Course material for Growing Godly Families 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. The topics can be grouped broadly in three layers: relationship, responsibilities, and discipling.
Relationship
Healthy, supported, bonded relationships between parents and children are foundational to the success of all aspects of parenting.
- Foundations – Developing a worldview, speaking life, and bringing blessings to our family.
- Security & Support – Helping your child know they are safe, loved, and free to grow.
- Temperament & Trauma – Understanding innate tendencies or 'natural bent', strengths & weaknesses, and how we can develop the best from these parts a person.
- Relational Environment – What must a father and mother do to create the environment where children can flourish?
Responsibilities
Every human has roles to play in their family, the church, and the world. It is important to see the God-given value in people, learning to discern right and wrong, and find ways to reveal Godly character by showing proper respect.
- Conscience & Character – Knowing what is right and doing what is right (even when no one is looking) is what defines a moral person. As parents we are entrusted with training the conscience and helping our children build strength of character.
- Respect & Responsibility – Loving God and loving your neighbor requires doing things that express your respect for the preciousness of others and the responsibility you have to support peers, elders, and those younger than you.
- Freedoms – "Everything is permissible, but not everything is helpful." (1 Cor. 10:23) We help our children succeed by ensuring they live within the boundaries of their current level of maturity.
Discipling
Caring parents will actively work to transfer productive knowledge, skills, and attitudes to their children.
- Obedience based on Instruction & Identity – A healthy goal is to move a child from parental-control to self-control through proper training and the development of good habits and attitudes.
- Discipling through Instruction & Encouragement – A lot of training can occur by helping a child succeed (helping them avoid pitfalls).
- Discipling using Consequences – Important learning occurs when errors occur, consequences are encountered, and reflection happens about how to do thing better in the future.
- Relationship Maintenance – Consider how to strengthen long-term relationships through restoration and renewal when wrongs have occurred or when attention has waned.
- Fine Tuning & Fun – An investigation of some trickier issues that most parents face as they raise their children, and an exciting review of the learning journey we've taken together.
The Growing Godly Families course presents a framework of principles that show how key family elements can work together to create a positive environment for both parents and children.