Session 1: Our Children Are Our Neighbors
Session 1: Our Children Are Our Neighbors
What if the most profound parenting manual isn't found in the latest bestseller, but in the timeless truth that our children are our closest neighbors? This transformative perspective shifts everything. Drawing from Jesus' words in Mark 12:28-31 about loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves, we discover that every biblical command about loving others suddenly becomes a direct instruction for how we parent. When our four-year-old bites Jesus' face off a toy in anger, or when we're cleaning up the third mess before 8 a.m., we're not just surviving—we're engaging in kingdom work. The scriptures about being quick to listen and slow to speak, about serving others without seeking credit, about doing everything as unto the Lord—these aren't just nice principles. They're our parenting roadmap. Psalm 127:3 reminds us that children are a gift from the Lord, but gifts require assembly, and assembly requires intentionality. We can't just accidentally raise disciples any more than we accidentally teach our kids to love our favorite sports team or develop outdoor skills. It takes the same purposeful steps, the same deliberate conversations, the same consistent modeling. The beautiful truth is that God hasn't left us without direction—He's given us His entire Word as our guide for raising the neighbors living under our own roof.
How does viewing your children as your 'closest neighbors' change the way you approach daily discipline, correction, and communication in your home?
In what ways are you already being intentional about passing on your hobbies or interests to your children, and how can you apply that same intentionality to discipling them spiritually?
What specific steps can you take this week to make conversations about God and prayer a normal, everyday part of your family's routine rather than something reserved for mealtimes or bedtime?
How do you respond when parenting feels like 'survival mode,' and what does it look like to shift from merely surviving each day to purposefully investing in your children's spiritual formation?
When you consider that God specifically chose you to parent your specific children, how does that truth impact your confidence and approach during challenging seasons?
What would it look like for your children to regularly witness you reading Scripture, praying through struggles, and processing emotions with the Lord rather than hiding those moments from them?
How can you identify and celebrate the personality traits God has given your children that may currently frustrate you, recognizing them as gifts He intends to use for His purposes?
In what areas of parenting are you tempted to negotiate with God for specific outcomes rather than simply obeying His commands and trusting Him with the results?
What practical action steps can you implement to train your children toward becoming the adults you hope they'll be, whether that's in character, faith, relationships, or handling conflict?
How does understanding that parenting is 'kingdom work' and that meeting your children's daily needs is serving Christ Himself transform your perspective on the mundane tasks of parenthood?