Essential – Week 4
Icebreaker:
- What do you think is the ideal outcome for good parenting?
- Take 15 minutes to share about what God is doing in your life, share prayer requests and pray together.
Main idea:
Your life is essential in God’s plan, but not in the way you think.
Going deeper:
- In light of this week’s sermon, what is new information, challenged, or stood out to you?
Read aloud Ephesians 6: 1-4
- What does it mean to bring up children in the Lord without exasperating them?
- Give examples from your own experience.
- Why do you think Paul challenges Fathers in particular in verse 4?
- What happens when Father’s neglect their calling as Fathers?
- In what ways does parenting impact future generations and society as a whole?
- Pastor Doug says, “The primary goal of parenting children is to teach them a culture of honor and healthy respect for biblical authority.”
- Would you agree? Why or why not?
- Why does the word “obedience” have a negative connotation in society today?
- What is the cultural implication of that?
- Why does deconstructionism contribute to the breakdown of the family unit?
- Describe the Biblical concept of honor.
- In what practical ways can we hold fast to a Biblical concept of honor?
- What daily practices can you exercise?
Application:
- What is God calling you to in your parenting practices this week?
- If you do not have biological children, who could you be a positive role model to?
- How will you do it?
- What does it mean for you as an adult to honor your parents?
- How might this help improve your relationship with them?
How can your group hold you accountable?
