How we view our kids greatly impacts our parenting.

Psalm 127:3 (ESV)

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

God uses the parenting of our kids to make us more like Jesus.

Deuteronomy 6:1-2, 4-7, 20-21

“Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, 2 that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long… 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise… 20 When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ 21 then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.’”

1) Live our faith in front of our kids.

2) Make your faith a normal part of your family life.

3) Have faith-based conversations with your kids.

Psalm 127:4

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.

Christians parents have a responsibility to set the target for their children.

We tend to take too much credit and too much blame.

Ezekiel 18:1-4

The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge’? 3 As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.”

Parents have influence, but they do not have control.

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs is a book of proverbs, not promises, giving wise descriptions of how things will generally go.

1) Define the Biblical bullseye for your children.

Mark 8:36

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”

2) Model what you want to see mimicked.

Luke 6:40

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”

3) Seek to model your parenting after God’s parenting of you.

Ephesians 6:4

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

4) Don’t allow your kid to be the CEO of your home.

Proverbs 19:18

Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

Step 1: Read Together

Read Psalm 127:4. (If you have a child that is able, have them read the verse to the family.)

Step 2: Discussion Time

Ask the following questions…

1) What makes a good arrow?

2) Can any stick be used for a good, accurate arrow?

3) How is a stick made into an arrow? (It is crafted and shaped to make it smooth and straight.)

4) How do our parents help shape us? (By love, direction and discipline.)

Step 3: Action Activity

Connect these truths in a hands-on way by…

Going on a hunt for the perfect stick! See if you can find one that is ready to be an arrow without any work. It won’t take long to see that they all need a little something. Talk about how arrows have to be prepared so that they are at their best. God uses parents to help shape their children into believers that will have a great impact for God. (If you have arrows at your house, take time to talk about the different parts of an arrow (shaft, point, feathers and nock) and how they help the arrow perform at its best. How do we as parents help our children be their best?)