Whose Parent Would You Like to Be?

By Evans Cynthia

"Whose Parent Would You Like to Be?" is a Biblical study of various relationships that are examined to assist you in your journey as a Christian parent. Some of my personal experiences are sprinkled throughout. 

Below is a snapshot of what is contained  in "Whose Parent Would You Like to Be?"

The rich man and Lazarus-What is really important in life

Noah-Doing God's will even if you are alone

Miriam, Aaron, and Moses-God using a family to do His will

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (AKA-Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego)-Godly friends are needed

John the Baptizer-Point our children in the direction of God's mission

Lois, Eunice, and Timothy-Multigenerational Christian influence

Naomi and Ruth-a mature woman teaching a younger woman

Suggestions for parents

War-Arming our children for spiritual warfare

Pray-Constant communication with God

Study-Know God's will

Assemble-Gather with the saints

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cynthia Evans
• Release date: Apr 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393672081

Book preview

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION PG. 3

Rich man and Lazarus  pg. 7

Deuteronomy 31:6  pg. 11

Noah: Doing God’s will even if you are alone pg. 12

Joshua 24:15 pg. 18

Miriam, Aaron, and Moses: God using a family to do

His will pg.  20

1 Peter 4:8-10  pg.28

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Godly friends are needed pg. 29

Ephesians 4:11-13 pg. 35

John the Baptizer: Point our children in the direction of

God’s mission pg. 37

Deuteronomy 6:1-2 pg.43

Lois, Eunice, and Timothy: Multigeneration Christian

Influence pg. 44

Proverbs 27:17 pg. 49

Naomi and Ruth: A mature woman teaching a younger

woman pg. 51

Suggestions pg.  59

War: Arming our children for spiritual warfare pg. 60

Pray: Constant communication with God pg. 63

Study: Know God’s will pg. 66

Assemble: Gather with the saints pg. 68

My prayer for parents pg. 72

*All scripture is taken from the New International Version (NIV) unless noted otherwise. 

Whose Parent Would You Like to Be?

LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION that has roamed my mind for years... Is there a connection between Christian parenting and discipleship? I believe that the first mission field is the home. The Godly parents are usually intent on directing their children in the ways of the Lord. For this to happen parents must first know and understand some of the basic principles of God’s word. Parents must study the Bible and find ways to articulate God’s desires in a manner that reaches the level of understanding for the child God has given them.

I have found that many people oppose teaching young children His word or ways. Some people state that when we teach young people bible accounts in simplistic ways that this is brainwashing or indoctrination.  I find it puzzling that we do not take this stand on other areas of teaching our children. We start early to introduce them in knowing primary colors, counting numbers, and dressing themselves. These are all activities that will enhance their physical life. Many parents do all that they can to make sure that their child has a huge advantage in life and have the best academic career. However, when Godly parents try and prepare them for the most important relationship available, the one with the Savior, then many times they are characterized as brainwashing. I applaud parents that realize it’s better to obey God rather than man. They withstand the world’s negative point of view about the way they address the most important task given to them-that is parenting.

Faith, prayer, and love are some ingredients needed in raising a child the way that is pleasing to the Lord. There are no guarantees that our children will be followers of Christ even when we do our very best in creating and maintaining a home that has God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit as the foundation of our daily lives. 

We are confronted with the task of holding on to the promises and truths that are found in the pages of Holy Scripture and fleeing the evils of this world. Many times, when we are walking in the Light and being the salt of the earth, our physical lives are not what we envisioned. But we cannot lose heart.

We need to keep focused on the fact that our spiritual growth and maturity is not based on anything seen in this temporary life on earth. Eternal issues are at the forefront of our Christian walk. We are constantly checking our inner self seeing if we are being led by the proper agent, the Holy Spirit. If we are living the Christian life, we are told to be led in ways that are opposing to those that are led by fleshly desires.  (Gal. 5:13-26 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself.¹⁵If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. ¹⁶So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whateveryou want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.)

Many times, Christians get caught up in the activity of comparing our earthly accomplishments to those that are being led by the flesh. We look at the houses, cars, clothes, education, money, and employment of those around us and use worldly standards to evaluate our worth. When Christians do this, we run the risk of feeling that we are not being blessed like those that are being led by the flesh. Sometimes we might believe that since we do not have the things, we desire of this life, then we are not being blessed the way we should be.

But there are so many problems with this thinking. God is the giver and provider of all things. God will and does provide for His people the way He sees fit. We are fortunate to have the amazingly simple and important things in life, for example, the very breath we are breathing. For us to be the proper influence in others’ lives we must keep what we want and desire in subjection to the will of God. He has promised each one of us all that we need to fulfil His will. Our greatest example of this is our Savior, Jesus the Christ. He gave up the glories of Heaven and came to this sin sick world so that all of mankind could have an opportunity of a relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

Jesus, while on earth, did not live an earthly life of riches. He was born in the poorest place and He died the lowest death. But God did bless many of His believers with earthly riches. He also allowed many of His believers to remain poor, by earthly standards. Jesus ministered to both rich and poor. He blessed both educated and unlearned. He came and destroyed the man-made barriers of earthly cultures and established a group of people, a family, and a body, connected by the love for Christ. In the church we strive to be one. We are one by the blood of Jesus.  (Gal 3: 27-28 For as