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This article is from Today's
Native Father, issue #121, May/June, 2002. Related articles from this issue: |
Effective Involvement a Bible Study by David Hertzler |
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Another childless man who set a good example for parents was Nehemiah. In his book Parenting Adolescents, Kevin Huggins shows how Nehemiah lived out the following principle: As involvement increases, influence, compassion, output of energy and potential for pain also increase. 1. Involving your mind through a wholesome curiosity about what your child is experiencing in life. Read Nehemiah 1. a. What was Nehemiah curious about? Was this any of his business? Although these people were not his children, what relationship did they have to him? b. How did Nehemiah feel when he heard the news? c. What was the next move that his mind made? Could he have been thinking of Psalm 122:6? d. What clues do you find in this chapter that Nehemiah’s mind was also hatching a plan of action? 2. Involving your means through visible, purposeful acts of kindness. Read Nehemiah 2. a. Susa was at the edge of the mountains in what is now western Iran, overlooking the Tigris-Euphrates River valley. With a map, estimate how far it was from Susa to Jerusalem. Imagine the effort and resources this trip would take. b. What risks did Nehemiah take in making his request to the king? What risks, efforts and resources have you invested in your family? c. Nehemiah was a stranger to most of his countrymen in Judah. Think about the skills it must have taken to persuade them to trust his leadership and rebuild the walls. The king had already stopped this project once (Ezra 4:6-23). What skills does family-building require? 3. Involving your heart through understanding the per-sonal forces that motivate your children to be what they are. Read Nehemiah 5. a. Describe the conflict that developed among the people of Judah. b. How did Nehemiah feel when he heard about this conflict? What did he do that helped him understand both sides of the conflict better? c. What do you think of the firm, decisive way that Nehemiah settled the conflict? How did he change his own lifestyle in order to better identify with his people? a. What book was the center of attention at this “conference?” b. Tell in your own words how reading, prayer, worship, feasting and celebration all became part of this revival. c. As a result of this gathering, what changed in the way these people lived and treated one another? The main points for this outline are adapted from Parenting Adolescents by Kevin Huggins , NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO, ©1989. Ask for this helpful book at your Christian bookstore. Bible study questions are by David Hertzler, NYM Ministries, Dryden, Ontario. |
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