No matter where you are in life

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Shepherding Children - Introduction
No matter where you are in lifesmall kids,
grown kids or no kids, we all need to understand
the parent/ child relationship. We may not
have the appropriate image of a father when we
consider our own life experiences, but as we
study what the Bible says about parenting, we can
understand more about our Heavenly Father and how
he cares for us. We can then bring him glory by
emulating that same love to children.
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Shepherding Children - Introduction

• Areas to be covered in this short study
• What are you trying to accomplish as a shepherd?
• What is your objective?
• How are you going to do it?
• Hows the preparation going?
• Have you given it much thought?
• We want to prepare our children for the time when
  we will no longer be there for them.
• but prepare them for what?

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Shepherding Children - Introduction
Goal of Life
Isaiah 437 7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and
made. Romans 156 6 that together you may with
one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 1031 31 So, whether you eat
or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory
of God. 2 Cor 59 9 So whether we are at home or
away, we make it our aim to please him.
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Shepherding Children - Introduction
Goal of Life
We do this as we progress in our sanctification.
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Shepherding Children - Introduction
Goal of Life
Marriage
Finances
Church
Glorify God
Career
Friends
Children
Recreation
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Shepherding Children - Introduction
Not the Goal of Life
Marriage
Finances
Church
Children
Career
Friends
Recreation
Today, well look at four foundations for
shepherding children that will guide us away from
this type of shepherding
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Shepherding Children Your/the Parents
Relationship with God
It is impossible to shepherd biblically without
Gods grace and salvation. 1 Cor 214 14 The
natural person does not accept the things of the
Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he
is not able to understand them because they are
spiritually discerned.
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Shepherding Children The Source of Truth
Where do people go for solutions for
living? for advice on shepherding issues? for
comfort? for knowledge of mans
beginnings? Deuteronomy 83 3 And he humbled you
and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which
you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that
he might make you know that man does not live by
bread alone, but man lives by every word? that
comes from the mouth of the LORD. John 1717 17
Sanctify them? in the truth your word is truth.

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Shepherding Children The Source of Truth
You have a choice as a parent and we have a
choice as a church as shepherds of children. We
can follow personal experience, popular culture,
or the latest expert. Or we can follow the Good
Shepherd.
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Shepherding Children A Childs Nature
What is the natural bent of children? Romans
323 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God, vs. Tabula rasa or children are
born with a blank tablet to be written upon by
environment and experience. We are born
neutral. If we parent with this philosophy
we are definitely training up a child in the way
that he should go.but it is a way that
encourages a child to worship himself and blame
his environment and others for his sins.
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Shepherding Children A Childs Nature
Prov 226 6 Train up a child in the way he should
go even when he is old he will not depart from
it. Promise? Or statement of cause and effect?
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Shepherding Children A Childs Nature
It indicates the early heart training influences
lifelong heart choices. If a parent lets the
child go his natural way, he will have a
difficult time departing from that as he grows
older. Warning! Focus here is on Prov. 226
and habituation! Some children are harder than
others perhaps because they are more set in their
ways than others. They need to be retrained
because they have already habituated their sin
patterns. Thats what this verse is warning
about.
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Shepherding Children A Childs Nature
Parents have the primary responsibility to
retrain themthe church can help, too. Take the
child who has been allowed to never eat their
vegetables Prov 226 6 Train up a child in the
way he should go even when he is old he will not
depart from it. This child has been trained up
in the way that he wants to go, and as he gets
older he wont depart from that way. This
verse tells us to start early and be consistent.
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Shepherding Children A Christian Parents Goal
What is a parents target? What kind of child do
I want to produce? What do I want my
son/daughter to look like when he/she leaves home?
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Shepherding Children A Christian Parents Goal
Romans 829 For those whom he foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the image of his
Son, in order that he might be the firstborn
among many brothers. In other words, bring up
your child to handle life in a Christ-like
way. I want Johnny to be conformed to the image
of Christ as he becomes a baseball player.
This type of goal can put Johnnys
hobbies/career first and subjects conforming to
Christ as a close second. Believers dont admit
this, but our actions would testify to that.
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Shepherding Children A Christian Parents Goal
What does Christ-likeness look like? Isaiah
5213 13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely? he
shall be high and lifted up, and shall be
exalted. -Jesus is referred to as a servant Luke
251 51 And he went down with them and came to
Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his
mother treasured up all these things in her
heart. -Jesus submitted to his earthly
parents. Luke 1910 10 For the Son of Man came
to seek and to save the lost. John 174 4 I
glorified you on earth, having accomplished the
work that you gave me to do. -Christ glorified
God while on the earth. 1 Peter 223 23 When he
was reviled, he did not revile in return when he
suffered, he did not threaten, but continued
entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
-Jesus entrusted himself to God. Galatians
522-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control
against such things there is no law.
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Shepherding Children Application 1

• Consider the following steps to address these
  areas
• Praise an area of strength in each child.
• Look at areas to be developed, pick one and
  consider which fruit of the Spirit would most
  specifically address the weakness.
• Begin to consider how your regular daily
  activities could be used to teach and foster
  growth in this specific area.
• Begin to consider special activities that could
  be helpful.
• For example PATIENCE
• How could this character quality be seen at the
  dinner table?
• How does it relate to getting ready for school in
  the morning?
• How would it be seen in playing a game?
• What are the natural consequences my child may
  see as a result of lacking this quality?
• Remember Just two choices on the shelf,
  pleasing God, or pleasing self.

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Shepherding Children A Christian Parents Goal
What are some wrong targets? I just want peace
and quiet. I cant do that -- he might cry.
I just want my kids to be happy. I dont
have time for this, I have work to do. It is
just a phase-- ignore it it will pass. I
want my child to be liked by others/popular.
I just want him to have friends. I dont
want to be embarrased. What are the
potential results if parents focus on these
goals?
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Shepherding Children Application 2
Goal of Life 1. My goal in life is to please
God. ? I Cor. 1031 So whether you eat or
drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory
of God. ? 2 Cor. 59 So we make it our goal to
please him, whether we are at home in the body or
away from it. ? Colossians 317 And whatever
you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the
Father through him.   2. I please God by being
like Jesus. ? Matt 317 And a voice from
heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love with
him I am well pleased."   3. God knows I wont be
perfect, but He expects me to be growing. ? Eph
422-24 22 that, in reference to your former
manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which
is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts
of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the
spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self,
which in the likeness of God has been created in
righteousness and holiness of the truth. ? 2
Peter 318 but grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be
the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.
Amen.
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Shepherding Children A Good Resource
Other resources we have had at the bookstore
and/or the office bookshelves Teach Them
Diligently Lee Priolo Age of Opportunity Paul
Tripp Shepherding a Childs Heart Ted
Tripp Instructing a Childs Heart Tedd
Tripp Everyday Talk John Younts Family Worship
Terry Johnson Give Them Grace Elise
Fitzpatrick
Focuses on getting to the heart and teaching
right responses.