Will the ‘terrible twos’ and ‘tyrannical threes’ be the end of us? Is it possible to see obedience and peace within the walls of our home? Are the teenage years going to be a struggle? Will our children like us when they become adults? To answer these questions in positive ways, parents need to start upstream by creating the right environment. The result is beautiful respect within the home and family.
Structure & curriculum
Growing Godly Families is a 12-session course that focuses Biblical ethics and practical strategies for parenting. The curriculum emphasizes the importance of creating an environment where individuals, marriages, parents, and children can grow in healthy ways: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Material is drawn from "Parenting from the Tree of Life" (Ezzo/Young), "Growing Kids God's Way" (Ezzo/Link), "The 5 Love Languages" (Chapman), "Colorfully Constructed" (Beckham/Mankin/Patton/Rogers), and other sources.
Approach & topics
In Growing Godly Families, we take a “systems approach” to explaining effective parenting. Rather than focusing on one aspect and declaring “you will succeed if you get ‘that’ right,” this course examines the different elements that can work together to create healthy families where love, peace, and respect are shown within the home and toward others. The elements covered can be described broadly in three layers:
- Relationship – 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV) says “Above all, love each other deeply.” Healthy relationships within the family are critical to successful parenting. Love is a long-term motivator that bonds us, helps us carry out our family duties, keeps us open to learning/growth (discipleship), and lead us to friendships with our children once they are adults. The same Bible verse continues, “...because love covers over a multitude of sins.” You don’t have to be perfect to be successful as parents. Getting the relationships part of parenting right will help you bless your children despite the shortcomings that we all have.
- Responsibilities – “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time... giving thanks always and for everything to God... [and] submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:15-16, 20-21 ESV) What are the expectations for parents, for children, and for all of us as we aim to love God and love our neighbors? Growing in maturity means seeing the God-given value in people, learning to discern right and wrong, and finding ways to reveal our character by showing proper respect.
- Discipling – “Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.” (Proverbs 1:8-9 ESV) The caring parent understands the need to transfer knowledge, skills, and attitudes to children. The discipleship process includes instruction, encouragement, and (when necessary) correction and relationship restoration. Loving discipleship prepares our children for independence and achievement.
A framework rather than a formula
Growing Godly Families is not a ‘cookie-cutter’ approach that expects all families to operate one specific way. Instead, it is a framework of principles that show how key family elements can work together to create a positive environment for both parents and children. The way that you apply these principles and which strategies you choose to adopt as ‘family norms’ will be based on the unique dynamics within your family.