All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. — 2 Timothy 3:16-17
I’ve been at this parenting thing for 6 years now. My wife and I have 2 boys (6 and 4) and just when I think I am doing well as a parent something comes from out of the blue to remind me that I am absolutely clueless. Parenting is tough, exhausting, and demanding work. With that in mind, here are 3 studies on parenting that you and your small group might want to check out for encouragement and help.
Bible Studies on Parenting
1. Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas
Many books, studies, and articles are written each year on how to raise better children or what new technique your kids need to learn. This is not one of those studies. Gary Thomas, author of the best-selling books Sacred Marriage and Sacred Parenting helps you and the parents in your small group see parenting as a means to shaping yourself more like Jesus. I don’t know about you, but I understand much more of the Bible and God’s heart as Father now than before I was a dad myself. This six-session study will not provide “five steps to cure toddler tantrums,” or “four ways to get your teen to talk to you.” Instead, you and your small group will explore how God uses the process of parenting to change you, the parent. By applying a new spiritual sensitivity to the everyday trials and challenges of parenting, you’ll mature and grow in amazing new ways, becoming a little more like Jesus, on a daily basis. Buy the materials here. Click here to watch the first full session for free on YouTube.
2. Sticky Faith by Kara Powell
Research shows that almost half of graduating high school seniors struggle deeply with their faith. As parents, we all want to build a faith within our kids that sticks. Regardless of your child’s age and your family’s life stage, Sticky Faith is a five-session small group study resource that will help you instill a lasting faith in your children. Your kids are more connected to you than you might think. In a survey done by the authors of Sticky Faith, parents were listed by graduating high school seniors as the number one place they receive quality and quantity of support – over friends, youth group, youth leaders, or other adults. Sticky Faith will give you practical ways to make that support beneficial for lasting faith in your kids. Buy the materials here. Click here to watch the first full session for free on YouTube.
3. Boundaries with Kids by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
The work of helping your kids develop inside them what we, as their parents, provide on the outside – responsibility, self-control, and freedom – is not easy. Boundaries with Kids is organized around key concepts that will help your kids take ownership of their lives. The principles flow from God’s teaching in the Bible on responsibility, stewardship, and self-control. The eight sessions in this study are geared much more toward how we as parents behave with our kids than toward educating our children. Learning boundaries has a lot to do with going through experiences such as receiving consequences for behavior, taking ownership, and dealing with the boundaries of others. As you learn to require responsibility from your child, your child will learn the value of being responsible. Buy the resources here. Click here to watch the first full session for free on YouTube.
* * *
Your Turn
Have you participated in any of the above Bible studies about parenting? Let us know what you thought of them. We’d love to hear from you!
RESOURCES
How to Have a Family Bible Study
Helping Your Kids Love the Bible: Easy Tips and Awesome Verses