Dennis R Wiles

FBC Arlington

April 30, 2023

Theme for 2023: Why Does It Matter?

SPRING 2023: Family: Why Does It Matter?

April 16 – May 31, 2023

Parents: You Must . . . Parent!

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Parenting is . . . well . . . rewarding, challenging, fulfilling, depleting, fun, hard, hopeful, disappointing . . . but necessary!

The “Shema” expresses the core of Israel’s faith.

Calling all Israelites to love God without reservation or qualification, Moses begins with the inner being, then moves to the whole person, and ends with all that one claims as one’s own. This is the “yoke of the kingdom”—covenant commitment rooted in the heart, but extending to every level of one’s being.

-Daniel I. Block, The NIV Application Commentary: Deuteronomy

The call to love God begins within each person, extends to the family, to public behavior, and finally to public declaration.

Responsible parenting begins with personal discipleship and allowing God to parent us!

Responsible parenting is, in essence, active disciple making.

Love is at the root of everything—all learning, all parenting, all relationships—love or the lack of it.

-Mister Rogers

Disciple-making parents have learned the value of habitual patterns that reflect their deeply held values and exhibit practical expressions that help to shape/form children—and create healthy family systems. In suggesting that we reconsider our habits of the household, I am suggesting that we reclaim the idea of creating a rule of life in our families so we can produce something other than the typical anxiety-ridden, depression-prone, lonely, confused, and screen-addicted teenager. So we can form children in God’s love. So we can teach them the peace that comes with knowing the unconditional love of Jesus. So we can create homes that are missional lights in a dark world.

-Justin Whitmel Earley, Habits of the Household