Our Father: Following God's Plan for Parenting | Women and Faith | Stephanie Schwartz

Main message: Parenting should model our relationship with God the Father: children must be taught to obey and honor parents, and parents must administer consistent, loving discipline that mirrors how God disciplines his children to mature them. Believers should welcome God’s corrective discipline as evidence of sonship and a means to spiritual growth.

Key points:

• The gospel (repentance and faith) creates a new relationship with God that changes how we live, especially under our roof in marriage and parenting.
• Scripture commands children to obey and honor parents; outward behavior reveals the heart, so kids must be trained to follow rules that reflect God’s ways.
• Parents are stewards of God’s children and must set rules “in the Lord,” teach by example, and instruct children in loving God and loving people.
• Discipline must be consistent, follow-through (say what you mean), and administered in love—failing to discipline harms the child’s development.
• God as a loving Father disciplines his children (through correction and trials) to produce maturity; painful circumstances can be God’s means to get our attention and turn us to him.
• If one never experiences any discipline, that may call for self-examination about one’s relationship with God; when disciplined, respond with repentance and draw nearer to the Father.

Scriptures mentioned: Ephesians (household codes/Ephesians 5–6 / Ephesians 6:1–4), Genesis 2:22, Matthew 19, Exodus 20, Proverbs 20:11, Mark 7:23, Proverbs (spare the rod proverb), Psalm 27:10, Psalm 23, Hebrews 12, James 1, John (John 1:12 concept)