Relationships of the Believer

Lesson Goal: Our goal in this lesson is to understand what Scripture has to say about the parent-child relationship and the responsibilities of each towards the other.

1. Read Ecclesiasties 12:1--Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"

Who should a young man remember in his youth and why should he do so? 

2. Read Ephesians 6:1-3--Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

a. What should children do according to verse one? 

b. What is the promised result of such behavior? 

3. Read 1 Timothy 5:3,4--3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to Allah.

a. What is a child's responsibility to their old parents or grandparents?

b. According to this passage, how can a person put his religion into practice?

 

THE PARENTS' RESPONSIBILITY

4. Read Deuteronomy 6:6,7--6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

a. To whom were the Israelites to pass on all the teachings and instruction they had been given by Allah?

b. When were they to instruct their children? 

c. When do you interact with your children and teach them from Allah's word? 

d. What could you do to be more faithful in obeying the instruction in this passage? 

5. Read Zabur 78:1-8--1 O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old-- 3 what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of Allah, his power, and the wonders he has done. 5 He decreed statutes for Yaqub and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in Allah and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. 8 They would not be like their forefathers--a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to Allah, whose spirits were not faithful to him.

a. The truths that we have learned from our forefathers about Allah and his word should not be kept hidden from whom?

b. According to verse 4, what are the things that we should tell our children?

c. In our teaching our children about Allah, what is the goal as seen in verses 7 & 8?

6. Read Proverbs 22:6-- Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

a. Who are we told to train in this passage?

b. If a child is correctly trained, what will be the results? 

NOTE: The time to start teaching children about Allah is when they are still young. Even though young children may seem simple and inexperienced, they still are able to quickly understand and accept many truths about Allah. Unfortunately, those who are not taught while young often become hardened and stubborn when older and refuse to accept the truths of Allah's word.

7. Read Ephesians 6:4--Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

a. What is a father not to do?

b. Give some examples from your own experience of several ways by which a father might exasperate his child. 

c. Did your father ever exasperate you? If so, how? 

d. Describe one incident when you exasperated your own child? 

e. By contrast, what are the two things mentioned in this verse that a father should make use of?

f. If you are to train and instruct your child in Allah's word, then how well do you think you should know that word yourself? 

g. Do you consider that you are giving your children sufficient Scriptural  instruction?
 

h. If you are not sure or don't think so, then what might you do to provide more? 

8. a. What kind of relationship did you have with your own parents? 

b. Do you want that same type of relationship with your own children? If not, what sort of relationship do you desire? 

c. How could you develop the type of relationship you seek? 

 

TO MEMORIZE - EPHESIANS 6:1,4

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

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