The Bible commands parents to teach children God's ways (Deuteronomy 6:6-7), to raise them in 'the nurture and admonition of the Lord' (Ephesians 6:4), and to discipline them in love (Proverbs 13:24, 22:6). Children are a heritage from the Lord (Psalm 127:3) — a gift, a responsibility, and a stewardship.
Parenting is one of the most consequential callings the Bible describes. Several biblical truths. (1) Children are a gift from God. Psalm 127:3 — 'Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.' Children are not burdens or accessories; they are God's gift entrusted to parents for a season. (2) The primary calling: teach them about God. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 — 'These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.' Parenting is constant teaching by word and life. (3) Teach in the train of life. Notice Deuteronomy 6:7 covers all of life — home, road, bedtime, waking. Faith formation is not delegated to Sunday school; it happens at the dinner table, in the car, at bedtime prayers, in the routines of daily life. (4) Train in the right path. Proverbs 22:6 — 'Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.' This is a wisdom proverb (a general pattern, not an absolute guarantee), but it commands intentional formation. (5) Discipline in love. Proverbs 13:24 — 'He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.' Hebrews 12:6 applies this to God's discipline: 'whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.' Discipline is for the child's good, never for the parent's anger. (6) Don't exasperate children. Ephesians 6:4 — 'And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.' Colossians 3:21 — 'Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.' Harsh, inconsistent, or unjust parenting damages children. (7) Children, obey and honor parents. Ephesians 6:1-3 — 'Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother... that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.' This is the first commandment with a promise. The fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12) commands honor. (8) Father and mother both matter. Proverbs 1:8 — 'My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.' Proverbs 6:20 repeats this pairing. Biblical parenting is fully shared. (9) Pray for and with children. Hannah's prayer over Samuel (1 Samuel 1-2); Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55); Jesus blessing children (Mark 10:13-16). Prayer is a parent's ongoing work. Practical biblical parenting. (1) Be present and attentive (Deuteronomy 6:7 — all of life). (2) Teach God's word — start young, never stop. (3) Pray for and with children. (4) Live what you teach — children watch closer than they listen. (5) Discipline with love, never anger; correct quickly and forgive quickly. (6) Don't exasperate — be just, consistent, and tender. (7) Confess your sins to them — model repentance. (8) Build family worship into the rhythm (mealtime, bedtime, Sunday). (9) Trust God for what only he can do — salvation is from the Lord. The hardest reality. The Bible records godly parents whose children turned out badly (Eli's sons, David's sons, even God the Father with humanity in Eden). Proverbs 22:6 is wisdom literature, not insurance. Parenting calls for faithfulness, not certainty of outcomes. Trust the Lord, do your part, leave the rest to God.
“And these words... shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children.”
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”
“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”
Faithful biblical parenting: (1) Be present and attentive. (2) Teach God's word from young. (3) Pray for and with your children. (4) Live what you teach. (5) Discipline with love, never anger. (6) Don't exasperate (Eph 6:4). (7) Confess sin and model repentance. (8) Build family worship rhythms. (9) Trust God for what only he can do. Faithfulness, not outcomes, is your calling.
The Bible commands parents to teach children God's word (Deuteronomy 6:6-7), train them in 'the way' (Proverbs 22:6), bring them up in 'the nurture and admonition of the Lord' (Ephesians 6:4), and discipline them in love (Proverbs 13:24). The primary calling is faith formation — woven through daily life, not relegated to one weekly hour.
Proverbs uses 'the rod' as discipline language (Proverbs 13:24, 22:15, 23:13-14). Christians differ on how literally to apply this — some practice loving physical correction; others see the principle as discipline (whatever form) rather than the specific method. All agree: the principle is loving correction for the child's good, never parental anger. The aim is the child's formation, not the parent's release.
(1) Teach God's word daily — bedtime, mealtime, conversation (Deuteronomy 6:7). (2) Pray for and with your children. (3) Live what you teach — children imitate. (4) Discipline lovingly. (5) Don't exasperate (Ephesians 6:4). (6) Confess sin and model repentance. (7) Build family worship rhythms. (8) Trust the Lord — salvation is his work, not the parent's.
This is one of parenting's deepest sorrows, and the Bible does not promise it cannot happen. Eli, Samuel, David — all had children who turned from God. Faithfulness is the parent's calling; outcomes belong to God. Keep praying, keep loving, keep the door open. Remember the prodigal returned (Luke 15). And remember: many parents who feel they 'failed' have children who return years later. God is not finished.