Preacher on the Run…

We started a new class at our church this fall. Having a class is not new, it’s the topic and content that is new. We’ve offered classes regularly for 4+ years now (excluding a few months during COVID-19). The topics have ranged from financial budgeting to Bible doctrine, to worldview, and even conflict resolution. The goal is to strike that balance between doctrinal truths and practical realities. But this fall we tackled a new arena: parenting.

It all started a few months back, over lunch, with another guy in our church. He mentioned a passion he had for parents to lead their kids to know and love Jesus. But he went on to say he really desired to help other parents see the significance of it and have the tools to accomplish it. We met a few more times and what resulted was a simple 5-week course on discipling your kids. It’s been a great start so far. But in conversations at the class something has become apparent…parenting is way more than instruction.

Don’t get me wrong, parenting is full of imperatives or commands. “Don’t touch that!” “Finish your food.” “Stop”! Any parent will tell you, there are a lot of imperatives to parenting. However, there are also indicatives – reminders about what is true of your child. That is what Michael Kelley discusses in his article “Family Discipleship: Instruction and Identity“. Check it out for a reminder that parenting is not just about the instructions we give, but the identity we remind our children of.

Looking back on your childhood, do you remember more instructions your parents gave or who they helped you become? What phrases stand out the most in your memory? If you are a parent, which do you think you are better at, giving instruction or reminding about identity? How can you strengthen your weakness?

As always I love hearing from my readers, so leave me a comment below or contact me via the contact page. And don’t forget to be with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s day.

Until Next Time…