Shepherding a Child's Heart

Save Time—Do It Right
One winter, work was scarce. As a contractor, the only work I
could find was putting in a basement. The problem was that the house
had already been built. I spent the winter with a crew excavating and

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pouring walls and floors. We actually built a basement under the
existing house. It was valuable lake-front property, so the investment
was worthwhile. But I can testify that it is better to build the
foundation before you build the house!
This issue—submission to authority—is foundational for the
entire parent-child relationship. It is possible to build this foundation
after the house has been started. It is, however, more difficult and
more expensive.
If your children are young, do it right from the start. Don’t let
them develop habits of disobedience. Be sure that they learn to obey
without challenge, without excuse, without delay.
If your children are older your task will be a little more difficult.
Begin with gracious and kind instruction. Take them to passages like
Ephesians 6; help them see the logic and wisdom of being a person
under authority, Your goal is to persuade them that even though
submission is hard, it is the path of blessing and peace.
Don’t waste time trying to sugarcoat submission to make it
palatable. Submission necessarily means doing what you do not wish
to do. It is never easy or painless. True biblical submission must be
found in knowing Christ and his grace. Don’t try to make it something
that does not require grace. Don’t reduce submission to authority to
that which fits natural man and natural abilities.
We will next look at the training procedures used for children in
this period from infancy to childhood.
Application Questions for Chapter 14
1. Why is obedience the best thing for your child?
2. What promises does God make to those who honor and obey
parents?
3. What guidelines should you establish to implement biblical
authority?
4.
How can you speak to your school-age children about

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changing your home from being a home with problems to a properly
ordered home?
5. Why is giving room for appeal so important in the parenting
process?
6. What dangers must be avoided in the appeal process?
7. Are you a good model of submission to authorities?
8. What are the patterns of disobedience you have tolerated in
your home?
9. What are the patterns of disrespect you have tolerated in
your home?
10. What areas do you need to clarify to establish authority in
your home?
11. What are the negative effects of your failure to establish
biblical authority?
12.
What promises of Scripture encourage you to establish
authority in your home?
13. Could you reproduce and explain Figure 7?

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