June 20, 2004 - Ephesians 6:1-4
Open It
What are some of the enjoyable aspects of being a parent?
How do you treat children differently from the way your parents treated you?
If you could change one thing about your parents, what would you change?
Explore It
Why is a child's obedience to his or her parents pleasing to the Lord? (6:1)
Why should children obey parents? (6:1)
How is obedience to parents part of a child's obligation to Christ? (6:1)
What does it mean to "honor your father and mother"? (6:2-3)
What was promised to Israelite children who obeyed their parents? (6:2-3)
How would this promise be fulfilled? (6:3)
How does God's commandment and promise to children hold true today? (6:2-3)
What does God want fathers not to do? (6:4)
What does God want fathers to do? (6:4)
How should children be reared and nourished? (6:4)
How is the Lord to be the center of parent-child relationships? (6:4)
Get It
Why should parents pay attention to their child's natural bent?
Why is it easier for children to obey fair and loving parents than unreasonable and demanding parents?
How does rearing children in the "training and instruction of the Lord" provide guidelines for fathers?
How does honoring your parents bring you blessing?
How do you feel about your ability to be a good parent?
How can the Lord support you in your role as a parent?
How can a parent avoid exasperating his or her children?
Apply It
What can you do to improve or strengthen your relationship with your parents?
How can you avoid exasperating your children?
How do you need to nurture healthy family relationships this week?
NOTES
Ephesians 6:1-4: There is a difference between obeying and honoring. To obey means to do as one is told; to honor means to respect and love. Children are not commanded to disobey God in obeying their parents. Adult children are not asked to be subservient to domineering parents. Children are to obey while under their parents' care, but the responsibility to honor parents is for life.
Ephesians 6:1-4: If our faith in Christ is real, it will usually prove itself at home, in our relationships with those who know us best. Children and parents have a responsibility to each other. Children should honor their parents even if the parents are demanding and unfair. Parents should care gently for their children, even if the children are disobedient and unpleasant. Ideally, of course, Christian parents and Christian children will relate to each other with thoughtfulness and love. This will happen if both parents and children respect each other's interests and needs.
Ephesians 6:3: Some societies honor their elders. They respect their wisdom, defer to their authority, and pay attention to their comfort and happiness. This is how Christians should act. Where elders are respected, long life is a blessing, not a burden to them.
Ephesians 6:4: The purpose of parental discipline is to help children grow, not to exasperate and provoke them to anger or discouragement (see also Colossians 3:21). Parenting is not easy-it takes lots of patience to raise children in a loving, Christ-honoring manner. But frustration and anger should not be causes for discipline. Instead, parents should act in love, treating their children as Jesus treats the people he loves. This is vital to children's development and to their understanding of what Christ is like.