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THE Q&A ARTICLE talks about the choice between sending your child to a Lutheran elementary school or to a public school. I know many WELS teachers in the public school setting who are giving another perspective to students without “teaching religion.” I love how they live their faith in the classroom while making sure they do not cross the line. I am also thankful for our WELS children who are being salt and light in public schools!
However, no matter where one chooses to send a child to school, Christian education must begin in the home with the “family altar.” The family altar refers to the custom of having devotions and talking about Jesus in the home.
Someone has said, “If we don’t teach our children to follow Christ, the world will teach them not to.” When God says that he “punish[es] the children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation” (Exodus 20:5), he is illustrating the point that sin and unbelief can be passed down from generation to generation. Our children are great imitators! God also tells us that we can hand down a positive example.
Read Proverbs 22:6; Matthew 18:5,6; and Matthew 19:13-15.
How do these passages shape the way you view your role in the Christian training of your children?
Give examples, one positive and one negative, of the truth that parents hand traits down to their children. Perhaps look at your own life. What traits have you received from your parents?
God wants parents to instruct
It is easy to think of the Great Commission as only applying to the nations “out there,” but as Christian parents we need to realize that the mission of making disciples of all nations starts at home. Your children are part of the “all nations” to which God sends us with the task of making disciples. Deuteronomy 11:19 says, “Teach [these words of mine] to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” God wants this instruction to touch every aspect of life.
Read Deuteronomy 4:9,10; Ephesians 6:4; 1 Timothy 4:10,11.
Family challenge: List three practical ways that your family can connect to God’s truth in your day-to-day lives.
God wants parents to discipline
Discipline is loving correction meant to benefit the one who receives it. What do you call someone who has never been disciplined? Spoiled! God does not want spoiled children, and so he lovingly disciplines us as part of our spiritual training.
Read Hebrews 12:7-11 and Romans 5:3-5.
In what ways does God’s discipline benefit us?
Read Proverbs 13:24 and 19:8.
In what ways does disciplining our children benefit them?
Author: David Scharf
Volume 108, Number 6
Issue: June 2021
- Psalm 103: When you count your blessings
- Psalm 91: When God lifts you up on his lap
- Psalm 4: When you draw nearer to the end
- Psalm 42: When you ask, “Where is God when I’m hurting?”
- Psalm 32: When you need forgiveness
- Psalm 130: When rocks fall
- Bible study: Freedom in service
- What does this mean for me? Article 6
- Bible study: Spiritual gifts
- What does this mean for me? Article 5
- What does this mean for me? Article 4
- Bible study: Rejoice in your status!
- Bible study: Baptismal blessings
- What does this mean for me? Article 3
- What does this mean for me? Article 2
- Bible study: Gifts of tongues and miraculous healing
- What does this mean for me? Article 1
- Bible study: Jesus is everyone’s Savior
- Bible study: Love one another
- Bible study: Above all things!
- Bible study: The comfort of God’s providence
- The book of James: Waiting for Christ’s return
- Bible study: Precious grace
- The book of James: Active in using prayer
- Bible study: Rewards of grace
- The book of James: Active in showing love
- The book of James: Correctly evaluating riches
- Bible study: What’s going to happen on the Last Day?
- The book of James: Avoiding loveless judging
- Bible study: Interpretation practice
- The book of James: Taming the tongue
- Bible study: The Bible’s attributes
- Bible study: The importance of the family altar
- Bible study: God’s attitude is grace
- Bible study: The Bible’s account of Easter morning
- Bible study: Different types of sin
- Bible study: God’s inspiration
- Bible study: Giving God glory
- Bible study: Judge for yourself
- The book of James: Using the Word of Truth
- Bible study: The need for the Bible and worship
- Bible study: Citizens of two kingdoms
- The book of James: Active in good works
- The book of James: When battling temptation
- Bible study: God cares
- Bible study: God made the world
- The book of James: When facing trials
- Bible study: A loving God saved people from hell
- The book of James: A blueprint for living out our life of faith
- A Bible story just for me: Guilt
- Bible study: God provides victory over death!
- A Bible story just for me: Anxiety
- Bible study: God forgives and refuses to remember our sins
- A Bible story just for me: Grief
- Bible study: God helps those who cannot help themselves
- A Bible story just for me: Depression
- Bible study: God has not grown soft on sin
- Bible study: Only one path leads to God’s presence
- A Bible story just for me: Trauma
- A Bible story just for me
- Bible study: God wants me in heaven
- Bible study: The incarnation of our Lord