Chapter 2: The Goals of Revolutionary Parents


Chapter 2 discusses three basic parenting strategies that were discovered in Barna's research:

• Parenting by default-simply following what one sees society, family, or friends do, or the expectations they loudly voice.


• Parenting by trial and error-assuming there are no absolute guidelines, some parents try something; if it doesn't work, they try something else.

The goal of these two strategies is the survival of parents and children.

But there is also a third strategy that was found.

• Treating God's Word in the Bible as the chief source for the goals, the thinking , and the actions of parents. The goal of these parents was nothing less than the transformation of their children into the image of Christ. they set the bar way above survival.

Revolutionary Parents look to the Bible for their parenting goals. (Read Mark 12:28-31)

With this in mind-

1. What does it mean to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? What thoughts, feelings, and actions does this involve?

2. Imagine the people your children might be at age 25. Imagine what they might be like if they become people who love God fully with heart, sould, mind, and strenght, and who seek the good of others as much as they seek their own good.

1. How would that affect the way thier use their time?


2. How would it affect the way they use money?


3. How would if affect their thoughts?


4. How might it affect their career choices?

Weekly Challenge:

It's not immediatley obivous to many of us how to raise children who love God and others. Whith our busy scheules, we may feel grateful simply to raise children who do their homework and eat decnt food! However, it can be done. The first steps are simply saying;

• "Okay, I see what God is asking me to aitm at."
• "I'm interested in learning how."
• "I want to know what this is going to cost me in terms of time and effort."

Are you able to affirm these 3 statements? If not, what's the sicking point for you?