider this. When you are driving in the car with your little kids in the back do you allow yourself to get distracted by your phone, taking your eyes off the road and risking their lives?
Most of you will answer emphatically, NO! Distracted driving kills!
But do you know what is just as dangerous? Distracted parenting. I see so many parents who are not engaged, attentive and laser-focused on incessantly teaching their kids. I see so many young mothers today, distracted by their phones, and the friends they are texting, that they are not paying very careful attention to what is going on with their children. I see many dads equally distracted by their projects, their stuff and their phones. This is one primary reason I advocate a simple and frugal way of life. The more material things you own, the Bible clearly teaches, the more easily distracted you are by the cares and nice things of this world.
Dads, moms, we have got to step up to our God-given responsibility and take full ownership to teach our kids everything they truly need to know for a wise, godly, successful, and useful, productive life.
Here is a pretty comprehensive list of things we need to teach them.
Teach them good hygiene.
Teach them good manners.
Teach them to be kind.
Teach them to be obedient to their parents.
Teach them to treat others the way they want to be treated.
Teach them how to speak wisely.
Teach them to build others up with their words.
Teach them how to earnestly pray.
Teach them to cast their burdens and anxieties on the Lord.
Teach them how to make their bed.
Teach them how to clean their room.
Teach them to do chores.
Teach them to be a contributor, not a spectator.
Teach them how to work hard.
Teach them how to study.
Teach them how to read.
Teach them how to write.
Teach them how to have good attitudes.
Teach them how to listen.
Teach them to be patient.
Teach them to be helpful.
Teach them how to get along with others.
Teach them right from wrong.
Teach them to do what’s right.
Teach them to turn from evil.
Teach them to avoid dangerous things, people and habits.
Teach them to serve others.
Teach them to love God.
Teach them what is true.
Teach them what is foolish.
Teach them what is wise.
Teach them to be honest.
Teach them to be considerate.
Teach them to be compassionate.
Teach them to empathize with others.
Teach them to be a blessing to others.
Teach them to protect the weak.
Teach them to show respect for authority.
Teach them to be humble.
Teach them how to love and care for their siblings.
Teach them how to avoid bad people.
Teach them about the opposite sex.
Teach them how to be self-disciplined.
Teach them about money.
Teach them about saving.
Teach them to give generously.
Teach them to persevere through hard things.
Teach them practical life skills.
Teach them to be responsible.
Teach them to be trustworthy.
Teach them to be accountable for their actions.
Teach them to stand alone.
Teach them to be courageous.
Teach them to live for the audience of One.
Teach them to be truthful.
Teach them to do hard things.
Teach them to persevere through trials.
Teach them how to handle their emotions.
Teach them how to encourage themselves.
Teach them to be self-controlled.
Teach them God’s commands.
Teach them to fear the Lord.
Teach them all about God.
Teach them the Scriptures.
Teach them to live the Word and will of God as their way of life.
Teach them to sing – God’s truths and God’s praises.
Teach them to be thankful.
Teach them how to be content.
Teach them how blessed they really are.
Teach them using analogies, illustrations, and stories.
Teach them the truths from Proverbs.
Teach them to love wisdom.
Teach them how to walk with God.
Teach them about faith.
Teach them the great Bible stories of the faith.
Teach them the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Teach them faith without works is dead.
Teach them how much God loves them.
Teach them how to trust God.
Teach them to hope in God alone, never in people.
Teach them to take wise, faith-inspired risks.
Teach them by explaining the whys.
Teach them how to own and admit their sin.
Teach them how to overcome mistakes.
Teach them to overcome failure.
Teach them not to compare themselves with others.
Teach them to forgive.
Teach them to love.
Teach them to ask forgiveness for wrongs done.
Teach them to finish a task.
Teach them to be zealous in their faith.
Teach them how to choose good friends.
Teach them to be lights in this world.
Teach them to do good deeds.
Teach them Biblical morality.
Teach them a Biblical worldview.
Teach them how to think Biblically about the issues of our day.
Teach them the ways of God.
Teach them to make good choices.
Teach them you reap what you sow.
Teach them life is hard and unfair, but God is faithful and good.
Teach them their God-designed gender roles.
Teach your boys to be godly, masculine men.
Teach your girls to be godly, feminine women.
Teach them their future marriage roles and responsibilities.
Teach them to save sex for marriage.
Teach them to be morally upright.
Teach them to take good care of their health and exercise.
Teach them to love, honor, and serve God.
Teach them to be good stewards of all God has given them.
Teach them to pursue excellence in all they do.
Teach them to be resourceful, to take initiative.
Teach them to tolerate and accept differences in others.
Teach them to be grace-filled towards others.
Teach them to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Teach them to be devoted to Christ above all other things.
Parents, we must exemplify all these things or our teaching will have no power, influence, or lasting effect. In fact, our hypocrisy will sabotage all our good intentions and efforts. Conversely, our good example will drive these lessons deep within their hearts.
Ps. 78:1-7 NLT
O my people, listen to my teaching. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past––stories our fathers handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children but will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord. We will tell of his power and the mighty miracles he did. For he issued his decree to Jacob; he gave his law to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to our children so that the next generation might know them––even the children not yet born––that they in turn might teach their children. So each new generation can set its hope anew on God, remembering his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. Then they will not be like our ancestors––stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.
Memorize this!
The Duty of Parents: Prepare your kids for life. Prepare your kids for God.
You accomplish this by teaching them and exemplifying all these things.
I must give the highest praise possible to my devoted wife Kathy. She gave herself completely and wholeheartedly to teach and model these things to our children every single day of her life.
She was extraordinary. I and my children owe her a debt of gratitude we can never repay.
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling
