1. The Scriptures on Parenting James Dobson in his book The Strong Willed Child said, “Child rearing is like baking a cake. You don’t realize you have a disaster until it's too late.”

3. – GOOD marriages and GOOD parenting go hand in hand. – Husbands and wives must show their love for each other. Ephesians 5:25 - Husbands love your wives. Titus 2:4 - wives are to love their husbands. – Parents need to show that they love God. – We need to Parent our Children as God parents us.

4. It is a good thing to remind us parents that Children are a Gift from God. Psalm 127:3-5 - Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. 5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; NASU

5. We need to offer Unconditional love to our Children as Parents

6. We need to Recognize and Work with our Children's Natural Bents. Proverbs 22:6 - “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” (NKJV)

7. Judges 2:8-10 - 8 Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of one hundred and ten. 9 And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 10 All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel. NASU

8. Isaiah 5:20 - 20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! NASU

9. Proverbs 22:6 - “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” (NKJV)

10. Deut. 6:5-7 - “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (6) And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. (7) You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” (NKJV)

11. Successful Parenting requires Consistent Discipline. Proverbs 29:15 “The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” verse 17, “Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul.” (NKJV)

12. BIBLICAL DISCIPLINE IS NOT ABUSE NOR IT IS ABUSIVE!

13. Proverbs 22:15 - 15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him. NASU Proverbs 23:13-14 - 13 Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die. 14 You shall strike him with the rod And rescue his soul from Sheol. NASU Hebrews 12:6 - "FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." NASU

14. Not to discipline is TO FAIL TO LOVE. Proverbs 13:24 - 24 He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently. NASU

15. “Twelve Rules for Raising Juvenile Delinquent Children.” 1. Begin with infancy to give the child everything he wants. In this way he will grow up to believe the world owes him a living. 2. When he picks up bad words, laugh at him. This will make him think that it is cute. 3. Never give him any spiritual training. Wait until he is twenty-one and then let him "decide for himself.”

16. 4. Avoid use of the word “wrong.” It may develop a guilt complex. This will condition him to believe later, when he is arrested for stealing a car, that society is against him and he is being persecuted. 5. Pick up everything he leaves lying around. Do everything for him so that he will be experienced in throwing all responsibility on others. 6. Let him read any printed matter he can get his hands on. Be careful, that the silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but let his mind feast on garbage.

17. 7. Quarrel frequently in the presence of your children. In this way they won’t be shocked when the home is broken up later. Give a child all the spending money he wants. Never let him earn his own. 9. Satisfy his every craving for food, drink and comfort. See that every sensual desire is gratified. 10. Take his part against neighbors, teachers and policemen. They are all prejudiced against your child.

18. 11. When he gets into real trouble, apologize for yourself by saying, “I never could do anything with him.” 12. Prepare for a life of grief. You will likely have it. [Charles Swindoll. You and Your Child.] Ephesians 6:4 - “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” (NKJV).

19. The first word translated, “training” (paideia) is the word from which we get pedagogy. It can refer to discipline but normally contains the broader meaning of education, the entire training particularly of the very young. The second word, “admonition” (nouthesia) comes from the combination of two Greek words one meaning “mind” and the other “to place” and involves the idea of reasoning and gentle or friendly reproof.

20. Five reminders about discipline - 1. Never discipline in anger. (Take the time to calm down - cool off) 2. Pick your battles, not everything is worthy of a battle. 3. Realize that even children need to express anger from time to time. 4. Choose the best time and place to discipline. Never discipline in anger. If it is at all possible discipline in private. 5. Choose your words carefully and speak in a soft tone of voice.

21. Proverbs 15:1 - “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” (NKJV)

22. Be willing to admit when you are wrong and when you make a mistake.