When communicating with a child, it is important that they understand that they are first and foremost held accountable by God. Discipline should not come from a place of our own frustration, establishing a fear of man, but teaching a child’s heart to honor God and enjoy Him forever. 

Sowing and Reaping

After hearing that the problem with a child’s bad behavior is a matter of their heart, and to address the behavior requires speaking to the heart, the question on everyone’s mind was, “How do we do that?” How can parents instruct the heart of a child? 

The next session, led by Margy Tripp, co-author of “Instructing the Heart of a Child,” addressed the principle of sowing and reaping, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). In order for a child to understand the difference between right and wrong, they must realize that actions have consequences. This biblical instruction helps parents understand how to teach their children the principles of right and wrong.

Controlling behavior based on rewards and punishments does not provide a child with the necessary motivation to change. When they face the natural consequences of sowing and reaping, they begin to develop an understanding that they are responsible for their own actions. 

Partnering with Parents

During the lunch hour, our guests were treated to a complimentary meal from Chick-Fil-A. However, there was no time to be idle. This was a working lunch as everyone headed to the various breakout sessions based on various fields of educating children. 

Michael King from the Massachusetts Family Institute led a breakout for parents with children in the public schools. There are so many challenges to be made aware of that are in direct contradiction to the teaching of the Word of God. 

Bruce Hanlon, the Head of School for Trinity Christian Academy and our co-host, gathered with parents who were plugged into private Christian education. He discussed the important role that parents play in partnering with the school. Discipleship starts in the home. 

Rebecca Jehle with Classical Conversations is a local homeschooling parent. She led a breakout explaining how parents can network with other families that can provide support, encouragement, and socialization.

Doug and Cindy Schoenheit are the Northeast missionaries for Awana. They came all the way from western New York to host a breakout on how Churches can get involved in building a robust Children’s ministry and reach kids from the community. 

Mental Health in Adolescence

As we were developing the program for this conference, we were made aware of the mental health issues plaguing our children. Within the past school year, there were three reports of teen suicides in the high schools on Cape Cod. 

To address this issue, we asked Dr. James Manganello, a Clinical Psychologist on Cape Cod, to address the mental health issues of adolescence. Despite the growing concerns of what is happening in the world, particularly with the next generation, there are positive studies which show that children who grow up in a Christian home and attend church regularly are much healthier than those who grow up without a solid foundation of faith. 

It’s Not Too Late

The next session by Margy Tripp, addressed her latest book, “It’s Not Too Late,” where she encouraged our attendees that there is hope for parents and grandparents with prodigals. This is probably one of the most troubling trends in our culture and the most common concern and prayer request we receive: What can parents do when their children walk away from the faith? 

Margy’s presentation was filled with hope and a reminder of the faithfulness of God. Parents still play a vital role in shepherding the hearts of their children when they are grown. The most encouraging part about her message was that God’s faithfulness does not have an expiration date. 

Glory to God

Dr. Tedd Tripp then showed how to display the glory of God to children. The Bible is not a collection of moralistic stories. The gospel is not saying the sinner's prayer. The Bible paints a big picture of God and His glory. Holding this in front of our children is the most important way to train them in the way they should go. 

Children are hardwired to worship. It is not a question of if they will worship, but what they will worship. Our children are quick to pick up on the objects of our worship. We don’t realize just how influential we are in the lives of our children. If we do not seek first the Kingdom of God, we cannot be surprised when our children grow up to seek the treasures of this world. 

The Final Stretch

After seven hours of back to back sessions, you would think that our guests were overwhelmed and burnt out with content. But the room was still full at the end of the day as we closed out with a panel discussion. 

Some of the questions we asked: “How do you teach your child to love something, especially to love God?” “How do these principles work for a child who has mental, psychological, and emotional limitations?” “What does it really look like to do family devotions at home?” “How can families build a biblical foundation in the home when one of the parents isn’t a believer?” “What boundaries should parents have with adult children who are living in sin?” 

What’s Next?

All of these sessions are available on our website, Click Here. Be sure to check them out and share them with your networks. 

If you are interested in hosting a Definitions Conference on this or another topic, please reach out to us with your suggestions.