INSTRUCTING A CHILD’S HEART
STUDY GUIDE #1 – CHAPTERS 1 & 2
Introduction
Comedian Ray Romano said, “Having children is like living in a frat house - nobody
sleeps, everything's broken, and there's a lot of throwing up.”
That may elicit some tears from some. Hopefully the tears are from laughing over the
statement’s humor and not from crying from the statement’s accurate description of
your life. Ask any parent and they can remember those days and nights when they
were completely exhausted and broken. Nothing breaks a person like parenthood, but
nothing else can compare to the blessings of seeing your child know and love Jesus
Christ.
We have been given a weighty task not only to raise a child, but to raise a child
within the confines of God’s Word. On one hand it’s pretty easy to remember the task:
teach our children that they are to love God and others. But many times it’s hard to
remember our task when our children struggle to sleep, refuse to eat, throw tantrums,
or rebel against us. May we let God teach us how to love Him and love others so
that our children will know and love Jesus Christ.
We have to begin our journey with a Christian worldview. I use the term “we” to
include those who are in the trenches of parenting, those expecting to be parents,
those whose kids are now adults, and those who are uncles and aunties to the
children at Lighthouse. There are no “experts” on how to raise a child. The only
“expert” is Jesus Christ, and we daily kneel before Him asking and pleading for His
grace upon as parents and upon our children in our family and in our church family.
Together we are raising the next generation to know and love Jesus Christ.
So are you ready to laugh? Are you ready to cry? And are you ready to see God
work in your life and in the life of your child? Well, let’s start this journey together as
we follow our Savior!
Reading Assignment
Read chapters 1 and 2 from the Instructing a Child’s Heart.
Bible Passage – Romans 12:1-2
1. Read Romans 12:1-2.
The Apostle Paul has just spent eleven chapters writing about the theology, the
glories and at times the intricacies of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Chapter 11,
verse 36 ends the first half of the letter with a doxology reminding the reader
that everything is from God, to Him, and through Him. From Chapter 12 to the
end of the letter, Paul focuses on living out the gospel, letting theology
influence one’s everyday life. These two verses paint a vivid description of the
challenges adults and our children face living in this world.
2. Verse 1 says, “to present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” What does Paul
mean when he instructs us to be a sacrifice for God? What does that mean as
a parent (or auntie or uncle at Lighthouse)?
3. How are Christians not to “be conformed to this world?” How does Paul say
Christians are to accomplish this?
4. Write down what God is commanding of His children in these two verses.
Questions: Comprehension and Personal Reflection
5. “How can parents compete with the world for the minds and hearts of their
children” (pg. 15)? Write down the two answers and elaborate on each answer
(pgs. 16-18 and pgs. 18-21).
6. What has had more of an impact on your formation as a person: the
world/media, your family, your friends or the Bible? What impact do you think
that has had on your life? On your parenting?
7. Write down the five goals for formative instruction and a brief sentence
describing the goal (pgs. 23-30).
a. Goal #1:
b. Goal #2:
c. Goal #3:
d. Goal #4:
e. Goal #5:
8. Look at the five goals, which one would you like to focus on this week? What
is one practical thing you can do to begin making it a goal in your own life?
Prayer Time
9. Write a prayer to God as you begin this season’s study.