Biblical Parenting Indicators of Mature Faith.ppt

parenting

1. INDICATORS OF MATURE FAITH
1990 Effective Christian Education: A National
Study of Protestant Congregations ( Search
Institute)
1.Trusts and believes
2.Experiences the fruits of faith
3.Integrates faith and life
4.Seeks spiritual growth
5.Experiences and nurtures faith in
community
6.Holds life-affirming values
7.Advocates social change
8.Acts and serves

2. Local church as teacher
1. Only 40% of teachers are mature in their faith;
and only one third know educational theory
Relatively few teachers receive training in
theology and tradition
2. The pastor must be highly committed to the
educational program, devote significant time to it,
and know educational theory and practice
3. The greatest weakness is in youth ministry
activities; only one half of pastors are involved;
approximately 60% participate in adult
educational activities

3. Local church as teacher
4. Topics for adult programs:
biblical knowledge and understanding
multicultural awareness
global awareness and understanding
moral decision making

4. Local church as teacher

4. Topics for Youth
Bible
core theological concepts
emphasis on good friendship skills
education about sexuality, alcohol and other drugs
values and decision making
responsibility regarding hunger and poverty
6. Set clear learning objectives for both adults and teenagers
7. Other factors: Warm and thinking climate, excellence in worship,
care and concern for others, service (40% of youth involved)

5. Pastors as Teachers
Altar, pulpit and classroom linked
The one who feeds ought to teach
Ephesians 4: 11-13 “pastors and
teachers”-one gift
Ephesians 6:11-13 Put on the whole
armor
Not an audience, but an army
It’s difficult out there

6. Family Ministry
Family religiousness is a powerful indicator of growth in faith
Psychologists list most pressing problems
Infidelity and jealousy
Conflicts over everyday responsibilities
Conflicting values in child rearing
Alcoholism
Intergenerational conflict
Sex
Single parenting
Divorce
Teenage pregnancies
Family violence
incest

7. Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.
Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at
home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you
rise.
Teach them diligently
Parents should talk with their children about the faith – both mother
and father
Family devotions, prayer or bible reading at home
Family projects that help others
Place the Kingdom of God first in their lives
Nurturing close parental ties - when mother and father get along
Marriage retreats
Using good communication workshop
Understanding diverse family dynamics one half of all children have
lived with a single parent before 18 years old/blended families

8. Divisive Family Dynamics
Young people’s attitudes toward parents and authority figures
Involvement in at-risk behavior
Personal values
School performance

9. Congregational Parenting
Extended family of faith
Most men between 40 -59 experience undeveloped faith (only 8%
demonstrated mature faith vs. 43% of women)
Most men cannot give spiritual leadership
Engage men in bible study, men’s retreats and conferences
National Center for Fathering fathers.com
Teach moral values
Why certain behavior violates inner needs and disrupt relationships
with others
Encourage close relationships with parents and grandparents
Mentoring
Helping parents establish clear rules and a flexible stance blended with
good judgment
Participating in more helping activities
Sharing one’s faith in the home

10. African American Christian Education
Ella Mitchell
Contextual model – carried on in relation to
ongoing experiences
basic pattern of oral communication and learning
rooted in African origins not African American
Oral process of learning is a legitimate system of
teaching and retention
Included slave cabin life, slave field conversations,
mealtime table talk, secret church meetings,
plantation churches, storytelling, music, dancing,
and proverbial sayings

11. African American Christian Education
Joseph Crockett
Teaching and learning Scripture among African
Americans
Story-telling – integrating identity and vocation
Exile strategy focuses on heritage, tradition and
God’s loving care and call to Christian community
Exodus strategy focuses on unique missional,
justice, and social engagement responsibility of
the Black church
Sanctuary strategy acknowledges the central role
of the church in AA life, especially in its worship

12. African American Christian Education
Bishop Desmond Tutu
Ubuntu
The unified self struggle to live into
the vision of the Beloved community
Does not take sides
Moves beyond liberation and black
theology toward reconciliaton

13. African American Christian Education
Fred Smith, Wesley Theological Seminary
Create coherence in the face of incoherence
Develop in persons the capacities for liberation
from oppression,
reconciliation with God and the human family
participation with God in the transformation of the
world
being the Kingdom of God - human communities
imbued with love as their conscience

14. Missional Framework for Christian Education
Delores Carpenter
Purpose “to guide Christian through a nurturing, maturing, and
increasingly self-initiating spiritual journey toward God, in Jesus
Christ and on behalf of others.”
The Holy Spirit is the internal standard and lens which deciphers
God’s message and God’s meaning
Each believer/lover of the Lord becomes obedient to an action plan
which God reveals to him or her or which he or she discerns
A disciples’ vocation revolves around a mission that contributes to
the ultimate mission of bringing the reign of God to earth
Common understandings and interpretations will lead the
community to advocate for social justice

15. African American Christian Education
Delores Carpenter
FOUR DIMENSIONS OF CONGREGATIONAL EDUCATION
1. Climate/Relational
2. Biblical/Theological
3. Cognitive/Thinking
4. Interpersonal/Group Process