Instructing a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp provides a crucial foundation for the principles in Shepherding a Child’s Heart, teaching parents the importance of developing and shaping their children’s thinking. This “formative instruction” is not discipline or correction; rather, it is intentionally building a biblical culture of thought and understanding in our homes. In these 13 half-hour sessions, parents will learn how to give their children a biblical framework for approaching all of life. Rent & Stream through Vimeo On Demand for $24.00 Click on the image find out more!
Instructing
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The most important goal for you and your family is to grow closer to God in every area of your life. Below Tedd and Margy Tripp hold out three key passages to build upon. Reflect deeply on what Joshua 24, Psalm 48 and Psalm 73 have to say to you this day! Strive to grow into a mutual relationship of living and working together for Christ’s kingdom. The Christian life is lived in a community. Throughout redemptive history God’s people have witnessed God’s awesome deeds and gloried together in his protection and provision. Future generations are also in view. We must have the same sense of expectation as we talk of God’s faithfulness and provision for our physical family and […]
What Your Children Need Most by Tedd Tripp If you want your children to have a reason to sing on Sunday, give them a glorious God. If you want your children to have a reason not to sin on Monday, give them a glorious God. If you want them to think of nobler things than the latest, mind-numbing video fantasy game, give them a glorious God. If you want them to dream grander dreams than illicit sex or more money or more stuff, give them a glorious God. If you want them to have a reason for confidence when life seems to spin out of control, give them a glorious God. When friends are offering the pleasures of sin for […]
Helping Children Evaluate Themselves by Tedd & Margy Tripp Proverbs 9 will help our children evaluate themselves, “Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning” (Prov. 9:7–9). We used this passage to help our children evaluate their responses to parental authority. I would draw a stick figure of myself. I would ask, “What four words in this passage describe the communication of the parent?” They would search the passage and discover these four words, “Correct, […]
The Danger of Being a Fool by Tedd Tripp The alternative to teaching our children biblical hierarchy is to allow them to be autonomous self-directed people. The Bible has a term for such a person: the fool. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Ps. 14:1). The fool says, “I will be my own self-directed person; no one will tell me what to do. I will do what I want to do, when I want to do it. I will be ruled by nothing other than my own whim.” This is not freedom; it is foolishness. To live in God’s world as though there is no God is the height of folly. A later chapter will be […]
We cannot teach our children how to submit to an authority unless we understand a vertical structure where equals willingly place themselves under authority. It is true that human relationships are horizontal in terms of worth and dignity. All human beings are made in God’s image, are crowned with glory and honor, and are given rule over the rest of creation. In relationship to God and saving grace all human beings are equal; all come to God on the same basis and God is no respecter of persons. But at the same time, God has established spheres of authority and responsibility for mankind. The contemporary mind has only two ways to respond to authority—rebellion or servility. We do not understand […]
Our Children’s Needs Are the Same As Our Needs By Tedd Tripp from Instructing a Child’s Heart. Because the problem of sin is deeper than the wrong things we do and say, sin problems can only be solved by grace. Since our problem is internal, sin cannot be remedied by “getting one’s act together.” Only grace can bring radical heart transformation. When the heart receives appropriate attention, children will not be able to escape how profoundly they need grace. If they see that their problem is bigger than behavior, they are delivered from superficial views of the Christian life. Our children’s needs are the same as our needs. We need the heart transplant surgery that is promised in the grace […]
The When, What and Why of Behavior by Tedd Tripp The heart is the seat of motivation. Think about it in this way. Behavior has a when, a what, and a why. The when of behavior is the circumstance for the behavior. The what of behavior are things that one does or says. The why of behavior is the motive. Imagine that I arrive home and find a bike in the driveway. I have to get out of the car and move the bike. Irritated, I go inside to find the child who belongs to the bike. Imagine at this moment that you, the reader, come along and ask, “Tedd, why are you so angry?” I will probably say, “I […]
by Tedd and Margy Tripp Here are two more goals of formative instruction from Chapter 2 of Instructing a Child’s Heart. These goals validate your walk before God as authentic and thus offer your children a vibrant alternative to the deceitfulness of the surrounding culture. Your mission as a parent must start here. From Chapter 2: Model Spiritual Vitality for Our Children The surest way to teach children to apply God’s truth to life’s circumstances is to model it for them. Parenting that exhibits a vital relationship with God in all the joys and storms of life is irresistible to children and young people. Conversely, the surest way to harden our children’s hearts to God and his ways is “having […]
by Tedd and Margy Tripp In Chapter 2 of Instructing a Child’s Heart the Tripp’s lay the ground work for what they call Formative Instruction. Following is an introduction to this significant biblical concept: As we engage our children with formative instruction we must have the big picture in mind. The following five perspectives are important to keep in mind as we undertake formative instruction. • Remember Scripture is our personal history • Develop godly habits • Apply Scripture to life • Model spiritual vitality • Grow into a mature relationship with your children Keeping these five perspectives or goals in focus will give energy and shape to our formative instruction. Scripture Is Our Personal History Imagine a counselor hearing […]