February 1, 2026

UNIT 2: Parents and Children

LESSON: 9

Study Text: Deu. 6:1-9; Psalms 78:1-7; 101:1-3; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; 3:10-17

Central Truth: Parents should live by Scripture and communicate its truth to their family.

KEY Verse--2 Timothy 3:15  From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (KJV).

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus (NLT).

LET'S GET STARTED

Over the next four weeks, we'll be studying what the Scriptures say about parents and children. Let's clarify from the beginning that we're not talking about biological families. All of us have influence on younger generations, and with that influence comes responsibility. So when we say the word parents, we mean biological parents, adoptive parents, foster parents, and spiritual parents. When we say the word children, we are referring to any young people under an adult's influence.

DISCUSSION STARTER-Good Parents

American author Jill Churchill once wrote, "There's no way to be a perfect [parent] and a million ways to be a good one." What are some characteristics of good parents?

There may be a million ways to be a good parent, but a biblical perspective helps us focus on the single most important aspect of godly parenting: teaching children to follow Jesus for a lifetime. Passing our faith on to the next generation is one of our most important callings.

PART 1-Teach God's Truth

Teach Them to Fear the Lord                 Deu. 6:1-3

As Deuteronomy opens, the Israelites are encamped on the plains of Moab, just outside Canaan. After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, this new generation was about to enter the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 6, Moses told the people to "listen closely and be careful to obey" God's commands (verse 3). Not only were the parents and grandparents of Israel commanded to fear the Lord and keep His decrees, but they were also commanded to teach obedience and reverence to their children and grandchildren. Moses explained several reasons for doing so. First, those who obeyed God would enjoy long life (verse 2). While we are not bound to the same laws as the Israelites, the principle of listening to God and obeying His commands d still applies to us--and to our children. One of our goals as parents, is to teach our children reverence for God.

? Why did Moses stress the importance of the Israelites' obedience?

Teach Them to Love the Lord           Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Moses' words in Deuteronomy 6:4-5 provide the cornerstone of the Jewish faith. Theses verses are known as the Shema, which is a Hebrew word meaning "listen." The Shema declares that the God of Israel is the one true God, providing a contrast between the Israelites and the Canaanites, Egyptians, and other surrounding people groups who worshipped many gods. After declaring God's uniqueness, Moses spoke the words that Jesus would quote so many years later. "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength" (verse 5). Moses wanted the Israelites to understand that the essence of keeping their covenant with God was recognizing Him as the one true God and loving Him unreservedly. Moses told the people to "commit [themselves] wholeheartedly to these ccommands" (verse 6) and then gave detailed instructions for how they should do so (verses 7-9). Passing on our love for God and our commitment to His commanda begins with personal commitment. When our children see how our love for God affects everything in our lives, they will be far more likely to love and obey God as well.

? In what ways can your friends and family members see your love for God?

PART 2-Testify of God's Goodness

Tell of His Praiseworthy Acts           Psalm 78:1-4

Like Deuteronomy 6, Psalm 78 includes the command to listen to instructions (verse 1). This is one of many attention-getting devices found throughout Scriptures. Much like a classroom teacher would call his or her class to pay attention before the lesson starts. Just think of how often Jesus introduces important teaching with "Truly, truly, I say to you..." In this case, the Psalmist would be sharing "a parable" and "hidden lessons from our past" (verse 2). The truths that the Israelites had "heard and known" (verse 3) from their parents were the same truths they were to pass on to their children. In verse 4, the Psalmist describes a three-part assignment. The Israelites were to tell the next generation about: 1. The "glorious deeds of the Lord." How have you seen the hand of God in action? 2. "His power." How has God shown His power in your family history? 3. "His mighty wonders." What miraculous things has God done for your family. Both the Old and New Testaments are filled with passages that review the amazing things God did for His people in the past. Likewise, east believer should tell and retell stories of God's faithfulness to their children.

