This Sunday in our study of Ephesians we’re going to look at 6:1-4; a section dealing with God’s pattern for family relationships. In verse 4 Paul calls the parents to discipline and instruct their children. As I’ve studied this verse I’ve summarized Paul’s thoughts with the 3 “Gs” of parenting.

They are:

1. Gospel. Because we are called to discipline and instruct – which implies the need to correct sin and call one to do what is right – we need to be gospel orientated families. When we discipline we need to explain why (sin requires judgment) and when we instruct we need to explain why (God calls us to obey). Our daily lives are the perfect place for the constant reminder and presentation of the gospel.

2. Growth. Our goal of child-rearing is their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual growth. Our job is to make sure they have everything they need to mature physically, to be sensitive to their emotional well-being (by encouraging as well as exhorting where needed), to foster their mental growth (by encouraging them to pursue and excel in their areas of interest and abilities), and most importantly, we need to ensure their spiritual growth (by encouraging them to learn God’s Word on both an intellectual and practical level and helping them make wise choices [friends, activities, etc]).

3. Grace. Our homes should be a haven for grace. Forgiveness should be constant, joy and laughter in abundance and love should permeate everything we do. The greatest danger to any Christian home is legalism because it creates hypocrisy and a distorted view of God’s grace.

Justin Taylor posted the following entry. It is worth reading and watching.

488 years ago, April 17-18, Martin Luther stood trial at the Diet [formal assembly] of Worms [a small town on the river Rhine in present-day Germany). (It’s properly pronounced, I believe, something like DEE-et of Voerms, not DIE-et of Worms.)

On the 17th Luther was asked whether certain writings were his and if he would revoke them as heretical. He asked for time to compose his answer–he prayed for long hours and consulted with friends, and returned the next day to give his famous answer.

Here it is:

I came across this powerful “conversation” between Christian and Death written by John Piper. Perfect for Good Friday.

CHRISTIAN:

Hello, Death, my old enemy. My old slave-master. Have you come to talk to me again? To frighten me?

 

I am not the person you think I am. I am not the one you used to talk to. Something has happened. Let me ask you a question, Death.

 

Where is your sting?

 

DEATH, sneeringly:

My sting is your sin.

CHRISTIAN:

 

I know that, Death. But that’s not what I asked you. I asked, where is your sting? I know what it is. But tell me where it is.

 

Why are you fidgeting, Death? Why are you looking away? Why are you turning to go? Wait, Death, you have not answered my question. Where is your sting?

 

Where is, my sin?

 

What? You have no answer? But, Death, why do you have no answer? How will you terrify me, if you have no answer?

 

O Death, I will tell you the answer. Where is your sting? Where is my sin? It is hanging on that tree. God made Christ to be sin—my sin. When he died, the penalty of my sin was paid. The power of it was broken. I bear it no more.

 

Farewell, Death. You need not show up here again to frighten me. God will tell you when to come next time. And when you come, you will be his servant. For me, you will have no sting.

 

O death, where is your victory? 
O death, where is your sting? 
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory 
through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)