DEV 13FN Healthy Family (Parent-Child)

[[Media:DEV_13FN_Healthy_Family_(Parent-Child).pdf|Download here this page as pdf file]]

=Session 13: Healthy Family (parent – child)=

''In this session, you will discover what God’s Word has to say about healthy relationships between parents and children. ''

Heart of a Leader (40 min)

 * Worship together in the big group
 * Have participants get into groups of 3-4 people and discuss the following:
 * What are you learning and how are you abiding in Christ through word, prayer, obedience, PCS, relationships and fellowship?
 * What areas of your life is obeying God a challenge?
 * What unresolved conflict do you have?
 * What happened as you trusted God with your goals from our last meeting?

Vision Casting for the Heart
Read John 15:1-5,8. 'A vine had one purpose in the time of Jesus, to produce grapes for wine. There was little to no use for ornamental vines. Pretty and lush leaves, for all their show, were of no value and missed the point. Jesus spoke of Himself as being the One True Vine of God and his followers as branches. He will produce the fruit and everyone who stays connected to him will be a branch that bears. Branches don’t generate fruit, only the vine can do that. Break a branch off the vine and it dries up and dies fruitless. The vine is the sole source of life and produces fruit on healthy branches. The gardener nurtures the vine and helps the healthy fruit bearing branches become even more fruitful. To move from “fruit” to “more fruit” requires pruning - the removal of good things that distract from the main purpose of fruit bearing. When you experience the pain and loss of pruning in your life, rejoice. Cooperate with the Gardener as you abide in Jesus the Vine, knowing his purpose is to move you from “bearing fruit” to “more fruit” to “much fruit” (Jn 15:2)  to His glory showing you to be Jesus disciple. (Jn15:8). Live daily in surrender to Jesus because apart from Him you will be fruitless.'

Celebration of Faithfulness (20 min)
[NOTE: Celebrate Faithfulness in the large group so that all can benefit and be encouraged.]


 * Give opportunity for participants to share what has happened since the last meeting. Ask them to relate it to goals from the last meeting.

Iron on Iron: Sharpening Myself and Others (45 min)
Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another.” 


 * Have everyone return to their Iron on Iron small groups, draw their network of missional communities and churches then share and evaluate with their group.
 * What is going well?
 * What is not going well? What obstacles are you facing?
 * What are possible solutions from the other group members?
 * What do you need to do to add the missing characteristics into each group?
 * Where will you start a new group or church this month?
 * Have everyone set goals for improvement from their evaluation and share their goals with their small group. Then have them pray for one another.

New Lesson (45-60 min)
Relevant Topic: Why is it important to understand healthy relationships between parents and children?


 * Have participants get into new groups of 4-5 people (or they can continue in their Iron on Iron groups)
 * In the following sections, each group assign verses to each participant. Each participant will then read the passages below and tell what they learned to the group.

Discovery Bible Study –Parents and Children

Review: Read Ephesians 5:21 as a foundation for the biblical principle of submission... Submission is God’s plan for all believers.

Section 1: Roles and Expectations

Roles of Parents and Children: Ephesians 6:1-4; Exodus 20:12

Parents need to Teach: Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Proverbs 22:6

Children need to Listen: Proverbs 1:8-9

Role of Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-16


 * After they have all shared their assigned verses, have each person in the groups share:
 * What caught your attention? (or What did you like best?) Why?
 * What are the responsibilities of children to their parents?
 * What are the responsibilities of parents to their children?

'Summary: A child must obey parents, except in cases where parents’ expectations conflict with biblical commands. Examples might include where Jesus remained in the temple once his parents had departed for home (Lk. 2:39-52), or where Jesus remained with his disciples rather than answering his mother’s call for him (Mk. 4:31-35). Jesus himself taught that obedience to His word could cause division within families (Mt. 10:34-39).'

Section 2: Discipling our Children Need for Balance: Colossians 3:20-21

Help from other Believers: Titus 2:2-8

Purpose of Discipline: Hebrews 12:7-11

God’s Example: Lamentations 3:22-23


 * After they have all shared their assigned verses, have each person in the groups share:
 * What caught your attention? (or What did you like best?) Why?
 * How do parents avoid provoking their children according?
 * How does our heavenly Father serve as an example for us in this matter?

'Summary: If problems already exist that are disturbing a families’ harmony, the path to healing begins with confession of sin to God (1 John 1:9) and to the one we’ve wronged (James 5:16a) resulting in forgiveness and restoration of broken relationships. Children are responsible to submit to their parents, except when asked to violate God’s revealed word. In those situations, children are expected to obey the Bible. Even in those situations, children must treat their parents with respect. Parents must raise their children in the discipline and encouragement of the Lord, and not provoke them. When tempted to respond inappropriately to children or parents, we need to submit our hearts to God and resist. Remember, church leaders should be growing in how they manage their families and raise their children (Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1-7)'

Prepare for Mission (20 mins)

 * In small groups, have each trainee Evaluate how their lives are in the area Parent/Child submission and have them Make a Plan on how they will immediately begin to improve.
 * Discuss practical applications:
 * What are good ways to discipline children without causing them to lose heart?
 * How can we balance discipline with encouragement to accomplish this purpose?
 * What can we do to solve the problems we face as parents in accordance with these passages?
 * Write “I will by when” statements. Include “Who will you teach this lesson to?”
 * Practice any additional skill that the leaders need in leading their groups or starting new ones

Sending the Laborers

 * Reinforce the overall vision: a church or faith community for every 1,000 people
 * Spend time in prayer:
 * committing everyone’s goals to the Lord.
 * for God to raise up a movement of churches.
 * for more laborers to come out of the harvest.