? What specific testimonies of God's faithfulness do you want to share with the next generation?

Tell So They Will Remember            Psalm 78:5-8

Just as families often record and recall their history, the Israelites were to remember God's miraculous deeds on their behalf (Psalm 78:4). The Psalmist reminded readers that God "decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel" that would be told to each succeeding generation, revealing God's goodness. The Israelites were not only to remember what God has done, but also to recount His mighty acts to their children. In that way, succeeding generations would learn who God is and obey His commands. The Psalmist understood that each generation must make its own choice to follow God. We see an example of this after Joshua died: "After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10). What will be said of the generation that follows ours? We should pray regularly for our children, look for teachable moments to point them to God, and create space in the family schedule to talk about God and all He has done. The more we learn about God and spend time in His presence, the more we can train the next generation to follow Him.

? How can you create space in your family's schedule to talk about God?

PART 3-Leave a Legacy of Faith

Genuine Faith           2 Timothy 1:3-5

The Bible provides numerous genealogies--in both the Old and New Testaments. In 2 Timothy 1, Paul used his protege' timothy's family as an example of passing on the faith from one generation to another. Because Paul knew he had little time remaining, he told Timothy how much he longed to see him, and that seeing his spiritual son would fill him with joy. Paul reminded Timothy of the faith of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. Paul was confident that these two women had passed on their faith to Timothy, who was then serving the church at Ephesus (verse 5).  We don't know whether Lois and Eunice were still living when Paul wrote this epistle, but we do know that he considered Timothy to be his spiritual son and was concerned for his spiritual welfare. Whether we are biological parents, adoptive parents, or spiritual parents, we also should be concerned for younger generations and encourage them to be faithful to the life and work to which God has called them.

? How would you evaluate your own efforts in pass9ng along a spiritual heritage to your children? What are you doing well? What could you improve?

Equipping Faith             2 Timothy 3:13-17

Paul's letters to Timothy give us insight into what it means to live with bold faith in the face of death, as Paul did. He had Timothy to "fight well in the Lord's battles" (1Timothy 1:18), then declared that he himself had "fought the good fight" (2 Timothy 1:18), then declared that he himself had "fought the good fight" (2 timothy 4:7). In light of Nero's increasingly atrocious acts, plus the false teachers seeking to deceive believers (3:13), Paul warned Timothy of hard days ahead (verse 1). Just as parents today want to warn their children of the evil around them, so Paul warned Timothy, his spiritual son. Paul's moving admonition suggests important concepts for parenting today. Paul reminded Timothy of the power of the gospel with these authoritative words: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. Parents who use Scripture to teach their children--and who teach Scripture to their children--will be equipping them for "every good work" (verse 17) as they grow to adulthood. They, in turn, can be ready to teach their own children the same biblical principles. 

? Why did Paul feel he needed to warn timothy of the coming evil days? Why should parents today do the same for their own children?

WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US?

Isaiah 54:13 states, "I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace." although God is speaking to the Israelites, we can be confident that God will also teach our children's hearts as we pray for them and teach them His truth. By testifying of God's goodness and working to leave a legacy of faith, we can inspire our children to love and serve God for the rest of their lives.

LIVING IT OUT

(A). Have a conversation this week with your children, or someone you are mentoring, about their faith in Jesus. (B). Implement ideas for strengthening your family's faith--such as family prayer time, one-o-one time with each child, and making room in the daily routine to talk about God.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS

           Monday: Jacob Blesses Joseph's Sons.  Genesis 48:8-16

                   Tuesday: Joshua Chooses for His Family.  Joshua 24:13-18

            Wednesday: Failing the Next Generation; Judges 2:7-10

  Thursday: God's True Family. Matthew 12:46-50

                  Friday: A Household Believers. Acts 10:1, 30-33, 44-48

Saturday: God's Abiding Truth. 2 Truth 1-3

RADIANT LIFE

Volume 107 Number 2 Dec. Jan. Feb 2025-26

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