God's Plan for Parents and Children

Written byClaudio ConsuegraPamela Consuegra

Presented by (add presenter’s name)

"I have come that they (you) may have life, and that they (you) may have it

more abundantly.”John 10:10 (NKJV)

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…2 Timothy 3:1-5

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come."For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…2 Timothy 3:1-5

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…2 Timothy 3:1-5

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.”"For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God...“2 Timothy 3:1-5

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.”"For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God...“2 Timothy 3:1-5

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.”"For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God...“2 Timothy 3:1-5

"Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people

turn away!“

2 Timothy 3:1-5

Relational Directives

• Love your neighbor as yourself Matthew 22:40

• Love your enemies Luke 6:27• In humility consider others better than

yourselves Philippians 2:3• Live at peace with everyone Romans 12:18•Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ Ephesians 5:21

Relational Directives

• “Rejoice in the wife of your youth” Proverbs 5:18

• “Wives, submit to your husband as to the Lord. . . . Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her . . .”

Ephesians 5:22-25

Relational Directives

Husbands . . . be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life . . .

1 Peter 3:7

1. Children, honor your parents

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.Exodus 12: 12

The first commandment with a promiseEphesians 6:2-3

1. Children, honor your parents

It is binding upon childhood and youth, upon the middle-aged and the aged. There is no period in

life when children are excused from honoring their parents. This solemn obligation is binding upon

every son and daughter and is one of the conditions to their prolonging their lives upon the

land which the Lord will give the faithful.White, E.G. The Adventist Home. P.292

1. Children, honor your parents

“To honor means to respect, to defer, to submit. It means to have love, appreciation, affection towards them. Honor is something that begins internally, and then it manifests itself externally. As you have honor in your heart, it comes out in your words.”

2. Children, obey your parents

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Ephesians 6:1

2. Children, obey your parents.

“One great reason why there is so much evil in the world today is that parents occupy their minds with other things than that which is all important-how to adapt themselves to the work of patiently and kindly teaching their children the way of the Lord. If the curtain could be drawn aside, we should see that many, many children who have gone astray have been lost to good influences through this neglect.”

2. Children, obey your parents

Parents, can you afford to have it so in your experience? You should have no work so important that it will prevent you from giving to your children

all the time that is necessary to make them understand what it means to obey and trust the

Lord fully. . .” White, E.G. The Adventist Home. P.183

2. Children, obey your parents

Colossians 3:20 (ESV) - Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1 (ESV) - Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Proverbs 1:8 (ESV) - Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching.

3. Parents, train your children.

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

3. Parents, train your children

Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart

and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today,

shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when

you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. Deuteronomy 6:4-7

3. Parents, train your children

Fathers . . . bring them (children) up in the discipline and instruction of

the Lord.Ephesians 6: 4

4. Parents, don’t exasperate your children

Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

Colossians 3:21

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline

and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6: 4

4. Parents, don’t exasperate your children

“Often we do more to provoke than to win. I have seen a mother snatch from the hand of her child something that was giving it special pleasure. The child did not know the reason for this, and naturally felt abused. Then followed a quarrel between parent and child, and a sharp chastisement ended the scene as far as outward appearance was concerned;

4. Parents, don’t exasperate your children

but that battle left an impression on the tender mind that would not be easily effaced. This mother acted unwisely. She did not reason from cause to effect. Her harsh, injudicious action stirred the worst passions in the heart of her child, and on every similar occasion these passions would be aroused and strengthened.

White, E.G. Child Guidance. P.279

4. Parents, don’t exasperate your children

You have no right to bring a gloomy cloud over the happiness of your children by faultfinding or severe censure for trifling mistakes. Actual wrong should be made to appear just as sinful as it is, and a firm, decided course should be pursued to prevent its recurrence;

4. Parents, don’t exasperate your children

yet children should not be left in a hopeless state of mind, but with a degree of courage that they can improve and gain your confidence and approval. Children may wish to do right, they may purpose in their hearts to be obedient; but they need help and encouragement.” Ibid.

4. Parents, don’t exasperate your children

yet children should not be left in a hopeless state of mind, but with a degree of courage that they can improve and gain your confidence and approval. Children may wish to do right, they may purpose in their hearts to be obedient; but they need help and encouragement.” Ibid.

Claudio Consuegra, Dmin, is the Director of the Department of Family Ministries at the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.

Pamela Consuegra, PhD, is Associate Director of the Department of Family Ministries at the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.