Jeremiah 7:17-19 Do you not see what they are doing in streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger. Is it I whom they provoke? says the Lord. Is it not themselves, to their own hurt?
Ephesians 5:15-6:4 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.[Husbands/wives] Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.... 33 Each of you [husbands], however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband. 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother" --this is the first commandment with a promise: 3 "so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." 4 And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Do you see what is happening in the streets? What is the relationship between what is happening in the streets and what is happening in the home?
Describe what is happening in the home in the above reading from Jeremiah:
Describe a similar scene in our own time:
What are the children doing in this picture? Describe what children do in our own time in similar situations:
How is the Ephesians text a remedy for the family today?
Ephesians 6:4 is directed to fathers but could also include mothers. What kind of discipline does not provoke children to anger?
Describe the discipline and instruction of the Lord: