Over the past few weeks I asked several parents to tell me mistakes they made while disciplining their teens. Below is what I found out in a short period of time.
Mistakes Parents Make with Teen Discipline
Lack of consistency
Not listening
Punish while angry
Irrelevant punishment
Accepting behavior because of age
Using guilt rather than reason
Attack the person and not the problem
Become the enemy
Lose your sense of humor
Stopping teen from failing at all cost
Not facing problem head on
Having unrealistic expectations
Having no rules or guidelines
Fighting back on their level
Reward negative behavior
Poor supervision
Not being involved in their lives
Being unapproachable
Not being an encourager
Both parents not on the same page
Ignoring warning signs and red flags
Not allowing kids to be kids
Being a bad role-model
Being extremely moody
Let your their activities overwhelm your family schedule
Do as I say, not as I do
Call Yourself a Rescue Ranger
Posted: January 18, 2011 in UncategorizedBible Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:22
“Isn’t it a bit much,” Kalie argued, “that Jesus tell us to reach the world? I mean, there are five hundred kids just in my grade at school. How can I even make a dent in that-much less do something good for the rest of the world? Where am I supposed to start?”
Great question.
Think about your best friends. Are any of them non-Christians?
Think about the people you spend the bulk of your time with each day at school. Are any of them non-Christians?
Think about your neighbors. Are any of them non-Christians?
If you nodded yes to any of those questions, you’re in the perfect spot to join God in his rescue mission. But there are some crucial things to remember as you respond to God’s invitation to share Christ with others:
1. Be sensitive to God’s Spirit leading you. Think about it: God has already put people all around you who don’t know him. Are you asking God to help you see these people through his eyes? Are you catching the Holy Spirit’s compassion for non-Christians? Ask God to give you his heart of love and alert you to chances to share with people around you.
2. Be a friend to non-Christians. Do you just hang out with people who have already trusted Christ? There are good reasons for spending the majority of your time with other Christians. The Bible, in fact, commands that (see Hebrews 10:25). But if you have a circle of non-Christian friends also, you are in a far better position to lead others to Christ.
Look for common interests as you build relationships with non-Christians. Don’t agree with any who drink or take drugs, but applaud and affirm their good qualities. That’s how Jesus managed to be friendly with sinners (see Matthew 11:19) without once compromising his standards.
3. Take the initiative, but be patient. Don’t wait for non-Christians to ask you about spiritual questions-ask them. As you tell your non-Christian friends about God’s love and forgiveness, God works through your words and example to bring them to Christ. Whether or not they agree with you or trust Christ personally, show them that you’re a friend.
REFLECT: How committed are you to prayerfully reaching out to the non-Christians around you—lovingly telling them, persuading them, and discipling them?
PRAY: Continue to pray for the non-Christians closest to you—and ask God to share his love and forgiveness with them through you.
