⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 3 min read
Training Children in the Lord: A Biblical Vision for Christian Parenting
Show Summary:
In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins presents a biblical vision for Christian parenting rooted in Ephesians 6:4. Training children in the Lord involves shaping their hearts with the gospel, forming their character through the Word of God, guiding behavior with loving discipline, and teaching them to walk with Christ daily.
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Episode Notes
Question:
What does it mean to train children in the Lord?
Anchor Text: Ephesians 6:4
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Central Truth:
Training children in the Lord means shaping their hearts with the gospel, forming their character through the Word of God, guiding their behavior with loving discipline, and teaching them to walk with Christ in everyday life.
Four Biblical Pillars of Training Children in the Lord
1) Shaping the Heart with the Gospel
Biblical training begins with the heart, not mere behavior. This includes teaching children their need for Christ, the beauty of repentance, the seriousness of sin, and the kindness of God in the gospel—helping them see life through a gospel lens.
2) Forming Character Through the Word of God
Scripture shapes discernment, wisdom, and maturity (2 Timothy 3:16). Parents train children by reading the Bible with them, helping them memorize God’s Word, and applying Scripture to real-life situations and daily choices.
3) Guiding Behavior Through Loving Discipline
Discipline in Ephesians 6:4 refers to loving correction aimed at maturity. This includes clear expectations, consistent consequences, correction that is firm but gentle, and restoration afterward—never disciplining in anger and never aiming at fear-based compliance.
4) Teaching Children to Walk with Christ Daily
Training in the Lord is a lifestyle of practical discipleship—teaching children to pray, confess sin, trust God in trials, seek wisdom, practice self-control, show kindness, and love the church as they learn to follow Jesus in everyday life.
Key Takeaway
Training children in the Lord is not a one-time lesson—it is steady, ordinary, faithful discipleship in the home. God entrusts parents with this calling and supplies grace for every moment, especially the hard ones.
Call to Action
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Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
