A Full Deck

January 21st Family FX

January has been focused on discipline.

Tonight we dealt we had fun talking to each other about the joys of parenting with all its funny, challenging and rewarding moments. Responding appropriately to our child in parenting is very important. If you over react it could cause insecurity in your child. If you under react, you could fail to stop wrong attitudes, habits and behaviors.

The Bible has many references on tailoring our responses to the person (child):

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV)

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)

We also had fun watching an over reaction in the Reebok Super Bowl Commercial from 2003: "Terry Tate - Office Linebacker".

Then we went over the eight biblical responses we can use in parenting in the form of a deck of cards. To parent with a "full deck" we need to become masters at matching the response to the situation.

1. Encouragement: When your child knows he is wrong, and/or realizes he is powerless to change his own personality.

2. Correction: When your child is doing wrong, but does not realize it.

3. Rebuke: When you need to express your shock or dismay at your child’s behavior to impress how wrong it is.

4. Entreaty: (Pleading Intently) —When your child needs to understand about very serious subjects that have dire consequences.

5. Instruction: When you know your child does not know how to handle a situation and you need to give her guidance in advance on how to respond.

6. Warnings: When you know that your child soon will face pitfalls in life, you teach him biblical admonitions.

7. Teaching: When appropriate during the day’s activities and also in structured times, you help your child grow in knowledge about God, the Bible, life, relationships, and the world.

8. Prayer: In the times of praying together, your child can hear your concerns before God and you can hear theirs.

Our accountability challenge this week is to keep your "full deck" ready and play the right response. Be ready to celebrate next week how God worked through you to shape the heart and behavior of your child.