Groups Discussion Guide
Read Scripture. Go Deeper. Ask Questions. Take Action.
What Uncommon Parents Do
Scripture
1-2 If God doesn’t build the house,
the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn’t guard the city,
the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,
and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys
giving rest to those he loves?
3-5 Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift?
the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows
are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents,
with your quivers full of children!
Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you;
you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.
Main Idea
Children are blessings from the Lord and they will change their world in one direction or another. The Psalmist illustrates how children are like a fistful of arrows in the hand of a warrior. If you want your arrows or your children to change the world for God, then we need to care for them in a way that is different than the world and will shape them into arrows for Christ. Arrows will only go where you shoot them and if they are not cared for well then they will not shoot straight or true to the target.
As a parent, we need to be deliberate in our actions to help care for our children well.
4 Things Uncommon Parents Do:
- Maintaining on ongoing relationship with your children will depend more on how they feel versus how much you give them.
- We need to prophecy over our kids in a way that encourages them to be who they are in Christ.
Uncommon Parents clarify purpose instead of adding Pressure
- Maintaining on ongoing relationship with your children will depend more on how they feel versus how much you give them.
- We need to prophecy over our kids in a way that encourages them to be who they are in Christ.
Uncommon Parents discipline for calling, not control
- It is better to raise children who stand out rather than fit in. In Romans 8:29 we are instructed to be conformed to the image of Christ, not the world.
- Help your children understand who they are and what their purpose in God's kingdom is.
Uncommon Parents model what they want their kids to multiply
- More is caught than taught with our children. Instruct, model, repeat over the years for your children to know what God's kind of character looks like.
- Kids need to see you apologize, love well, reconcile, repent, be humble, serve others, be dedicated at work, serve at church, etc. if you want them to live it the rest of their lives.
Uncommon Parents Don't just bring their kids to church; they teach them to build it
- Psalm 92:13 KJV tells us those children who are planted in the house of the Lord will flourish and Psalm 145:4 (NIV) reminds us that when we live full spiritual lives our children and their children will tell of what we did.
- Make going to and serving in church a priority, not an afterthought.
The way to help others is your story (both good and bad) - even Jesus showed His disciples His scars to encourage them.
Discussion Questions
- Where do you see parents abdicating their responsibility to school and society to teach certain subjects their children about? Why do you think we are doing that?
- What have been your strategies to teach your kids about behaviors you want to see rather than just punishing the bad? If you aren't a parent, what does good modeling or teaching look like to you?
- How often do you apologize to your kids or to other people? Why is it so difficult to do? How does not apologizing impact the long-term health of the relationship?
Summary
Children in this world are not only a gift but they are a responsibility. When you have been blessed with children as a parent, it is important to be deliberate in your approach raising them. Just as you would be deliberate in making a business plan or vision for your own business, you need that vision for your family and then the deliberate actions to carry that vision out. All of us want our children and families to be shaped by a different standard. As parents we get to set that standard but living our own standard out is just as important as telling your children about it. Telling your kids your story and living out humility is your best way to show your children how to live. Even Jesus showed his scars to His disciples to help them learn and believe.
Take Action
- Begin praying with your kids regularly
- Prophecy what you see and what you want to see in your kids and family.
- Start to serve at church with your family.
Announcements
- First Wednesday - 6/3/2026 at 7pm
- Father's Day - 6/21/2026
